Old West Journal - Heber Edition - Flipbook - Page 42
TRIPP FARRIS: 11 YEARS OLD AND
ROPING WITH THE BEST
THE YOUNGEST COMPETITOR AT OLD WEST SHARES WHAT
IT'S LIKE TO COMPETE ALONGSIDE THE PROS
At 11 years old, most kids are still figuring out
what they want to be when they grow up. Tripp
Farris already knows. He wants to win —
everywhere he goes. When Tripp Farris stepped
into the arena at Old West, he became the
youngest rider in the competition. But if the
moment intimidated him, it didn't show.
For some young riders, competing at a premier
event like Old West would be overwhelming.
The caliber of competition. The size of the
stage. The pressure of performing in front of an
audience that includes some of the best
horsemen and women in the industry.
But Tripp Farris isn't like most 11-year-olds. "I
was a little nervous on the first one," Tripp
admitted. "But it's not really nervous just
because I rope all the time."
That confidence didn't come from bravado. It
came from preparation. From repetition. From
spending countless hours in the practice pen
doing the same thing he was being asked to do
here — just on a bigger stage.
For Tripp, competing at one of the most
prestigious rope horse events in the country
wasn't about proving anything. It was just
another day doing what he loves — roping
alongside some of the best in the business.
And for a kid who's been watching his dad,
Brandon Farris, rope since he was old enough to
remember, being here felt natural.
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"It kind of just feels natural," Tripp said.
GROWING UP IN THE ARENA
Tripp didn't stumble into roping by accident. He
grew up around it.
"Since a very young age I've watched my dad do
it," Tripp said. "It's always cool."
That early exposure shaped everything. While
other kids were finding their interests through
sports or hobbies, Tripp was watching his dad
work cattle, handle horses, and compete. The
arena became familiar territory long before he
ever picked up a rope himself.
Brandon Farris didn't just teach his son how to
rope. He showed him what it looks like to take it
seriously — to put in the work, to respect the
process, and to show up ready to compete.
"I've always watched him from my young age,"
Tripp said. "That's what got me into roping."
Now, at 11, Tripp isn't just watching anymore.
He's competing — and doing it at a level that
puts him in the same arena as seasoned
professionals with decades of experience.
That kind of progression doesn't happen by
chance. It happens because of what takes place
long before anyone ever steps into the
competition arena.
