Dear Roper,

This month, I got to spend lots of time talking to the Reeves family about their foundation that helps individuals with disabilities find their place in the world, and, more specifically, on their ranch outside Douglas, Arizona. It’s a family affair, and a true passion for all four members of the Reeves crew.

I came to their story by accident. Everett Reeves was leading the Junior NFR #10 heading standings last month, and I called him for a quick interview. When I asked what line of work his parents were in, my eyes opened to a whole new world of goodness there in Southern Arizona. And that’s why Kenny Reeves graces our November cover.

The Reeves are not unlike Todd and Carla Hughes, who hosted their seventh annual ADVO Companies Horns and Heels Team Roping and Gala, a World Series of Team Roping qualifier that benefits the Hughes’ non-profit—ADVO Companies. We’ve written about ADVO, which provides work, services, and skills for intellectually and developmentally disabled adults, and their roping is one we rarely miss as a family.

More and more, the 24-hour news channels are talking doom and gloom, and there sure is plenty of that to go around. I guess I’m glad that my job is here—in team roping—to give everyone a little more happy each month, telling stories like the Reeves’ and the Hughes’. We got a letter the other day from a reader that says he takes the magazine wherever he goes because no matter what, it makes him happy.

So after you finish the magazine this month, head over to our Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, or teamropingjournal.com for your daily dose of team roping. And don’t forget The Score podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud, or Stitcher, so you can listen to a weekly show with your favorite ropers and industry pros.

Hope you enjoy this issue,

Chelsea