“I’ve worn American hats for as long as I’ve been in rodeo,” said the 20-year-old who started competing in the sixth grade. “When anybody thinks about who a cowboy is, one thing they picture is a nice cowboy hat. American Hat is the supplier of those nice hats.” Kase has always liked the style and quality of the hats and his favorite is the original black felt.
Tie-down roper, Kase Bacque, from Port Barre, LA, is headed to the College National Finals in 11th position after taking the Southern Region Tie Down Roping championship, beating his friend, Kincade Henry. “Kincade Henry and I are best friends; we grew up high school rodeoing together. For me it was a big deal (winning the Southern region). Kincade always beat me at the end all the way through high school, so I finally got to beat him. It’s a friendly rivalry we have going on.”
Kase grew up around tie down roping. His dad, Ken Bacque, made the NFR in tie down roping in 1992. “He passed away when I was three, but my brother (Carter), taught me how to swing a rope and it’s progressed from there. My mom (Chiara) was my help, my driver, my chute person, my everything. I grew up raising cattle, Brahmas – that was her passion and that’s what she did. My favorite part of working cattle is being away from everything. It was a good place to be.”
His mom sold their place in Louisiana, and they moved to Huntsville, Texas, where Carter lives. “He is a cowboy – he trains horses. My sister (Lindsey) lives in Dallas, my mom stays in Madisonville, and I’m in Huntsville.” They all come together to cheer Kase on. “I’m the only one that continues to compete in rodeo. That’s how we see each other.” Kase has team roped a little but tie down is what he likes best.
He is preparing for the College Finals with the help of Joe Beaver. “I’m at his house right now. Just to have Joe on your side – he’s great for my mental game and roping with him boosts my confidence through the roof,” explains Kase. “Just to have Joe on my side helps my confidence. It’s more of an explanation of one thing that will give me that boost. He says things like; ‘you’ve won this multiple times, just go and do your job.’”
Kase admits his head gets in the way – “it’s getting a lot better. Some of it is nerves, but a lot of it is wanting to do good and be the best at everything I do. I want to win first, but I know if I can place and make the run – first isn’t always an option. My realizing that I sometimes I place second or fourth or fifth and knowing that when it’s my time, I’ll win first.” PULL OUT QUOTE
Kase competes in the PRCA, this is his rookie year. He is currently sitting second in Resistol Rookie standings, behind Riley Webb. He will hit the road this summer, traveling with Macon Murphy and John Douch, who is currently leading the world. “Macon is doing the entering for us. I’m taking two horses and we will more than likely each drive our own rigs and stage them along the way. This will be my first summer run as a pro athlete and I’m super excited about it. I’ve gone to Cheyenne and a couple other big ones, but I’ve never entered. I’ve only entered around here.” Kase has been watching old tapes of cowboys roping in the big arenas, and he’s excited to finally be in those videos. He’s got a really good horse, Hard Times, that he’s been riding for about a year. “We’ve been getting along good, and I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for him – we fit each other’s style. My back up horse is Karma. All I do is rope – I do that every day when I can. I am keeping my horses in shape and looking good, braiding manes and tails.”
His other passion is duck hunting. “I grew up and fell into duck hunting,” he said. “Someday after I’m done rodeoing, I’d like to manage or own a duck hunting lodge and guide people in duck hunts either in Arkansas or Missouri.” His major in Agricultural Engineering and minor in Ag Business will help with the mechanical and business side of this goal. He loves to cook duck. “One of the best ways is to bake it into a gravy, like rice and gravy. It takes three or four hours, but it’s so good. The other way to make it is wrap it in cream cheese, and jalapeno peppers – jalapeno poppers.”
Kase will head out for the College Finals the first week in June. He and his horses will live off site at a place his mom found. “My mom is magical at finding places like that,” he said. His whole family is coming to cheer him on; there will be seven total. “I feel prepared and ready to go get a national championshi