story by Kyle Eustice
As a kid, Rolla, Kans. native Chase Boekhaus was watching the NFR Finals on televi-sion and decided he wanted to be a team roper. Like any determined young man, he sought guidance from his father, Rodney, who put him in touch with two team ropers, Ralph Forbes and Kent Milburn. They gave him access to practice arenas and steers until he was ready to start competing.
“It looked like fun,” said Chase. “I got hooked. I meet a lot of people and have formed a lot of friendships.”
Although his parents, Tami and Rodney, were never into rodeo, they supported their son’s ambitions. They always had horses around, so he was really young the first time he got on a horse. His father runs cattle on the family farm and his mother is a teacher.
During school, he helped his dad take care of the cattle and horses, and learned how to rope steers.
“I did a lot of chores growing up,” said Chase. “I’d work a lot of 16 hour days.”
Chase attended Rolla High School and graduated in 2010. In 2014, he joined the CPRA while in college. He graduated from Northwestern Oklahoma State University with an Agri-Business degree in 2015.
“CPRA rodeos are pretty good rodeos,” said Chase. “They pay better than most amateur rodeos.”
Chase’s event is team roping with his partner Brett Christensen. They won the year end heeling event in 2015.
“It felt great,” said Chase. “My parents were as happy as they could be.”
Chase is currently on the road traveling from rodeo to rodeo. In one week, his career can take him from Kansas to Nebraska to Colorado and everywhere in between. Need-less to say, he spends a lot of money on gas. Chase is supporting himself from his rodeo winnings.
“I’m not working right now,” said Chase. “I’m just roping and living the dream.”
When he is home in Alva, Kans., Chase practices a few hours a day. He’s is engaged to fiancé Kelsey Yarborough, who he has been with for the past six years. He has two horses, a big buckskin bay named Hootie and a 5-year-old named Omar. He’s had them both for four years and plans to ride them until they are in the their late 20s. Fortunately, he hasn’t had any injuries and he’s working towards fulfilling his rodeo aspirations.
“I want to make it to the NFR Finals,” said Chase. “It’s something I’ve always dreamed about.”
