Filling the boots that his
father and grandfather once filled, Steve Whaley is honored to be
the recently appointed Big Boss of the Silver Spurs Riding Club,
Inc. The recently chosen 2009-10 “Big Boss” for the
Silver Spurs Riding Club, Whaley, 40, will spend the next year at
the helm of the 64-year-old organization, whose mission is to
promote agriculture and the sport of rodeo throughout the
Southeast. A native Floridian born in St. Cloud, Steve
is the son to Larry Whaley, Big Boss in 1977, and the grandson of
Dr. A.E. Whaley, who held the reins in 1950. Steve makes his living
today on the Crescent O Ranch; the ranch where he grew
up. Steve and his wife, Kaye, have two children Marlo
and Derrick. Kaye, a lifelong supporter and member of the
Silver Spurs is the daughter of Doug Partin. Doug is one of
Spurs’ most knowledgeable and highly respected members, whom oversaw
the Bucking Stock for the Silver Spurs. In 1992 Steve began helping Doug with the Silver Spurs Bucking Stock. “He is more than just a father-in-law to me, he has been a great mentor”, says Whaley. Partin became very ill in 2008, unable to continue his passion for ranching and livestock, Whaley stepped in to continue the family’s heritage as the Chairman of the Bucking Stock.
The Silver Spurs Riding Club
is the only non-profit organization to be sanction by the PRCA that
owns and works its own bucking stock. The stock must meet
heavy criteria set by the PRCA, not only will the livestock buck at
the Bi-Annual Silver Spurs Rodeo, the stock travels to other rodeos
in Okeechobee, Perry, Brighton and even the National Finals Rodeo held in Las Vegas. |