story by Lindsay King
Bodie Hine from Ignacio, Colorado, is living every heeler’s dream as both his dad Richy and brother Chance, 20, are headers in the team roping. “We are roping every chance we get. If we are not roping steers we are on the dummy or the goat practicing. Team roping is my passion, I just loving doing it,” said the 14-year-old. He also competes in the ribbon and breakaway roping in the NMJHSRA. “I am mostly roping calves to help with the all-around points and to have a little extra fun at rodeos.” His dad grew up team roping and his mom Jennifer was a barrel racer, Bodie has been around rodeo his whole life. “My dad ran a ranch for a guy and I would help him all the time. When we gathered cattle, I learned how to rope and have been competing ever since.” His brother was more into baseball until he turned 15 and tried his hand at heading and loved it.
His dad and brother give Bodie advice on his roping technique while his mom keeps his mind on track and the nerves down. “I have always had help from everyone around me. Calvin Buffalo is a like an uncle to me and he has helped me out quite a bit. As has my uncle on my mom’s side, Michael. We try to surround ourselves with good ropers.” Bodie admires both Jake Barnes and Junior Nogueira. “Junior has never had it easy, he overcame a lot of stuff and is now the best. I want to be just like him. He gives the glory to and loves God. I admire him a lot.” Bodie aspires to do what few have done before: win a world championship his rookie year in the PRCA. “I am homeschooled now, but after I graduate I am going to amateur rodeo with my brother. And then straight to the PRCA to make the NFR my rookie year.” Aside from Vegas, Bodie is looking forward to competing at the American. “You compete for a lot of money there, and you can make it all in one day, which is pretty incredible when you think about it.”
Though he enjoys all the NMJHSRA locations, Carlsbad is probably Bodie’s favorite set up. “My goal for this year is to not miss any more steers and to win state so I can go to nationals of course. I am hoping to get my number raised this year also. I think if you get your number raised then you are roping well enough that people have taken notice. Some people don’t like it when they get moved, but I take it as a compliment to all the hard work I have put into roping.” All Bodie truly wants out of life is to rope, all day every day. He plans to train some horses when he grows up as well. “The hardest part about rodeo is not letting into my head. Just knowing when I need to be fast and when I just need to catch. All I try to do is rope smart and not do anything dumb.”
The Ignacio Middle School eighth grader plans to be homeschooled next year and played in his final football season this past fall. “I like being part of a team and I like to tackle. The last two years I have played running back, but part of this year I was the wide receiver. On defense I played line backer and safety.” If he had to pick a favorite college team it would be Alabama. Bodie and his roping partner have been working together since the fifth grade. “My proudest moment in rodeo was winning second at the number eight shoot out at the USTRC finals this year in OKC with Quincy Sullivan. We have been working at it a long time.” Quincy and Bodie qualified for the JNFR this year, but were unable to attend. Their plan is to qualify again this year and make the trip to Vegas.
