United by the work
About USF
United Strongman Federation was built to fill a void in the strongman world: a federation that respects the history and quirkiness of the sport, adds the professionalism and standardization to move it into the future, and is open and available for anyone to join. USF values clarity, communication, and mutual respect. We deliver high-quality competitions; curate top-notch resources; and foster a robust network of athletes, professionals, and supporters at all levels of the sport. Drawing on over 40 years of combined strongman experience from the founding team, USF brings together athletes, promoters, coaches, and fans of strongman to build a new kind of federation. It’s community driven, forward-looking, and invested in delivering the best possible experience on and off the competition floor.
This is what strongman can be. This is USF.
Vision, Mission, and Values
Vision
Our vision is a unified strongman community that harnesses the collective power of the sport to build relationships, push boundaries, and change lives.
Mission
Our mission is to build a strongman organization that centers the athlete experience; supports the individuals who make the sport happen on the ground; and provides a positive environment for anyone who loves to train, promote, or support strongman. We find a balance between the variability that makes our sport unique and the standardization that makes it professional and sustainable.
Values
Act with Integrity
Our actions are honest and transparent. We act in line with our values and in the best interest of the community. Our inbox is always open.
Build Trust
Trust is earned. When we say we’re going to do something, we do it to the best of our ability. We always tell the truth.
Deliver Quality
Quality extends to every aspect of our organization from the website to the competition floor, and everything in between. Creating a high-quality experience for athletes, promoters, and supporters is at the heart of what we do.
Lead with Sportsmanship and Camaraderie
Strength comes from collaboration and building others up. We embrace the positive power of strongman and invite everyone to join us in creating our community.
Meet the Team
Derek Owens
Founder & CEO
Despite his desire to stay behind the scenes and keep the focus on the community, Derek’s infectious energy and passion for the sport put him at the forefront of building USF.
Derek is the owner of Battle Axe Barbell in Garland, Texas and has competed in strongman since 2016. He is a Pro strongman whose competition achievements include a 3rd place finish at 90kg World’s Strongest Man, an axle clean & press world record, and numerous appearances at high-level national and international competitions. Derek is also a decorated coach and respected strongman event promoter. Together with his wife, Shelley, he owns and operates Owens Media, the premier photography service for major strength events nationwide.
Shelley Owens
Founder & COO
Shelley is glue that holds the federation - and the family’s other pursuits - together. She dabbles in strongman competition while also being the driver behind Owens Media, the premier photography provider for strength events in the US, and promoting some of the country’s best loved strongman events, including the North Texas Strength Expo.
Professionally, Shelley has spent nearly 20 years in the beauty industry with a background in establishing new businesses, opening new locations, and training new teams. She is uniquely positioned to seamlessly weave her experience with business structures into the wild world of strongman.
Katie Feeley
Director, Operations & Events
Katie has been competing in strongman since 2012 and promoting strongman competitions since 2015. Prior to her time in strongman, she organized events and ran operations for both fitness businesses and nonprofit organizations. You’ve likely seen her running around behind the scenes of shows at every level all across the United States. She is also a long-time board member of Body Positive Fitness Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to making fitness spaces more accessible and inclusive. Katie is excited to combine her love of strongman with her experience in operations, inclusive fitness, and end-to-end event planning as part of the USF team.
