story by Michele Toberer
The Louisiana High School Rodeo Association has played a big part in the life of 17-year-old Cory Constance of Sulphur, Louisiana. He’s been a member since he was in sixth grade and has competed in multiple events over the years. As an eighth-grader, Cory represented the Louisiana Junior High Rodeo Association at the national junior high finals in Des Moines, Iowa in ribbon roping, goat tying, saddlebronc steer riding, and bareback steer riding, making it to the short-go in goat tying. Now that Cory is a senior at Sulphur High School, he has narrowed his events to team roping and calf roping. “I’ve enjoyed being a member of LHSRA and like the opportunities it has given me. I like that we always get to go to new places, and you meet new people everywhere you go.”
Cory is the youngest child of Chad and Karyn Constance, and although his older sister Amy and brother Jared are out on their own, his sister Skylar, 19, is still at home with Cory and his parents. Chad works as a safety man for a pipeline company, and Karyn is an engineering technician for Cameron LNG. “My dad is my biggest fan, and this all started when he put a rope in my hand years ago.” Cory is enjoying his final year at home as a high school student; and especially likes his ag and math classes. Besides his senior studies, he enjoys being involved in the school’s FFA program. After graduating, he plans to attend McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana and hopes to compete on the college rodeo team while studying to obtain a mechanical engineering degree. In his free time, Cory likes to deer hunt and hang out with his friends, but is often too busy with school, rodeo, and his part-time job with the City of Sulphur, where he works repairing water leaks throughout the city.
Cory competes in team roping on both ends, but most often enters as a header. He is roping with heeler, Ty Aymond, for the second season in the LHSRA, and the team is hopeful to finish this season with a national finals’ qualification. Cory has headed on a big, grey, 17-year-old gelding named Mojo for the past 3 years, and recently purchased a 6-year-old palomino mare he calls Rhianna. He’s roped calves off a 12-year-old sorrel gelding, Copper, since he was in eighth grade, and recently added an 11-year-old blue roan gelding, named Blue, to his lineup. Cory looks forward to taking these new horses into the next chapter of his rodeo career.
Team roping is Cory’s favorite event, and he remembers roping the dummy from the age of 3 and roping a steer from a horse for the first time when he was just 11 years old. Over the years, there have been many to help shape him into the roper he is today, but he credits a Steve Williams’ roping clinic that he attended last year for really stepping up his game. Cory is grateful to his neighbor, Keith Carlson, for helping him with calf roping. “Keith is a great roper and horse trainer and he has helped me for several years with my roping, and with my horses. I really appreciate his help.” Cory likes to watch professional ropers like Tyson Durfey, “I like his dismounts and I like the way he takes care of his horses. You can tell he really likes doing what he does.”
Cory also competes in the NLBRA and is currently sitting first in the World for Senior Boys All-Around. Over the years he’s won over 25 All-Around and Team Roping saddles. He was the 2018 Cajun Little Britches Tie-Down, Team Roping, Ribbon-Roping and All-Around Champion. He and his good friend, Jacob Montgomery recently qualified for the Junior American Rodeo and are looking forward to competing in Fort Worth, Texas on February 27th, “We’re ready for it.”
Cory really appreciates his mom and dad for hauling him up and down the road. He is also is very thankful for his sponsors; Equine Catalyst, Swamp Wraps, Smarty Young Pros, Willard Ropes, and P & P Trailer Sales.
