Life is Grann: Sister duo learn life lessons on and off rodeo circuit

COVID-19 has forced the development of apps that can trace places and people you have come in contact with during a certain time period. I think the invention of a technological device that could add all of the time spent doing past activities would be rather beneficial, too. When I see John and Donna Grann at sporting events, I wonder just how much time they have spent throughout the years in gymnasiums, at football fields and at rodeo arenas, cheering their four kids and their teams on to victories. It is this kind of parental support that encourages children to compete, strengthen their work ethics and build lasting relationships.

The "Where Are They Now?" monthly series updates readers about New Rockford-Sheyenne graduates. Because older brother Ben graduated from Minnewaukan School in 2007, and younger brother Johnny has to wait until 2021 to become a graduate of NR-S, this article will focus on the two sisters, Bobbi and Lacey Grann, who graduated from NR-S in 2009 and 2014, respectively.

The Grann ranch, located 7 miles north of Sheyenne, is home to a menagerie of animals: four dogs, four cats, 10 chickens, four ducks, 25 horses, and about 800 head of cattle. Aside from taking care of the animals, John and Donna also grow soybeans, wheat, barley, canola and corn for silage. With so much activity happening around them, it is understandable that the four Grann children would naturally navigate toward taking a special interest in all animals, but mainly horses. Early on, Bobbi and Lacey caught the rodeo "bug," and, thankfully, school and current employment have since offered them opportunities to continue the rodeo circuit.

It is obvious that the time spent with their horses has taught Bobbi and Lacey much responsibility. They describe their relationship with horses in these words: "When working with horses, we are working with more than just ourselves. We not only have to be leaders, but we also need to be teammates. As riders, we have to be very aware of our horses' every movement and be able to communicate together without language. We have to develop a 'feel,' which allows us to read the horse's movements and behaviors. Horses take time, patience and understanding. They are very hard work to train, but it is always worth it."

With expert coaching from Connie Soderholm, Bobbi and Lacey have nearly perfected the art of goat tying, which earned Bobbi the national Goat Tying Championship title in 2008, a year before she graduated from high school. Barrel racing, though, happens to be Bobbi's favorite event. She trained her favorite horse, a grey gelding named Delfinion, and, working as a team together they have earned multiple awards and national recognition.

Even though the women have competed in literally hundreds of rodeos in perhaps 10 different states, the most memorable time for Lacey occurred just last October. She relates, "My brother Ben, his wife Brittany, Bobbi, and I all were competing in the Roughrider Rodeo Association finals at the Jamestown Civic Center. My younger brother Johnny was playing in a football playoff game in Casselton, and because of the locations and timing, we were able to watch his game. We all had success at the rodeo, and to top it all off, Johnny won his football game! To be able to compete together and watch my siblings all have triumphs was such a wonderful fulfillment that one does not experience often."

Dedication to studying hard in high school for high grades and honing their skills in a variety of sports certainly showcased Bobbi's and Lacey's work ethics. They were involved in accelerated classes, volleyball, basketball, track and North Dakota High School Rodeo. Both girls had been students at Minnewaukan School, but they transferred to NR-S when Lacey was to begin sixth grade and Bobbi was to start her senior year. The emotional impact of the move weighed heavily on Bobbi, but her motive to transfer was for her family and their needs. "My siblings needed me to drive them to school, and going opposite directions every morning would have been too tough for everyone in my family," she says.

 Because their parents raised them to work hard and appreciate the lifestyle in which they grew up, Bobbi and Lacey have developed a "never give up" kind of attitude. They devise methods to finish each job while realizing that working hard does not always lead them to complete success. Their parents' support has convinced Bobbi and Lacey that taking a step back, approaching the situation from a different angle, and trying again is a very valuable quality.

 For 2 years, Bobbi attended Lake Region State College in Devils Lake where she played basketball and earned her Associate of Science degree. Dickinson State University was her next home for 4 years during which she competed in college rodeo while securing her degree in natural resource management, range management, and grazing management.

Earlier this year, Bobbi was located in Stephenville, Texas as a self-employed horse trainer. "I usually have 10 horses with me all year round. Since I spend my summers in North Dakota and my winters in Arizona or Texas, I have the opportunity to meet and learn from many different trainers, who help me get even better with my own skills. If I am very consistent and patient, I can train a horse to do almost anything in 4 months," Bobbi states. Her self-quarantine is over, so she is ready to conduct business first-hand with her customers. She sets up appointments with horse owners and keeps their horses at her parents' ranch to train them for various periods of time.

Lacey also competed in college rodeos while attending both Dickinson State University and NDSU. She earned her civil engineering degree in 4 years, which enabled her to acquire a job working for the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) as an Agricultural Engineer for eight northeast North Dakota counties.

Lacey is currently living with her family on the ranch, which is an ideal situation as she is available to help with the ranch's workload while holding down her full-time job. The pandemic temporarily has required her to telework, but she normally drives to the Devils Lake office to serve McHenry, Pierce, Benson, Ramsey, Nelson, Towner, Pembina, and Cavalier counties with planning, designing, and inspecting a variety of engineered dams and pipelines. "I work with the livestock pipelines, irrigation pivots, grassed waterways, streambank stabilizations; and every once in a while, an animal feedlot operation. I also inspect dams for operation and maintenance," Lacey explains.

Despite the 5 years that separate them in age, Bobbi and Lacey have always valued their amiable relationship, which becomes even stronger the older they get. Lacey admits, "Bobbi is my best friend and my other half. We talk or communicate almost every day, and I look to her for nearly any advice I need." The entire family is close, and they relish spending time together. When they are apart from each other, they talk on the phone, text, or use Snapchat many times a day. Brittany, Ben's new wife of 1½ years, is a welcome addition to the family unit because, as Bobbi puts it, "She fits right in with us with all of our activities, and she was truly meant to be a part of our family!"

Bobbi and Lacey plan to continue their rodeo involvement for years to come, so that means more travel for their best aficionados, parents Donna and John. Think of all the popcorn, bottled water or soda, and countless concession-style meals that these two have already consumed throughout the years as they have watched sporting events in the stands or on the sidelines! I am sure that they are not going to stop taking in as many rodeos as they possibly can wherever and whenever their girls compete. In fact, be on the lookout for the entire Grann family at sporting events here in New Rockford, too, for Johnny's upcoming senior year. That's just what they do!