story by Lindsay King
“My little brother (Lucas, 13) has saved my butt a few times, he is a bull fighter,” said Joseph Chavez a bull rider from Moriarty, New Mexico. The 15-year-old followed in his cousin’s footsteps when it comes to strapping his hand to a 1,400-pound bull. Skye Chavez put a three-year-old Joseph in the mutton busting and the rest is history. “My cousin was always putting me on calves or sheep or whatever he could find that I could ride. He told me if I was going to be a cowboy that I could not cry when I fell off. And I never did.” His now 28-year-old cousin has slowed his rodeo career down but is the NMHSRA competitor’s number one fan.
Aside from Skye, Joseph’s parents are his biggest influence in rodeo. “My parents have always had practice animals for me to get on, we started with sheep and now have bulls. I get on about five or six every week here at home. And then a bunch of my buddies come to the house and ride them all the time too. There is always a group here trying their heart out and having a good time in the practice pen.” Chavez Bucking Bulls travels around the four corners with their bulls, stocking various rodeos throughout the year. By traveling every weekend Joseph has seen the inside of many bucking chutes across the country. His favorite was in Rock Springs, Wyoming, this past summer for his first HSNFR.
“Going to Nationals as a little freshman, getting on the real thing and going against the toughest guys in high school rodeo was a little scary.” Taking second place at state gave Joseph the boost of confidence he needed to conquer the curveballs Nationals threw at him. “The Monday before I had to ride I was not feeling too good and I woke up with a fever of 102. It turned out to be strep throat.” He still mounted his bull on Tuesday but did not make the eight seconds. Two days later Joseph felt significantly better and drew the bull everyone said was “the one to get,” but he did not quite make the ride.
The Moriarty High School sophomore is no stranger to the National stage, taking second as a seventh grader and third the next year. “My goal for this year is to just ride every bull I get on and have fun. I am putting all my focus on bull riding and get on as many practice bulls as I possibly can.” Thanks to Cody Custer, Joseph has a solid set of practice bulls. Both a friend and Mentor, Cody told Joseph to simply “have fun, love what you are doing and try your heart out.” This is one friendship Joseph is most thankful for today.
With plans to rodeo through college and beyond, Joseph is looking at Mesa Lands Community College and New Mexico State University right now. He intends to pursue a degree in welding. “I am welding in school right now. I am always welding when I am at home too. It is a good backup plan if bull riding does not work out.” Joseph is proud to represent his state through the NMHSRA and knows it is a reputable place to get his skills noticed by colleges. His high school even has a rodeo club through the organization to help raise funds to support the competitors.
“When I am not riding bulls, I just like to ranch with my family.” He is also a basketball player during the off season of rodeo. It keeps him in shape for his one true love. Taking the sport of bull riding seriously also means dedicating himself to this year’s mojo: a mullet. “My buddy, also a bull rider, and I are growing our mullets out to see who can get it the longest. We started it just a couple months ago.” The business in the front and party in the back hairstyle aligns perfectly with Joseph’s fun-loving personality who is always armed with a good joke for any occasion.
