Many students like to play instruments or participate in sports, but freshman Landon Evans likes to rope trash cans. People who happened to walk by Keller Hall last semester probably saw Evans outside with a rope in his hand.
“It’s a good way to meet people,” Evans said. “I’ve had a lot of people asking what I’m doing and even a few wanting to learn.”
Evans grew up on a ranch in central Texas where roping cattle, or “tie-down roping,” was common. His father and grandfather enjoyed roping their livestock, so in middle school he decided to get involved. In the eighth grade he participated in his first calf-roping competition.
Due to his participation in middle school sports, however, Evans was too busy to pursue roping seriously. Later, when Evans was in high school, he decided to pick roping back up. It was not until college that Evans’ roping started to gain attention.
“One of my friends told me I was in people’s way [by roping in front of Keller],” Evans said. “I eventually began to see what he meant.”
Freshman James Vandiver, one of Evan’s friends, also does rodeos, although his specialty is steer wrestling, an event featuring a rider hopping off of a horse and trying to take down a steer in the fastest time.
Like Evans, Vandiver grew up on a ranch in Texas but participated in different rodeos. They met at Harding after finding a common interest in roping.
Learning rodeo technique starts on the ground, as opposed to on horseback, and can explain why Evans was found roping trash cans. Practice is important because, ultimately, these events are decided by mere milliseconds.
“Technique is everything, one mistake can take you from first place to last place,” Vandiver said. “Many people think that rodeo is just about riding bulls; however, there are many other events that cowboys such as Landon and myself compete in such as tie-down roping and steer wrestling.”
People said they are not sure what to think when it comes to rodeo sports in general.
“Everyone thinks a rodeo is riding bulls; however, there are so many events,” Vandiver said. “There are actual talented individuals who compete in these events.”
Evans said he has decided to quit practicing roping outside of Keller. People will not see him with a trash can either. He has now upgraded to a calf dummy and has decided to practice at a more secluded spot on campus. Evans mostly uses calf roping as a way to relax but said he is not opposed to competing again.
“I’ve never really won any awards,” Evans said. “But maybe I’ll do that in the future.”
Check out The Link later next week for more rodeo roping footage.
