The Silver Spurs Club has selected Kaye Whaley as the next Big Boss of the organization, marking only the fourth woman to hold this distinction in the Club’s over 80-year history. Kaye has a long-standing history with the Silver Spurs Club and comes prepared to take on this leadership role.
Kaye’s family history dates back to the beginning of the Club, with her grandparents being among the original members. Doc and Petie Partin went on to help build the Club and the rodeos over the years. Then Doug Partin, Kaye’s dad, picked up the reins to continue growing the organization’s rodeo events and community involvement. Doug’s legacy is honored each year at the Miss Silver Spurs Pageant as they present the Doug Partin Spirit Award. Doug was also very involved with the rodeos as the organization's Stock Contractor for many years. Kaye grew up working with the bucking bulls and horses with her dad. Naturally, she began riding in the
Silver Spurs Quadrille at age five, because that’s just what Partins did, and she loved to run fast! Over the years, her love for the Club also grew as she helped out in many of the behind-the-scenes committees: concessions, tickets, souvenirs, posters, stock, and
Silver Spurs Rodeo parade. As Big Boss, Kaye will be following in the footsteps of her grandfather, father, and many family members. She understands the importance of this position and takes on the responsibility with the goal of making her dad proud!
Kaye fell in love with and married Steve Whaley, a former fellow junior quadrille member. It seems only fitting that she would find a partner who feels the same about the Silver Spurs Club and stock as she does! Together they raised, worked, and hauled the stock and became Quadrille partners themselves in recent years. As Big Boss himself in 2009-2010, Steve’s knowledge, advice, and experience are Kaye’s secret weapon as she takes on this role. Their daughter Marlo is an active member who volunteers in the souvenir and concession stands and has ridden in Quadrille since she was five, still filling in when needed. Their son, Derrick, recently became an official Spurs member and has also helped with the stock and in the timed event pens for several rodeos. He, too, has been a part of the Quadrille team over the years. Some of Kaye's favorite memories include raising and naming bucking bulls for their kids and watching them perform at the Silver Spurs Rodeo! Just as when Kaye was growing up, the Silver Spurs Rodeo has been a natural occurrence in her family’s life. Look out Club; her granddaughter Mallory may only be one, but she’s coming full speed to continue this family tradition!
Kaye brings plenty of experience as a leader in her own right. She has been a teacher in Osceola County for 31 years, during which she was voted her school’s Teacher of the Year three times and recognized twice as a Disney Teacheriffic Award winner. For the past eight years, she has been a teacher leader as the Reading Coach at
Harmony High School. She has served as the Silver Spurs Rodeo Parade Chairman for the last seven years, bringing back this beloved tradition to
downtown St. Cloud. She had the crazy notion and the vision to participate in the Rose Parade out in Pasadena, California. And in 2024, she did just that! With the help of family, friends, the Club, and sponsors, Kaye organized and orchestrated the trip of a lifetime for 25 Quadrille team members and horses to ride in THE Rose Parade. The Silver Spurs Quadrille made the big screen and helped spread the word about our hometown rodeo. Kaye puts in many hours for the good of any cause she’s working towards. She takes on the Big Boss role with that same enthusiasm and commitment. Kaye’s vision for the Club is to continue rolling out family entertainment at the rodeo events and giving back as much as possible to the community organizations that are making a difference in Osceola County. She will lead with her heart while keeping in mind, “What would Doug Partin do?” Welcome 2025-26 Silver Spurs Big Boss, Kaye Whaley.
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