story by Lily Weinacht
Colton Greene is not one to back down from a challenge, and his competitive nature serves him well in the AJRA. The 14-year-old from Rocksprings, Texas, has been competing in the AJRA since he was eight, also rodeoing in the TJHRA. Team roping earned him his first trip to the NHJFR in 2014, where he placed seventh in the nation. “I just like the feeling of being able to win, and getting to compete with my family and friends,” says Colton. Both his parents, Jodie and Chantz Greene, competed in pro rodeo – his dad steer wrestling and his mom barrel racing.
Colton competes in the AJRA in tie-down roping, breakaway roping, ribbon roping, and team roping as both a header and heeler. “I try to head once and heel once at each rodeo – I gain more points that way,” explains Colton, who won 2014 AJRA World All-Around Cowboy in the 13 – 15 boys. His favorite event, however, is the tie-down roping, enjoying the extra competition in that event. Following in his dad’s boot prints, Colton plans to start steer wrestling next summer. He competes in chute dogging in the TJHRA, and he has started jumping the dummy at home. Additionally, Colton is serving his second year as a student director for the AJRA. “I enjoy helping the AJRA with making decisions from a contestant’s perspective,” he says.
Practice is a daily occurrence at Colton’s house, and he is frequently joined in the practice pen by his parents, while he is also coached by his friends Neal Felton, Justin Maas, and Scott Snedecor. Colton also idolizes Trevor Brazile, Stran Smith, and Cody Ohl.
Colton, his parents, and his eight-year-old sister, Gracie, make their home on a ranch several miles outside of Rocksprings. They raise beef cattle, and Colton and Gracie are already skilled ranch hands. Colton’s favorite job is working cattle. Gracie also competes in the AJRA, and Colton helps her with her events, including barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying, and breakaway roping. “We have six head of horses, two dogs, ten head of roping calves, and eight head of roping steers,” says Colton. “I do tie-down roping on Big Winner Wonder, (aka Bigs). He’s a half brother to Pearl,” Colton explains. “We got him last year from Derrick Hoggett, and I’m blessed to own such a great horse – he’s been everywhere!. I do my team roping on Archie, and I also ride our younger horses to get them out and exposed to different things.”
An eighth grader at Rocksprings ISD, Colton is an All A Honor Roll student, but his favorite part of school is athletics. “I play wide receiver and safety for the Angoras,” he explains. Colton also enjoys hunting on his family’s ranch, particularly fox, though he spends much of his time with his family, working together on the ranch, and of course, rodeoing.
“One of my favorite things I did this summer was going to state finals,” says Colton. “I placed in the top ten for ribbon roping, and I really like the competition between the states – Texas is probably one of the toughest!” The AJRA finals takes first place on his list of favorite rodeos in the association. “It’s a longer rodeo, and we get more guys there,” says Colton.
As he anticipates the challenge of high school rodeo next year, Colton also plans to continue rodeoing in the AJRA. “Then I want to college rodeo and get a degree, and once I’m done with college, I want to compete in the NFR.”