Five year old Colton Workman of Lincoln, Ark., may have only one hand to rope with, but he has more than enough heart to catch any roping calf or steer he encounters in the arena.Described by his family as coming into the world like a firecracker on the Fourth of July, Colton was born with only half of his left arm, but twice the determination. Born into a rodeo family, his parents, Brittany and Lewis Workman, roped and ran barrels, as well as his two older sisters, Tabor and Kayden. Colton was roping the dummy not long after his first birthday, and once old enough to ride by himself, he quickly figured out how to hold the reins with his left arm, which he refers to as his nub, and swing his rope with his right hand, his coils held securely by an attachment on his saddle.
When Colton’s dad passed away in 2013 after a car accident, thousands of people mourned the outgoing cowboy’s death. Eight-time world champion roper Roy Cooper heard about Colton losing his dad, and in December of that year, his foundation contacted Brittany, asking if the Cooper family could meet Colton in January. Roy, Clint, Clif, and Tuf, became fast friends with Colton, and he looks up to each one as a mentor. “After we met the Coopers, they took Colton into the Cooper Rodeo Foundation and the Rope Your Dreams Scholarship,” Brittany remembers. “Roy says Colton is family, and Colton is very close to the them.”
“What a great little kid!” says Roy. “He doesn’t even know he’s disabled. He’s so sharp and smart, and he’s got a great attitude.” Since becoming part of the Cooper family, Colton not only participates in their clinics and competes in their ropings, but he also travels with Tuf to events like The American and the WNFR. Through his travels, he has met numerous figures in the rodeo world, including Lane Frost’s parents. Signing autographs with Tuf and Trevor Brazile, and attending Elevation Sunday during the WNFR are always highlights for Colton. Having just entered Kindergarten, he has a multitude of all-access passes to some of the largest rodeos in the U.S., which Colton keeps with other mementos in a shadowbox in his room. He even has a letter written to him by the House of Congress in 2014, stating that Colton “is an inspiration to all.”
Colton’s travels have also helped him connect with other children who have disabilities. “Last year at The American, Colton met a little girl in a wheel chair, whose wish was to meet Colton,” says Brittany. “Other kids also want to meet him and touch his nub or ask him questions about it. Colton has met so many kids like him and he talks about them all the time. He doesn’t forget anyone.”
Having made so many connections with kids his age, Colton wasn’t expecting to be bullied when he entered Kindergarten this fall. Brittany wrote a piece on Facebook to spread awareness about bullying, and it was shared 24,000 times. “We got calls worldwide from kids who wanted to talk to Colton,” says Brittany. “I didn’t expect it to take off like that! We’ve even been contacted by The One-Armed Bandit (John Payne) and Willie Hart, the one-armed team roper, who have encouraged Colton.”
In November, the family started an anti-bullying project – Saddle Up and Together Let’s Rein in Bullying. “We designed a t-shirt for our project, and in January, we’re doing an assembly in Arkansas which will be televised by RFD-TV and local stations. We’re going to three schools in one day with several rodeo athletes who have disabilities, as well as athletes from other sports,” Brittany explains. “We’re hoping this will make children more aware of bullying, and for parents to talk to their children about it, because the change has to start at home.”
While Colton loves travelling, he finds equal joy in roping at home and competing in Roy Cooper’s ropings, as well as the USTRC and the CWRA. In 2015, he won the CWRA finals average in his age division, as well as the CWRA 7 – 10 Breakaway Roping Champion title, earning him a saddle, and a buckle, which is his current favorite to wear. He ropes the dummy every day and practices on live calves three times a week, riding his dad’s 17-year-old roping mare, Molly. His sisters, Tabor (11), and Kayden (eight) join him in the practice pen. The siblings also have a younger sister, Andi (18 months). Their step-dad, Ray Huffaker, is a team roping heeler, and he is teaching Colton to team rope. Colton also plans to be a tie-down roper, and he has taught himself how to tie a calf dummy, pulling the piggin’ string tight with his nub.
Colton further enjoys hunting and helping on his family’s ranch, from moving cattle to baling hay and cutting wood. He is also responsible for catching and feeding his horses, and he has even been known to stand on his roping dummy, pretending to crack the whip like John Payne. “Colton is very determined to be like everyone else,” says Brittany. “Whatever it is, he’ll figure it out! Shriners Hospital provided Colton with a prosthetic, and he uses it sometimes, but mostly he would rather use his nub.”
Taught to meet challenges head on, Colton’s dream is to make a career out of tie-down and team roping. His family and the Cooper Rodeo Foundation have given him the confidence and tools to succeed, and their encouragement has helped make Colton the inspiration he is today to people around the world. “Through this anti-bullying project, God has really opened my eyes to the reason Colton is here,” says Brittany. “There are a lot of children out there struggling with disabilities and Colton’s story has been a huge influence for them. Even if it’s people who don’t have disabilities, I think one of Colton’s purposes is to help encourage other children and adults.”
