Dane Kissack has been a cowboy his entire life. For years, the South Dakota native competed in the professional rodeo scene as a calf roper, starting in high school and eventually reaching the American Rodeo Semi-Finals Qualifier. Each time out, all his training and focus culminated in an exciting burst that lasted under 10 seconds.
Now, Dane is on a different path as a Farm Bureau agent. Here, he talks about his previous life, his new calling and why insurance was such a natural fit.
Tell us about your career as a pro calf roper. How’d you get into the sport?
I was actually in a Wrangler ad in full western attire when I was 2 so it's all I’ve ever known. I’m very much at peace with my rodeo career because I won championships at every level. I finally got to a place where I could be satisfied with my professional career as well, so I decided to move on to the next chapter of life. God richly blessed my rodeo career.
What inspired you to make the switch from rodeos to the insurance field?
Once I decided to retire, I knew my God-given purpose is still the same and will be for the rest of my life. My purpose is to lead, motivate, inspire and help others, so I saw a great avenue to continue that as an insurance agent.
What’s been the biggest adjustment?
I would say the biggest adjustment I've had to make is learning how to hit a steady pace all day chipping away at things. As a professional rodeo athlete, I would gradually build up all day to max out for 7 or 8 seconds of competing. Type in my name on YouTube to see an example!
You can see Dane’s channel here.
What do you miss most? Is there anything you definitely don’t miss?
Like any professional athlete, I miss competing at a sold-out NBA or NFL stadium full of rodeo fans, with very loud music and thousands of dollars on the line. But on the other hand, I do not miss the all-night drives, traveling tens of thousands of miles and not really having a net profit.
You previously worked in sales, right? How did that prepare you for a successful role as an insurance agent?
The summer of 2015, I wasn't winning very much so I decided to come back home to the Black Hills and try to make some money. I received an opportunity to sell Harley’s during the 75th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. I didn’t know a thing about a Harley, but I gave it a shot and ended up selling 33 motorcycles in 10 days. I wore my belt buckle, and I think it gave me an edge over the other salesmen.
What do you love most about your new path?
What I love most is that I get to spend time with all kinds of people and help them in the ways that I can. There are also ministry opportunities to encourage folks and remind them God has a great plan for them. I absolutely love how our products go hand in hand with my purpose in life and adding value to others.
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