MATT SHIOZAWA
His professional career has led to NFR Champion, 8 NFR Qualifications, 3x National Circuit Champion, Canadian Championship, and many major rodeo titles. Lately he's qualifed for and competed in THE AMERICAN, the world's richest one-day rodeo, presented by RFD-TV. He is currently competing in the ERA, Elite Rodeo Athletes Tour as well.
Matt's precious family travel with him when they can, but it can be hard on the road without knowledge of good places to stay, stop and rest horses, and use services. Like many veteran travelers, Matt has learned of good locations to stop with horses, good places to eat, good vets, arenas, watering holes, boarding, fuel, vehicle services, and the best spots of all, "honey holes" have all/most of this in one location.
We at CowboysHighway.com would like to create an experience where we can help horse people traveling to find these good locations. By use of a forum users can provide their knowledge and experiences to benefit all horse people! Use CowboysHighway and you'll never go alone!
Matt’s life started on a potato farm outside of Pocatello, Idaho. His father Kent Shiozawa competed in amateur rodeos and when Matt got his first pony it came with a rope. Kent taught Matt to rope as well as the importance of hard work, dedication and integrity. The family moved to Logandale, Nev., when Matt was in high school and it was there that his love of rodeo and competition blossomed. He was a linebacker and cornerback in football, and an all-state point guard in basketball. As soon as he was done with school and practice, he came home for more practice – in the roping arena. He was the National High School Rodeo tie-down and all-around champion in 1998. The next year he won the team roping with Randon Adams. That was the same year he joined the PRCA. Since that time he’s qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo eight times and has garnered over $1.5 million in career earnings. But, he’s far from being done. Matt also shared his Japanese heritage with the elementary school children when he taught them a word from the language – kaizen. He said that might just be his new motto. Kaizen is the practice of continuous improvement. He encouraged the kids to do things he is doing in his own life, always working to improve and being honest about personal performance. Those are also things he imparts on his three young daughters, Stella, Lorelei and Ivory. Matt and his wife Ali, a former Miss Rodeo Idaho, have been married for eight years.