story by Lindsay King
Heston Harrison from Carnegie, Oklahoma, likes backing into the team roping box best because he knows his partner is right there with him. “I just like roping with someone more than I like roping by myself,” said the 12-year-old. An avid roper in breakaway, tie-down, ribbons and team roping, Heston also rides saddle bronc steers. “My dad, Matt, roped when he was younger and taught me how to ride when I was three. I started roping the dummy after that and I have just moved my way up from there.”
Two years ago, Heston met NFR saddle bronc rider, Ty Atchison. “He introduced me to saddle bronc steers, teaching me almost everything I know about it.” Matt is still Heston’s biggest influence, being the first to teach him about roping, riding and rodeo. “Usually I rope with my dad and he helps me get better. He is always in the practice pen when I am.” Matt and Andrea, Heston’s mom, have three other children: Grant, 19, Kennedy, 15, and Hudson, 8. “All of my siblings have tried rodeo but none of them have liked it enough to keep doing it. I am the only one who rodeos for now.”
The Carnegie Middle School seventh grader is also a sportsman, playing football, basketball, baseball and running track. “I like track the most, especially the 100-yard dash. There is no better feeling than when I hit the last part of the race and the stands are going wild.” Add the new friends from other schools in and track is the perfect sport for Heston. Loyal to the cowboys, Heston is a fan of all sports at Oklahoma State University and Dallas Cowboys Football.
“For the most part, I just like to be outside as much as I can; sports and rodeo provides that for me.” Heston is a skilled craftsman both at home and at school, making leather goods, braiding and aspiring to try wood working in FFA. “In my tech class we get to build a lot of stuff using computers. We are making a glider right now and it is turning out to be really cool.”
His summers are spent practicing, competing and playing baseball, but once fall hits, Heston is ready to get back to the OKJHSRA events. “They are my favorite rodeos to compete at. I meet a lot of new people at every rodeo but I also get to hang out with all of my buddies everywhere we go.” His favorite rodeo is in Woodward, many of his friends live there and he likes the arena. “I get to ride against some of the toughest competitors in the nation.” This tough competition drives Heston to work hard, with the goal of going to nationals in all his events this year.
“My proudest moment so far was riding saddle bronc steers last year at nationals where I placed 15th.” Out of all the buckles and saddles won, most are all-around titles. “I just keep my mind in the middle and think about the event at hand. With so many events at every rodeo, I have to keep myself focused for each run if I want to do well.” Heston plans to get a degree and college rodeo so he has something to fall back on. “I want to PRCA rodeo when I grow up and make several trips to the NFR, just like anybody else in the sport.” Heston rides every weekend on the advice from his dad: just keep trying and never, ever quit.
