by Kelsey Temmen
Twelve-year-old Justin, from Cutoff, La., competes in all varieties of roping, including ribbon roping, team roping, breakaway roping, and tie-down roping. Although he doesn’t compete in tie-down roping during LJHRA events, Justin says he plans to continue advancing his skills as he gets older because it is his favorite event. “I love roping because it’s something I can do with my dad.” His father, John Plaisance, was a huge factor in what started Justin’s passion for the sport from a very early age. “After watching my dad, I saw the professionals doing it and I wanted to try it too. My biggest role models are Trevor Brazile and Tuf Cooper. If I could spend the day roping with someone, it would be Tuf.”
His love for the sport isn’t just because of watching the professionals now. “I like the excitement and the adrenaline when you back up into the box and then everything after that. I also like the people that I meet while rodeoing.” Justin has 2 quarter horse mares named Red and Deuce. “Red is 30-years-old and Deuce is 20-years-old. They are both really laid-back until I get them in the roping box and then they know what they have to do.” Justin’s favorite rodeos are the LJHRA rodeos. “The junior high rodeos give me a chance to look professional and they are the most real.”
Justin has been quite the accomplished athlete in the world of rodeo. He is very proud of his accomplishments and thanks his family for that support, including his mother, Julie Plaisance. “I am most proud of my three trophy saddles that I have won for being the all-around cowboy in the AYRA in 2014, 2015, and 2016. My goal is to become a professional roper and make it to the NFR in Las Vegas one day.”
Justin’s favorite subject in school is math. “I like math because it’s fun and easy. When I grow up I want to be a mechanical engineer.” When not at the Virtual Academy of Lafourche, Justin is an avid roper and enjoys doing that and riding horses in any free time he can get. In addition to his roping talents, Justin has also played the drums, been involved in 4-H for 3 years, and played other outdoor activities. “Something that not very many people know about me is that I also ride scooters. And sometimes I wish my talent was as good at that as I am roping.”
