| 6-year-old cowboy learning the ropes; Mutton Bustin' champion title is latest claim to fame |
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| By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition |
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July 25, 2002 -- What does it take to be a "Champion Mutton Buster?" Just ask 6-year-old Cole Mitchell of Pickton who recently won the mutton busting contest during the Bogota Rodeo. "My daddy (John) put me on the sheep and I nodded my head and held on," Cole said about his championship ride. "Mutton Bustin" is a competitive rodeo sport for youth. The objective is to ride the sheep (who seldom buck but run hard) for the longest time. Colel actually had to ride two sheep during the rodeo, in order to claim the title. "The long-go was on Friday night, and Cole rode his sheep. So, he got to come back on Saturday night for the short-go. He rode his sheep the farthest. It was over pretty quick," said Laura Mitchell, Cole's mother. "It was fun," Cole added. Riding sheep is not something new to Cole, but neither is riding horses or calves or even bucking machines. "Cole has been riding sheep since he was four. But he has been riding horses since he was a baby and been riding alone since he was two." Laura said. Cole, who was sporting cowboy bruises and scratches, rode the bucking machine at the Mineola rodeo. "I just keep riding and riding. It was fun," he said. "We gave him $10 to pay for two rides, and Cole spent $30 of his own money. At first, the guy operating the machine was real easy. Every time Cole bucked off, he would get back in line to ride again," Laura said. "So, the man started to turn and spin the machine. Cole bucked off and before the man could get the machine stopped, it hit him." "I'm alright," Cole said. "When a bull bucks you off, you got to get up and run. Not like Lane Frost. He didn't get up and run. He laid there too long. The bull got him." But riding is not all that Cole enjoys, he also loves to rope. "We would go to ropings when Cole was a baby and he would try to rope with a big rope. We finally found a kid's rope when he was 18-months-old and he has been roping ever since," Laura said. Cole, along with his two older sisters, practice roping at Rickey Allen's arena in Pickton. He also rides calves at Tommy Keith's place. At a Hopkins County event, Cole wanted to win but couldn't unless he roped a goat according to Laura. "I ain't roping a goat," he said. "Then you can't win," she told him. Cole's response was to get on his horse and rope the goat. "Terri (Heimer) taught me how to rope," Cole said. (Heimer, from Mount Pleasant, is Allen's daughter.) Cole, aka Cole Porter, has also done a little rodeo clowning in his young life. "After watching rodeo after rodeo, Cole decided he wanted to clown. So we got him a barrel," Laura said. "He changed his name to Cole Porter and there are still some people who call him Cole Porter," Cole's aunt, Eva, said. With kids who are involved in the sport of rodeo and playdays, summertime is a busy time for the Mitchell family. If there are sheep to be ridden at a rodeo, Cole is entered. Older sister Katie is the Winnsboro Rodeo Queen and rides barrels. Sister Amanda also rides barrels. All three kids are involved in playdays. One-year-old sister, Lindie, just gets to ride Cole. "Watch this," Cole said as he proceeded to buck Lindie off his stomach. "The more he bucks, the better she likes it," Laura said. "He doesn't hurt her. He just bucks up and down." To buck her off, he will slowly turn over on his side. "Boy, that was a rank one Lindie," Cole said in encouragement to his sister. Cole is a member of the Hopkins County Riding Association and is currently sitting in second place in the association. He is a second grade student at Como-Pickton in Hopkins County. "The best part about school is ice cream day and doughnut day," Cole laughingly said. As far as growing up, college doesn't look to be the choice. Cole said he wants to ride "bulls and broncs." |
