TACK CROSS QUALIFIES FOR JUNIOR PATRIOT RODEO

Tack Cross, 13, of Banner County has qualified in breakaway roping for the Junior Patriot Rodeo in Fort Worth, Texas.

He said there will be "kids from all across the country; you can qualify in every state" at the Junior Patriot Rodeo held Feb. 28-March 10, 2024. "It will be cool to compete against a bunch of famous kids that already rope a lot."

The lessons Tack has gained from the sport of rodeo will guide him throughout his future. Tack was quick to share lessons learned through roping: "It teaches big lessons in life, like try hard. You always have to practice hard to have a good outcome in the end."

And, he added, "You need to be tough."

During the summer, Tack is either roping or riding every day, and during the Wyoming Junior Rodeo Association season, Tack and his family hit the two-day weekend rodeos in such places as Thermopolis, Sundance, Casper and Buffalo. Then on Sept. 2-3, Tack participated in the 2024 Jr. Patriot Finals Qualifier-the Energy Capital Rodeo in Gillette, Wyoming. With times of 5.31, 4.53 and 5.81, Tack qualified for the big event in Texas.

In the qualifying finals, each roper gets two head a day and must make the best of it each and every time.

"I wasn't sure if I won first or not, and I got the check, and it said first on it," he recalled.

Don't let the name Lumpy, Tack's horse, fool you; he is a good one. According to Tack, he is the best horse on their place. Lumpy is Tack's responsibility as he must keep him in shape, take care of him on the road, and have him shoed.

In addition to breakaway roping, Tack competes in team roping and calf tying.

He has been roping since he was 4 or 5.

"The second I got into it, I liked it a lot," he said.

Since entering competitions when he was 9, Tack admits his favorite event is "probably team roping. It is really fun. I am getting into calf tying. My dad was a big calf tier (tie-down roping). It is fun having him teach me."