story by Michele Toberer
With four generations of cowboys behind him, it was no surprise that Cole Ford of Sulphur, Louisiana, would find himself in the rodeo arena. However, despite the family history steeped in rank rodeo runs, it wasn’t until Cole was watching the WNFR on television as a sixth-grader, that Shane Hanchey’s fast calf tying hands, got the rodeo blood pumping in his 10-year-old body. Until then, he had heard plenty of rodeo stories, but his dad, Cody Clement, grandpa, Brent Clement, and great-grandpa, Arden Clement, had all retired from rodeo, and Cole spent much of his time on the baseball field. After that night watching fellow-Louisianan Shane, Cole went to his great-grandpa Arden, and the men in his family quickly jumped into action, to bring this youngest male of the family into the rodeo folds.
“My great-grandpa rodeoed since he could walk, he competed at the very first National High School Rodeo Association rodeo there ever was, he competed as a calf roper for most of his life, and trained calf horses until he was in his 70’s. I think he was excited when I came to him for help with calf roping. He’s taught me so much about horsemanship and riding calf horses well.” The Louisiana High School Rodeo Association has been a part of the Clement family for 70 years, after Arden’s LHSRA years his son Brent, a steer wrestler, competed in LHSRA, followed by his grandson, Cody, who rode saddlebroncs in the association. Cody, who now works as a safety director at a local petrochemical plant, was thrilled when the stepson he has raised as his own, felt the draw towards rodeo as well. “My dad and grandpa Brent did everything they could to make sure I was on the right calf horse, and my grandpa helped me tying calves, and finally, I graduated to roping calves off a horse.” They bought a horse from Mike Arnold in Huntsville, Texas; a 13-year-old bay horse named Beaux, and Cole started competing in the LJHSRA in 7th grade.
Cole had a strong work-ethic that kept him practicing every day, and he had the opportunity to visit Shane Hanchey and practice with him after attending one of his schools, “Shane took me under his wing and has made me the roper I am today. He’s like a big brother to me, I’m very blessed to have his support.” Shane told the Clements about a 13-year-old strawberry roan gelding named Thumper that he thought would propel Cole into stronger competition. Cole feels that Thumper has done exactly that, “I could not ask for a better horse, all the big events I’ve won have been on him. I wouldn’t be the caliber roper I am without him.” Cole was the Reserve Champion Calf Roper at the 2015 Joe Beaver Junior Superstars roping, and at the LHSRA 2017 State Finals, he won two rounds and the average, and Thumper was named the AQHA Horse of the Year.
The 17-year-old, Sulphur High School senior enjoys spending time with his family; his mom Hollie is very supportive, and he loves having his little brother, Chasen, 5, hang out with him at the practice pen. Besides school, roping takes most of his time, and he’s currently giving a few lessons when he’s not practicing himself. “After what Shane has done for me, I want to do that for another kid. I realize how much the younger kids look up to the older ones.” After graduating, Cole hopes to get a ranchland management or agriculture related degree while competing in college rodeo, with the dream of one day being in the WNFR arena, and hopefully inspiring another young cowboy to follow the rodeo path. “It’s honestly all I dream about, my goal is to be the person that Shane Hanchey is, I look up to him a lot.”
Cole appreciates his sponsors for their help getting him down the rodeo road; Willard Rope Company, Perfect Calf, Rodeo Wellness Center, OE Nutraceuticals, Iconoclast Support Boots, and Chute 13 Leatherwork. And he is forever grateful to his grandpa, parents, and Shane Hanchey, “If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
**See story on Cole’s great grandpa, Arden Clement – Back When They Bucked
