story by Lily Weinacht
L.J. and J.C. Yeahquo are almost precisely one year apart — 361 days to be exact — but they might as well be twins. Their full names are Luke Jarrett and Jeremiah Cole but L.J. and J.C. rolls off the tongue faster than they can rope a steer, which gets faster every year. They rope together everywhere, from winning the team roping at the Cavalcade Rodeo in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, last year, to competing in the NLBRA and the OHSRA. They also enter WSTR and USTRC ropings, roped at the 2017 Junior NFR, and most recently, The Patriot. “That was one for the books for sure!” says J.C., the younger of the two at 17. “We got fourth in the average in the #12 championships.”
The brothers, who hail from Crescent, Oklahoma, are carrying on their family’s rodeo tradition along with their oldest brother, Jessy. They also have an older sister, Sierra. “I look up to my dad, Luke Yeahquo,” says L.J. “He’s taught us everything we know, and on my mom, Jennifer’s, side of the family, everybody kind of rodeos.” Two of L.J. and J.C.’s uncles are also in the National Cowboy Hall of Fame — Pete Fredericks and Joe Chase. “I live and breathe team roping,” says L.J., the heeler, who also competes in tie-down roping and ribbon roping. “It’s what I’ve worked at pretty much every day since I was a little kid.” Likewise, team roping is J.C.’s favorite since he gets to rope with his brother, and he too competes in tie-down and ribbon roping. He shook up the family’s roping trend by entering the steer wrestling this year. The brothers joined the NLBRA when they heard the finals were moving to Guthrie, Oklahoma — just 30 minutes from home — and qualified in all their events the past two years.
J.C. and L.J. practice daily, using a study hall hour to tackle homework at school so they have more time to ride. “Our teachers are real lenient with us. They know how hard we work at rodeo, so if they know we don’t have anything going in school, they’ll let us leave so we can go home and practice.” J.C. also works on a ranch nearby, working cattle and riding colts. He trained his head horse, Hank, and he and L.J. share a calf horse, Little Man. Both brothers had horse troubles just before the Junior NFR when L.J.’s main horse, Fuzzy, injured his stifle, and J.C.’s horse got sick. L.J. rode Little Man, and J.C. borrowed Jessy’s horse, Joe Money. Like his brother, L.J. trained one of his horses, Little Gray, whom he’s ridden at several NLBRA rodeos and hopes to turn into an all-around horse since his best horse passed away in February.
Both brothers are juniors at Crescent High School and agree that math is their favorite subject. They were homeschooled for several years, but decided to return to public school this year. “Most of the time we have the same classes — I’m sure the teachers don’t like that some days,” J.C. jokes. “We have a really good math teacher this year, and math makes you think a lot more than the other subjects.”
When they’re not roping with each other, the brothers rope with their family, holding contests in the front yard. Their brother Jessy enters USTRC jackpots with them, and their dad also team ropes. L.J. and J.C. occasionally trade their ropes for pool cues and play pool with their neighbor, and family time also includes going to church.
Following graduation next year, J.C. and L.J. plan to college rodeo together. They’re considering Tarleton State University, and hope to share a house and an arena. “One of my biggest goals since I was in middle school is to be a 9 heeler by the time I graduate. I’m currently a 7-plus,” says L.J. J.C. adds, “I want to make the Junior Ironman next year and The American, and I’d like to be an NFR cowboy and win the world. L.J.’s been holding off for me so when I turn 18, I can get my permit and we can start hauling to pro rodeos. It’s an awesome feeling to go out there and win with my brother.”
