The Family that Plays Together

Photography by Justin Robinson

Most kids of this digital age spend a lot of time in front of a screen but there are still plenty that like to get outside. Hunter and Tucker Whitten of Chase City, VA are two such kids. Amy, mother and teacher at Bluestone Middle School, said she had a challenge on her hands when Hunter went to school. “He’s all boy,” she said as she smiled and remarked that school didn’t hold a lot of interest for her little man. His grades were suffering and he wasn’t happy with the situation. “He wanted to be outside.” Having seen their Uncle Ben on the rodeo circuit both boys wanted to be cowboys and ride in the rodeo. “I watched him once,” Hunter said. “It was pretty cool. I liked all of it.” Amy knew that the rodeo had children’s events, so she decided to present some options. If Hunter would maintain his grades, he could join the rodeo. “In order to get to ride he has to be on Honor Roll,” Amy said. “He has worked hard to do his part. On the weekend before the rodeo we have to get chores done before we leave. We all have to work together or they don’t go.”

Amy and husband Jacob signed the boys up with the International Miniature Bullriding Association (IMBA) out of the Shenandoah Valley. Kids are grouped by age, learn pertinent skills and have the opportunity to ride in the rodeo. Of course the children don’t start out riding bulls. Amy said that IMBA kids begin at age four in the Walk Out Class, learning things like how to sit and hold the the rigging. Hunter, 7, and Tucker, 5 , participated in Mutton Busting, where a sheep is held still in a small chute by an adult handler, a rider is placed on top and the sheep is released. While it’s never certain what the animal will do, most of the time the sheep will try to run away and get the child off of it. Prizes are awarded for the kids that can stay on the longest. Hunter started riding calves in August last year after he had aged out of Mutton Busting.

Understandably, most kids can’t stay on their animal and fall off in less than eight seconds. There are also height and weight restrictions to prevent injuries to the animal. Children are required to wear safety gear and parents are asked to sign waivers. “It’s not scary. Sometimes you get one that’s crazy but if you get one that busts through the chute you get another ride.” he said, not a bit concerned about the prospects of injury. Amy, a very concerned mother, took a more practical approach and confessed that while it’s hard to watch her child in a precarious situation, she understands that accidents can happen regardless of what a child is doing. She noted

that both her children have learned valuable skills and a heightened awareness that she believes will help them in life. “Luckily neither have been hurt,” she said, then sighed. “They got a little road rash from being drug.” The note in her voice changed a bit as she conveyed the feeling any good mom has when her children have had to learn a lesson the hard way. “They wouldn’t let go of the rope,” she said. Hunter added, “AND I got stepped on but I won $160.” Tucker chimed in to say that he also rode a sheep and that he stayed on an entire four seconds, “Then the sheep rolled over on me.” Hunter shared that his best ride was on “Short Sleeve” a mini bull. You could hear the excitement in his voice recounting the experience. “He bucked and bucked. I held on. My hand was good. Everything was perfect. Rode the full 8 seconds.” When asked what he thought about while riding “Short Sleeve,” he responded, “Your mind is kind of blank. It has to be blank so you can focus - mostly watching the gate. He drove me all the way around the arena. I got stuck. There was too much rosin on the rope, it was too sticky. Coming off side I got stepped on. He stepped on my leg. I had to get new chaps. It hurt but I walked it off. Mom bought funnel cake and it was good. Took about two weeks to get rid of that bruise.” Amy remarked that watching her children ride can be difficult. She worries for them but she also knows that this sport makes them stronger and better people. “It doesn’t get easier over time.” she said. “Hunter was under a sheep in the chute once but if they’re going to get hurt they are going to get hurt. At least I know where they are at and I’m big into being a good human. It makes us closer. We were really tight before but this just adds to it.” Hunter sometimes gets worried about his little brother. “I get afraid for Tucker sometimes. I don’t like to see anyone get drug.” Tucker explained that he likes it when he first starts his ride. “When we get in the chute we get more luck. Mom and dad are in the chute. It feels good when everybody cheers. Everybody cheers for everybody.” Amy explained that when the riders enter the chute everyone “sends luck” for a good ride.

The boys practice between events on “Bucky,” their homemade bucking barrel, that can be made to move and bounce around. “They have to learn to put their rigging on and helmet and spur boots.

Hunter thinks his boots are very cool and is very proud of his spurs. They also wear gloves and a mouthpiece.” She gingerly brushed the hair out of her baby’s eyes and smiled at him. Hunter remarked that he isn’t happy with the rough stock he is working with this year, that they don’t know what they are doing. According to Amy, last year’s stock had been worked with extensively and knew how to perform as expected but that the circuit annually cycles out the livestock used for competition. “They have never been ridden and tend to be wilder and don’t know what they are supposed to do.” She reminded her son that towards the end of the year they would be better and explained further that this was a hands on and family oriented sport.

The kids have an entire network of families that watch out for each other on the circuit. Tucker commented that for the closer rodeos the family drives back and forth.“But sometimes we have to spend the night,” he said with excitement in his voice. Part of the draw to the sport is the camaraderie. The Whittens have the opportunity to interact with other families with similar interests and everyone works together. The kids compete, then they get together and play. She noted that one of the fathers, “Uncle Brian” Evans has kids in the Middle school division and while he’s not actually a trainer or coach, he has a lot of experience. “He teaches the kids things like tying ropes and how to sit, so he’s like a trainer,” she remarked. She was particularly impressed with Brian’s ethics and how his philosophy impacts the children. “He taught them that it’s not a competition between the kids and that it’s you versus the animal. In the end they all play together. The older kids help the younger kids. It’s not like it’s just me and Jacob and the boys. Everybody watches out of each other.” Hunter commented that he hopes he wins a belt buckle and that one day he wants to go to Las Vegas where the The Professional Bull Riding World Championships are held. “Then I can be on the news.” For now, Hunter will ride calves three more years, then move to middle school steers before going on to ride bulls, saddle broncs and bareback in high school. She said Hunter wants to do all three right now. “I don’t know if mama’s heart can handle that,” Amy said, then laughed, adding that any money the kids win gets reinvested into gear.

“For the most part they do pretty good.” she said adding that the family appreciated their sponsors, which include Cater for You, Mineral Magic, E Vaughan’s General Store and Brian Parks Farm Bureau. “There are a lot of people in the community that support the sport,” she said. Amy says the kids can quit anytime they like but she doesn’t see that happening anytime soon and she’s fine with it. She said she won’t pretend that it’s a perfect scenario, sometimes the kids want to try her, sometimes she’d just like to stay home but, according to Amy, this is something that brings her family together and it’s fun. “As long as they have fun,” she said. “When it stops being fun we are quitting.”