story by Lindsay King
Finishing in the top 20 at nationals last summer wasn’t the first shock of July for Brock Boutwell from Clint, Texas. “I got sixth place in the second round, now that really shocked me. As a sixth grader I thought the other kids would smoke me because they were homeschooled and got to rope all day every day on multiple horses,” said the 12-year-old with a strong hankering for the breakaway roping. In the blink of an eye – 2.6 seconds – Brock showcased the skills he earned the hard way. “Nobody in my family ropes calves, they are all mostly team ropers. One day my dad just told me to go chase a calf. I nodded my head and surprisingly I caught him. I was seven years old and I have loved roping calves ever since.” With plans to become a tie-down roper in the next year, this goat tying, heeling, ribbon roper started in the barrels and poles when he was “itty bitty.”
“My parents (Boge and Nikki) got me started in rodeo and have helped me get here today. My dad helps me get better every day, but my mom has been a huge help this year.” As an insurance adjustor, Boge was needed on the road after a plethora of storms hit the east coast in early spring. “My mom did the nine-hour drive through the night to Farmington (the first rodeo of the season) because my dad was gone. My mom hauled me almost all season until my dad got home.” Brock recounts how his trip to nationals was just further affirmation that hard work truly does pay off in the long run. “At one point this season I couldn’t rope worth a darn. I had to just keep roping and roping, and sure enough I made it to nationals as the reserve state champion.” He also took his sharp shooting skills in the light rifle to the next level at nationals. “I figure, if I can make it to nationals as a sixth grader then there is no telling what I can do in the next few years of junior high.”
This necessary, high-level confidence comes from time spent watching Brock’s hero: Trevor Brazile. “He can do so many different things: he can team rope, calf rope, completely change his loop. He can do things that most professional athletes can only dream of. His words inspire me the most out of anybody and I just love to watch him rope.” Brock can remember the days when his rope rarely graced the neck of a calf or horns of a steer. At the worst of times, he felt like giving up, but as he looks back he can see significant improvements throughout his short rodeo career. His goal is to continuously improve. “If I am going to make it to nationals again this year, I have to keep improving my roping and horsemanship. As we started the new season, my horse seems to have forgotten a few things. I just have to help her remember what she is supposed to do.”
Though most would guess football is Brock’s favorite sport, it’s actually basketball. “Everyone says I am better at football than basketball, but I like it (basketball) more. Everyone has the chance to make an impact on the game in it,” said the Clint Junior High School seventh grader. He’s an avid Golden State Warriors and Dallas Cowboys fan who likes playing basketball in his backyard or fishing in the drainage ditch in his free time. Though, low and behold, rodeo is his one true love. “The junior highs are always fun, I get to see all my friends and I seem to do pretty well. The locations are all great but I like Gallup the best. There is a bunch of stuff to do there. The trails behind the rodeo arena are neat and it is just always the most fun place to compete at.”
