ProRodeo Sports News - June 25, 2021

COWBOY GRILLE WITH TANNER BARTH

How’d you get your start in rodeo? Beau: My parents both rodeoed, and we all grew up on a ranch. We have just kind of always done it our whole lives. My dad rodeoed professionally and was a pickup man for quite a few years. My mom did behind-the-scenes at things at rodeo events. So, I’ve ridden horses since I was a little kid and I always wanted to rope. Then, I fell in love with (tie-down roping) and here we are. When did you know you could make a career out of rodeo? Beau: To be honest with you, not very long ago. I think I only roped my first calf, like tie-down roping that is, probably when I was 14 or 15 years old. I’ve just gotten better and better ever since. Now, it’s something I’m going to try and do as career for a while. Why did you decide tie-down roping would be your event? Rookie cowboy Beau Cooper, 19, grew up on a ranch and always had the idea that one day he would be a professional cowboy. Cooper is from Stettler, Alberta, Canada, but has spent much of the past six months in America. The tie-down roper bought his PRCA card in March and finds himself atop the PRCA | Resistol Rookie Standings in tie-down roping with $16,107, which is also good enough for 27th in the PRCA | RAM World Standings as of June 22.

BEAU COOPER

Beau: At first, I kind of wanted to be a team roper. But then I started (tie-down roping) and just fell in love with it. It’s all on me when I go into the arena, and I love the competition. Once you start (tie-down roping) and you see a little progress you just want to keep going and work at it harder. It kind of becomes an addiction of sorts. What horses are you riding right now? Beau: I’m riding a horse my parents have owned since he was a yearling, and he’s 13 now. I had a horse get injured in 2019, so I went back to that horse and started training him. Now, we are both on a great run and know exactly what each other is going to do when we get in that arena. Why did you decide to get your PRCA card right out of high school? Beau: We didn’t get to rodeo last year in Canada, so I decided to come down here to get my permit. I filled that at a rodeo in Lake City, Fla., so I decided I might as well go ahead and get my card. It just kind of started to roll from there, it was a quick deal. I just got my card in March, and now I’m leading the rookie standings. Who is someone you look up to in the rodeo business right now? Beau: I have a pretty good mentor right now in 2013 PRCA World Champion

Shane Hanchey, he’s one of the best to ever do it. I kind of owe everything to him and his wife, Taylor. They’ve given me the opportunity to be down here and learn from them. It’s become like a second home for me. So, I’m grateful for them and just excited to be able to rodeo.

What your favorite TV show? Beau: I don’t get to watch a ton of tv, but we do like to turn on “Yellowstone” when we can. What’s your go-to meal before or after a rodeo? Beau: It sure seems like we eat a lot of Popeyes or Mexican food when we are on the road. What’s the first vehicle you drove? Beau: The first vehicle I drove was an old 2004 3500 Dodge RAM pickup. What do you do when you’re not rodeoing? Beau: I love hunting, I like it probably just as much as I do rodeo.

If I’m not out rodeoing, I’m going to be hunting for sure back in Canada. We hunt a lot of deer, elk and coyotes up there. It’s a really good time. What’s your favorite holiday? Beau: It’s probably when I’m hunting, I consider a hunting trip a holiday for sure. What was your favorite cartoon growing up? Beau: I would say either “Wile E. Coyote and the Roadrunner” or “Tom and Jerry.”

ProRodeo Sports News 6/25/2021

ProRodeo.com

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