That's the rodeo life, a life the recent graduate from Broadus High School has gotten to know quite well over the years.
“My parents rodeoed quite a bit when I was young,” Schaffer says. “We traveled a lot so I just kind of grew up on the rodeo road and just been doing it ever since.”
This week it's KayTee's turn as she, along with roughly 265 other cowboys and cowgirls, made their way to the Missoula County Fairgrounds for the Montana High School Finals Rodeo.
Schaffer, who doubles as the Montana High School Rodeo Association student president, is entered in six events at this week's competition. Last year she advanced to nationals in barrel racing; this year she's aiming for a return trip.
Cow cutting is the only competition in the books for Schaffer so far. She won't be heading to nationals for that one, but she still has barrel racing, goat tying, pole bending, breakaway and team roping to go. All of which are still up in the air until Sunday's final go-round.
As of Saturday morning, Schaffer wasn't quite sure how she felt heading into the final day. She was all done with her goat tying, pole bending and team roping and waiting to see if she made the cut for Sunday's final round, while still waiting for her second go in barrels and breakaway roping Saturday night.
“I could've done better,” a modest Schaffer said of her performance so far, “but I'm hanging in there. I'm sitting pretty in the goats, hopefully, and we're second in the team roping right now and I hope I catch my calf tonight.”
With a hand in so many events, it's no surprise that the Broadus cowgirl entered this weekend in fourth place in the chase for an all-around title.
Brooke Hirschy, of Jackson, entered the week leading in all-around points with 794, while Schaffer sits three spots back with 611, trailing Melstone's Mandy Newman (736) and Belgrade's Niki Baumann (636).
“It's very exciting because you've worked very hard and you've traveled and put the effort and time into it,” Schaffer said. “It will pay off eventually.”
Regardless of belt buckles won and saddles brought home, the dividends have already been adding up for Schaffer.
Next year she will head to Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne, Wyo., to rodeo. She has already been awarded a full-ride scholarship and plans on studying to be a dental hygienist.
It's been a long road up to this point for the young cowgirl. While Missoula is more of a pit stop in Schaffer's rodeo career, those who know her think she'll do plenty well down the line.
Just ask Mike Hollenbeck, who is a longtime family friend of the Schaffers and the national director of the MHSRA.
“KayTee, as mature as she is, once she gets to college her transition is going to be very simple,” Hollenbeck says.
“She takes care of her horses, she takes care of business, she takes care of her own entries. She's very responsible, so college is going to be an easy transition for a girl that's been taking care of herself as she has.”
So here's to the road and the rodeo life that follows. Next stop: Cheyenne.
Montana High School Finals Rodeo
Second go results
Bareback riding - 1 (tie), A.J. St. Giddard, Browning and Justin MIller, Billings, 77; 3, Brendon Lemmon, Lewistown, 72; 4, Shane Schutz, Molt, 71; 5, Jace McPherson, Forstyth, 70; 6, Chase Redfield, Ophiem, 67; 7, Jordan Rau, Cascade, 63.
Goat tying - 1, Brady Nordahl, Frenchtown, 8.29; 2, KayTee Schaffer, Broadus, 8.43; 3, Danielle Staudenmeyer, Dillon, 8.94; 4, Carol Peabody, Ekalaka, 9.05; 5, Niki Baumann, Belgrade, 9.29; 6 (tie), Cassidy Nordahl, East Helena and Katie Hoffman, Olive, 9.37; 8, Justinn Marshall, Saco, 9.65; 9, Sarah Ham, Columbia Falls, 9.69; 10, Lauren Reiser, Townsend, 9.72.
Saddle bronc - 1 (tie), Jake Halmes, Cascade and Shawn Hanley, Roundup, 77; 3, Clay Gruel, Great Falls, 74; 4, Brett Burman, 68.
Steer wrestling - 1, Tyler Erickson, Helena, 5.46; 2, Brett Poe, Townsend, 6.56; 3, Shaun Stebbins, Helena, 7.56; 4, Ben Ayre, Glendive, 7.73; 5, C.R. Kunesh, Helena, 8.76; 6, Garrett Hanson, Helena, 10.07; 7, Dalton Tamcke, Dillon, 10.45; 8, Witt Williams, Broadus, 12.12; 9, Dustin Stephens, Corvallis, 13.86; 10, Orry Fruit, Ekalaka, 15.01.
NOTE: Complete results were not available late Saturday night.
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