Rusty Rae Quam would have had trouble choosing any other occupation when she was born into a rodeo contracting family with a horsetraining background. From day one she and her brother Cain lived in a trailer traveling the rodeo circuit or trapsing along with her mother doing barrel clinics. Barry Quam ran a successful stock contracting buisness, while Sherry is a past CCA Champion and Pro Circuit Champion.
Rusty started out packing a flag then progressed to running barrels on her Sheltand pony, Sugar, when she was 4 yrs old. Rusys love of animals has been from day one. Her interest in her fathers bucking stock still is a major part of her life. For 2 years Rusty packed an orphan Brahman calf with her to rodeos all over Saskatchewan, Alberta and BC.
Rusty has dedicated her life to barrel horses. She qualified for her first Manitoba Rodeo Cowboys Association Finals when she was 8 years old. Since then Rusty has qualified to numerous Manitoba and Saskatchewan finals, winning numerous championships.
Rusty's first barrel horse after her shetland Sugar, was Woody, an ex cutting turn back horse. Rusty's mom, Sherry, trained Woody for barrels and although he was pretty bucky, Rusty took over the reins when she was 8 yrs old and won a lot on him. Rusty acquired her dad, Barry's, gentle understanding of horses which prepared her for her next outstanding barrel horse "My Bon Jon" aka Gray. An own son of Beduino who had raced for 3 yrs before becoming a barrel horse. After a family effert of training Gray, he turned into a very gifted rodeo winning barrel horse. But sadly Gray and Rusty's rodeo career was cut short when he was diagnosed with EPM.
Rusty found success with Shy, another grey gelding. Shy and Rusty had a record setting year in the CCA, winning first at 20 rodeos. Shy is back in the family being ran by Jamie Woodward. Jamie and Shy have won cheques in the Juniors in the CCA.
Then came Huckleberry. Rusty recongnized Huckleberrys talent when he was only a yearling. Huckleberry and Rusty had early success winning money in Futuritys as a 4 yr old, a CCA championship as a 5 yr old. Then Rusty made the move and bought her full CPRA card. Huckleberry and Rusty qualified for two Calgary Stampede Short Go's and two CFR qualifications. In 2004 Rusty and Huckleberry were the CFR Average Championship and Reserve Canadian Champion.
Huckleberry's full brother Strawberry is another huge part of Rusty's success story. Like his brother, Strawberry was a Futurity champion as a 4 yr old. Strawberry and Rusty won the Short Round at the Calgary Stampede as a 5 yr old. The team went on to win numerous pro rodeo cheques. Like Shy, Strawberry is still in the family, being ridden by Riley Woodward at Juniors in the CCA and MRA. They have qualified for both finals.
Another grey horse, Tickleberry won money at Futuritys, CCA rodeos and CPRA rodeos. This very talented mare with Rustys training won Horse of the Year in the American Appendix Horse Association. Tickleberrys mother was a CFR Bareback bucking horse and her Half Brother is One Dollar Chip, as seen below. Tickleberry is now raising bucking foals.
Rusty has now dedicated her talents to training barrel horses full time. Living in Wainwright, Ab with Dale Woodward. She is training and selling barrel horses and going to futurities and rodeos.
Rusty is sharing her rodeo knowledge with Lakeland College students as the rodeo club coordinator. "Rusty is very well respected in the rodeo community and has a lot of connections in the sport. She's a great addition to our rodeo club," said Josie Van Lent, dean of Agricultural Sciences.