Michael Pettibon
Michael Pettibon first attended the ACA when we operated in Texas in 2023. He attend our final class along with two other young men. All three young men from that class have gone on to work on ranches in the West (Montana, Oregon and Wyoming).
Michael was different than his classmates. His classmates Joe and Nick had a bit more previous experience than Michael. Joe was already a competent rider and Nick was already a good roper. However, this did not intimidate Michael. It actually made him work harder.
From the first night of Roping on Sunday, Michael displayed how determined he was to learn and to prove himself- to ACA instructors and himself. This trend stood the test of time during his first class. While he as a less experienced rider and roper he never failed to continue to absorb information and be the last to turn in at night, simply because he was still practicing.
Michael’s story is a unique one. I could document all that I know here in this blog. We could have conducted an hour long interview and really dove deep into his back story.
But…
I believe in leaving someone’s whole story untold. For maybe you will meet Michael in this lifetime. Maybe you’ll be on a string he is leading into the mountains. Maybe you’d over hear his story in a Montana pool hall. Or maybe he will publish his journal some day and you can buy a copy.
Michael is destined for greatness. He will do well in any endeavor he chooses. As of today, 6-20-24, he is in Pinedale, Wyoming working as a packer. I certainly look forward to watching this young man grow. Grow more experienced in Ranching, Grow closer to Montana, and Grow closer to God.
