At just 11 years old, Javier DeLaCruz is already a familiar face at the Double Bar G Rodeo on Friday nights. Javey, as he’s known to his friends, started going to the summer rodeo series in Pine Bluffs when he was three and from his first rodeo, he knew he wanted to do more than just watch.
"My dad would take me down there and I always wanted to go," said DeLaCruz.
About three years ago, DeLaCruz asked his father to teach him how to ride horses. From there, the young DeLaCruz wanted to learn roping.
"My dad is the one who showed me how to rope," DeLaCruz said. "He would take me out, show me the basics and then let me try."
DeLaCruz said his father would preach what was right, correct what was wrong, and through it all, he let his son make the mistakes and practice, practice, practice.
"I started out learning on steers which are pretty tough," said DeLaCruz.
It was during Double Bar G rodeo last year that DeLaCruz first started roping calf. Watching another youngster, Samantha Hoar, DeLaCruz asked Hoar to teach him how to rope calves.
"Samantha would take me out back of the arena and work with me roping the training dummies," said DeLaCruz.
After learning the basics of calf roping, DeLaCruz again set to practicing; he quickly discovered that like steers, roping calf is a difficult task.
"Just even trying to catch up with them is difficult, it’s probably the most difficult part," said DeLaCruz.
DeLaCruz joined the Pine Bluffs Roping Club where he came under the tutelage of Pine Bluffs rodeo regular, Dale Gilbert.
"Dale is really good," said DeLaCruz who added that he would like to team rope with Gilbert some day.
"Dale taught me about team roping and how the header pulls the steer to the side so the heeler can get a good shot at the steer’s feet," said DeLaCruz.
Already a regular and fan favorite at the Double Bar G rodeo, DeLaCruz said he’s not sure where he wants to go with rodeo in the future, but he is certain that he wants to continue.
"I want to do this when I’m in high school, I know that, and I want to continue at the rodeo here" he said. "But I’m not really sure where I’m going to go with it after that."
But already DeLaCruz said he’s learned so much more than just roping in his time in the sport.
"I’ve learned a lot about myself and I’ve learned a lot of discipline," he said, adding patience was also something he’s learned in his drive to become one of the best calf ropers in the area.
Fans can catch DeLaCruz and all the other cowboys and cowgirls in action every Friday night through the summer at the Pine Bluffs Rodeo arena as part of the Double Bar G Rodeo series. The Junior/Senior roping kicks off the night at 5:30 p.m. with regular rodeo action starting at 7 p.m.
