The Robinson Way
The Robinson Way
Whether your favorite event in rodeo is bull riding or barrel racing, the last name Robinson should ring a clear bell.
By Hope Sickler
Whether your favorite event in rodeo is bull riding or barrel racing, the last name Robinson should ring a clear bell. North Carolina's Jeff Robinson, a household name in the sport of rodeo, is a four-time PBR Stock Contractor of the Year, but more importantly, he is a father.
Robinson has four children ranging from ages 21 to 7-years-old -- three handsome boys and one beautiful daughter. His daughter, Laney Robinson, has quickly made a name for herself on the other end of the arena, blazing the cloverleaf pattern and hitting the pay window almost everywhere she goes.
With a very successful and popular father like Robinson, it isn't a surprise that every major jackpot that Laney entered when first getting her start in barrel racing, the announcer referred to her as the daughter of the renowned stock contractor.
But that was then. Laney has paved her own way and is now getting recognized as being one of the greatest junior and open barrel racers in the sport, and her father couldn't be more proud.
"As a young kid, it was so easy for announcers to mention Chicken On A Chain and others that had helped our program get notoriety, as it was to mention Laney's name," Jeff Robinson said. "I think that she liked it, but I also think she used it as fuel to help motivate her. No matter the shadows that are cast, she is her own person and that's what is so special about her. Success has been easy for her, because she is a worker. The thing that I am most proud of Laney for isn't the success that she has seen in the arena, but the person that she is outside of the arena."
Laney explains that learning to be successful has been a lesson that she learned from her father early on when she was just a little girl.
"Probably the biggest lesson that I have learned is to not be afraid of goals no matter how lofty they are," she said. "Set them and do all that you can do to achieve them. Growing up with my dad and being east of the Mississippi and trying to succeed in a western sport has showed me the extra hurdles one might face in doing that for an actual living."
Laney has already crossed off two of her biggest goals for the 2016 barrel racing season. She has qualified two horses to the semifinals of The American. That is something that trainers and jockeys alike cannot claim. And, probably her biggest goal to date, winning the WPRA Junior Barrel Racing title.
"2016 has been one of those dream seasons!" Laney said. "Everything has clicked. My horses worked outstanding and everything just came together at the right time."
Laney is quick to credit her herd of very talented horses, her close friends and family, and most importantly her father, in helping her make her dreams a reality.
"Not a day goes by that I am not thankful for my dad," she said. "Every single day of the week he goes to work for not only me, but also my brothers. I don't think anyone can truly understand how amazing he really is unless they understand that he isn't only worried about my dreams. He without a doubt would do whatever it takes to help me reach my goals, and at the very same time, he is working to make sure that my brothers have what they need to reach theirs. I know that I could never have a bigger fan or a better dad."
While Robinson himself has set and knocked out goals of his own, he proudly admits that Laney's dream has also become his own.
"I guess you can say that her dreams have also become mine," he said. "I have been able to take more time to enjoy and be able to go see her and watch what she loves to do. I feel that way about all of my kids. Whatever goal or dream they have, I make it my goal and dream. So at the end of the day, not any bull of the year title or the number of contractor of the year titles that I have won will ever come close to anything Laney and my other kids have accomplished. I am hoping that Laney lets me borrow her buckle from winning the Jr. WPRA world title."
Whether your favorite event in rodeo is bull riding or barrel racing, the last name Robinson should ring a clear bell. North Carolina's Jeff Robinson, a household name in the sport of rodeo, is a four-time PBR Stock Contractor of the Year, but more importantly, he is a father.
Robinson has four children ranging from ages 21 to 7-years-old -- three handsome boys and one beautiful daughter. His daughter, Laney Robinson, has quickly made a name for herself on the other end of the arena, blazing the cloverleaf pattern and hitting the pay window almost everywhere she goes.
With a very successful and popular father like Robinson, it isn't a surprise that every major jackpot that Laney entered when first getting her start in barrel racing, the announcer referred to her as the daughter of the renowned stock contractor.
But that was then. Laney has paved her own way and is now getting recognized as being one of the greatest junior and open barrel racers in the sport, and her father couldn't be more proud.
"As a young kid, it was so easy for announcers to mention Chicken On A Chain and others that had helped our program get notoriety, as it was to mention Laney's name," Jeff Robinson said. "I think that she liked it, but I also think she used it as fuel to help motivate her. No matter the shadows that are cast, she is her own person and that's what is so special about her. Success has been easy for her, because she is a worker. The thing that I am most proud of Laney for isn't the success that she has seen in the arena, but the person that she is outside of the arena."
Laney explains that learning to be successful has been a lesson that she learned from her father early on when she was just a little girl.
"Probably the biggest lesson that I have learned is to not be afraid of goals no matter how lofty they are," she said. "Set them and do all that you can do to achieve them. Growing up with my dad and being east of the Mississippi and trying to succeed in a western sport has showed me the extra hurdles one might face in doing that for an actual living."
Laney has already crossed off two of her biggest goals for the 2016 barrel racing season. She has qualified two horses to the semifinals of The American. That is something that trainers and jockeys alike cannot claim. And, probably her biggest goal to date, winning the WPRA Junior Barrel Racing title.
"2016 has been one of those dream seasons!" Laney said. "Everything has clicked. My horses worked outstanding and everything just came together at the right time."
Laney is quick to credit her herd of very talented horses, her close friends and family, and most importantly her father, in helping her make her dreams a reality.
"Not a day goes by that I am not thankful for my dad," she said. "Every single day of the week he goes to work for not only me, but also my brothers. I don't think anyone can truly understand how amazing he really is unless they understand that he isn't only worried about my dreams. He without a doubt would do whatever it takes to help me reach my goals, and at the very same time, he is working to make sure that my brothers have what they need to reach theirs. I know that I could never have a bigger fan or a better dad."
While Robinson himself has set and knocked out goals of his own, he proudly admits that Laney's dream has also become his own.
"I guess you can say that her dreams have also become mine," he said. "I have been able to take more time to enjoy and be able to go see her and watch what she loves to do. I feel that way about all of my kids. Whatever goal or dream they have, I make it my goal and dream. So at the end of the day, not any bull of the year title or the number of contractor of the year titles that I have won will ever come close to anything Laney and my other kids have accomplished. I am hoping that Laney lets me borrow her buckle from winning the Jr. WPRA world title."