story by Siri Stevens
Jacob and Ty Rogers compete in the AJRA in the tie down roping. Coming from Rockwall, Texas, the two young men agree on one thing – they like their church community and AJRA rodeos. “It’s awesome,” said 14-year-old Ty. “It’s a fun atmosphere to go rope.” Ty, older brother Jacob, and mom and dad, Lucinda and Toby live in Rockwall, Texas, just east of Dallas.
Jacob agrees with Ty’s assessment of AJRA. “They’ve been around awhile so it’s a historically important association to be part of. Most junior rodeo associations don’t offer slack as an option – that opens opportunities for us – we can run all our calves in one day and go other places.” Both young men are home schooled, which allows more time to rodeo and practice.
“There aren’t are not a lot of rodeo people around us, and the flexibility of home schooling lets us go to more bigger rodeos,” said Ty, who is a freshman. The family has made the trip to Las Vegas for Junior World Finals, Vegas Tuffest, and Las Vegas Stars the past two years. They also belong to the Texas High School Rodeo Association and Ultimate Calf Roping. Ty started in rodeo when he was 11, but he wanted to about a year before that. He’s always had horses since his family ranches in Paris, Texas. He had Cash Myers help him with all the basics. “He lived just down the road from us. He was a great inspiration for us. When he moved away, Ryan Franks stepped in and continued to help with our our roping and horsemanship. We rope at the house, and we rope all the time unless it’s wet.” The boys have practiced and competed against each other their entire rodeo career. “This will be the first year we don’t get to,” said Ty, who will stay in the same age division while Jacob will move up. “It can be fun when I win,” said Ty about competing against Jacob. “But when I lose it doesn’t go so well.” Ty rides Lily, a mare that came from Kase Bacque right before Vegas “She has helped my confidence; she is a stronger horse than I’ve had and that makes my job easier.” Lily is quicker off the line and has a quicker stop than the ranch-raised, home trained horse Ty was riding. Ty is hoping to go to college and rodeo and after that he has his sites set on the Finals. Once his rodeo career is over, he wants to work in the horse industry or on a ranch. “I’d like to continue working with horses my whole life.”
The family spends every weekend at an event. “We support the dream and live each day to the fullest,” said Lucinda, who grew up showing cattle in 4H. She likes going to the Ultimate Calf Roping events, which are numbered ropings and the boys as well as their dad, who rope against others in their numbers. “It puts the boys around mentors and some great people that help give them wisdom and perspective. That’s been good for them.”
Jacob, who is a couple years older than Ty, has learned patience in the practice pen with his younger brother. “We’ve been blessed to have our own horses – so we don’t have to share that.” Jacob rides an 11-year-old mare, Fancy, trained by Terry Cartwright from Tennessee. “When she was 8, we went up to Tennessee after Cash saw the listing on social media.” They left at 5 am and came back with a horse. “It took me a little bit to get in tune with her – she was the most powerful horse I’d ridden -– before Fancy, I was riding a ranch horse that I taught how to rope. From that to something that had been to pro rodeos, it was a different caliber.” Jacob won the Texas State Fair Rodeo in the 19 and under and has big plans to finish strong. He is looking at colleges but hasn’t made his mind up. “I want to major in Ag Business and hopefully that opens the opportunities for a sales position somewhere in the Western industry.” He loves selling. “My grandfather had a fireworks stand every fourth of July – I started selling in 6th grade. My aunt opened up a snow cone stand and there I was. Year before last, I sold my Uncles horse trailer and I really liked doing that. Trucks and trailers have always fascinated me – just the level of awesomeness that comes from a sweet rig – I’d love to sell them.”
“They did all the work,” said 16x National Qualifier Cash Myers, who coached Jacob and Ty in one of his clinics four years ago. “They were both eager to learn and green as grass.” Cash’s kids roped with them when Cash lived closer. “I just showed them what needs to be done and they execute it. I was just lucky to be involved.” Cash grew up going to his dad’s (Butch) schools. “I’ve competed at a high level and I know how hard it is to do it.”
