This Is Texas: Fourth-Grader Making A Name For Himself In Rodeo
Follow CBSDFW.COM: Facebook | Twitter
KELLER (CBS11) - As he heads into fourth grade, Cooper Lane carries with him more experience in rodeo than he does in school! He has boots that are so worn out, his feet could fall through them, but he says "they're just broken in."
He's an energetic young man, who loves livin' the country life, and rodeo.
While most of his friends his age are playing endless baseball, soccer, football etc, Coop, is ridin.'
At the family's home in Keller, dad Brent literally built a good sized rodeo arena in their larger than normal backyard.
Complete with bucking chute, signs on the fencing, and plenty of soft dirt for when Cooper loses the fight against a prized animal!
Dad Brent, and mom Pam both love what the sport has done for Cooper. They tell me it's given him confidence, while also giving him responsibilities. He's up before the crack of dawn daily, to feed, and clean stalls. It's his job. I'm sure mom and dad might help out here and there, but make no bones about it, Coop's life includes lots of work to make this all happen.
He started out five years ago riding sheep, but every couple of years, the animals get bigger, faster, and stronger.
Mom is not a fan of what will happen when Cooper gets to his mid teens. That's when bulls come into play. As she puts it, everything he rides right now, won't come looking for you after you get bucked off, or jump off. Once you start riding bulls, that game changes. They do look for you. That scares mom.
But even the smaller animals can put up a tough fight. Recently, Cooper broke two bones in his left arm. But he's riding through the pain, with a fancy cast holding those precious bones in place until they can heal.
Cooper will practice two to three times a week, in his backyard arena that any rodeo rider would envy. And the ability to practice at a moments notice is paying off. He recently won the Texas Youth State Championships. But that is just another win, in a long list. With wins come belt buckles, but competing also brings in good money sometimes. As mom Pam says regarding competitions and money, "If he covers his entry fees for that weekend, we've done pretty well."
But Coop has done more than that, one weekend, he brought home $1,800! Nearly all the money goes right into his college fund, but he gets a little funny money so he can do what he'd like. Can't fault him for that, he deserves it!
As this story is written, Wednesday, August 5, Cooper has just finished in the top ten at the Youth World Bull Riding Championships out in Abilene!
Here's video of him riding in the event.
He rides Thursday and Friday, then the top 15 from this week, will compete for all the hay, buckles, and cash, on Saturday. Ride strong, ride hard, and ride safe Cooper. We're rootin' for ya!!
(©2015 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
