For 42 years, the Johansen brothers have been building rodeo fans and future cowboys in all events at the Johansen Brothers Steer Riding School. Almost a right of passage for Canadian rodeo boys on Easter weekend, the school has seen the likes of Scott Schiffner, Rocky Dallyn, Al Bouchard, Jake Vold, Dustin Flundra, Tyler Thomson, the Milan brothers, Clint Laye, and many more muster up the courage to hop on some of their first steers.

The 2018 Johansen Brothers and Scott Schiffner Steer Riding School took place March 30-April 1 in Olds, Alberta, and had 26 participants, including three young cowgirls. 

“Bob Hartell and Jim Freeman put on a bull riding school out there at our arena when we first started years ago,” said co-founder Don Johansen. “We thought, ‘Well why don’t we put on a steer riding school?’”

So for the past 42 years, brothers Don, Jack, Bruce, Dale, and Guy have hosted countless kids at their schools ranging from ages 5-14, producing many champions along the way. Last year alone, 10 out of the 12 bull riders at the Canadian Finals Rodeo were past participants of the clinic—a whopping 83 percent.

“It’s been great watching them grow up, to be a steer rider, it really doesn’t mean you’re going to be a bull rider or a bronc rider—you can be a roper or whatever,” Johansen said. “I find with the steer riding schools, when they leave that steer riding they either become a rodeo fan or they become a cowboy of some sort.”

In fact, after the first 25 years of the school, 139 participants had gone on to qualify for the Canadian Finals Rodeo in all different rodeo events and 28 of those participants became Canadian champions. Many more could be added to that list today.

Photo courtesy of Don Johansen

The Johansens' school has a strong focus on building safe habits for getting on and off a bucking animal, in addition to teaching the ability to ride that animal within the eight seconds. But over the years, there’s something more that may have proven to be the best lesson the participants take home. 

“When we’re talking to them we make sure they’re looking us in the eye, and when we shake their hand we make sure they give us a firm handshake,” Johansen said. “We try to build up their confidence.

“You watch these kids grow up over the years—they come out on their first steer and you’re hanging on to their belt while the steer is walking along, and then there they are four years later, walking around like young men.”

Photo courtesy of Don Johansen

The Johansen brothers hold a resume that includes five Canadian bull riding championships: Don in 1978, Bruce in 1980, Dale in 1983 and 1984, and Guy in 1987. For the past five years, they have also welcomed Scott Schiffner, who has two Canadian titles of his own (2001 and 2012) back to the clinic as an instructor.

Even with their many accolades, the pride shines through Johansen’s voice the most when talking about helping kids through that very first ride. 

“When those kids make that whistle and they hit the ground, they look up at you and say, ‘Mr. Johansen did I make the whistle?’ And you say, ‘You made the whistle,’ and the look on their face—you can’t buy it.”