I wanna be a Cowboy

(Above) Eight-year-old Bostin Wistey tips his hat after a successful bull ride. -Submitted photo.

[caption id="attachment_41223" align="alignleft" width="225"] Paul Gagnon congratulates his grandson, Bostin Wistey, after the youngster earned a check for his bull riding prowess.-Submitted photo.[/caption]

by Marianne Gasaway

Some boys dream of becoming a cowboy.  Eight-year-old Bostin Wistey is already living the dream.

It was almost two years ago that Bostin approached his grandpa, Paul Gagnon, and told him he wanted to ride bulls.  Although a cowboy at heart himself, even Paul had to admit it didn’t seem like a good idea.

“I suggested ‘mutton busting’ (a popular rodeo event where youngsters try to ride a sheep) would be a good start,” said Paul.

Nope.

Bostin declared he  was “not gonna ride no goats.”  He wanted to be a cowboy who rides bulls.

Even though his head said no, Paul’s own cowboy heart agreed to look into junior bull riding.  A little research revealed that there was a rodeo circuit based in Fort Dodge.  Tuff-N-Nuff, run by Johnny Hopkins, is the largest miniature rodeo association in the United States and Johnny is always excited to introduce youngsters to the sport of bull riding.

“Johnny told me to bring Bostin down and he would put him on an age-appropriate bull,” Paul recalled.  “I said ‘no.’  I want him to get bucked off and realize that this isn’t going to be as fun as he thinks.”

He was half right.

Bostin fell off. But it was just as much fun as he imagined.

He was hooked.  Grandpa, too.

Paul helped Bostin get outfitted with the safety vest, helmet, chaps, spurs, gloves, boots and rope, along with anything else a cowboy might need.  He learned to ride with Johnny’s guidance, practicing his form and balance on a drop barrel, and finally competing on the junior rodeo circuit.  This winter Bostin competed in about a dozen rodeos and even earned a few paychecks for his efforts.

Like any cowboy, he has his sights set on the belt buckle and saddle division winners can earn.   But in the meantime, an occasional check is nice, too.  Other

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prizes have included a medal and autographs.

He is becoming a skilled bull rider, but Paul and Bostin’s parents may never get used to the idea of watching the youngster grab hold of a 500-600 pound junior bull and come busting out of a pen.  If, or when the rider falls they need to be quick to their feet to get out of the way, or risk being on the wrong side of the bull’s horns.

“When I asked his mom about taking him to meet Johnny and learn about bull riding she first said ‘that’s a terrible idea,’” Paul chuckled.  “But then she insisted on going.  I told her she better sit this one out, but she went.”

Today, Bostin’s parents, Ashley and Zach, are supportive of his fledgling cowboy career even when there is hurt.

Not all of Bostin’s rides have been successful, but he says no cowboy’s are.

“When I get on the bull I just think ‘I can ride this’ and I keep looking down the whole time,” said Bostin.

“There’s a difference between nervous and scared,” he continued.  “I’m nervous, because I don’t know what’s going to happen.  If you’re scared you know you can’t do it.  I’m not scared.”

Like older cowboys, the junior competitors must stay on their animal for a specified time.  Juniors must ride for seven seconds and are judged on their form.  The bull’s performance also figures into the judges’ score.  Bulls which are more active twisting and bucking produce higher scores for riders who can stay on for the full seven seconds.

Like any cowboy, Bostin has been thrown and has been banged up.  One raucous bull managed to get its hoof under the edge of Bostin’s vest and peeled the skin.  There have also been less serious bumps and bruises. Still, the second grader wants to ride.

“It’s not for the meek and mild,” said Paul.

“It’s not called ‘Weak-N-Nuff.  It’s called Tuff-N-Nuff,” said Bostin.

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