When it comes to bull riding, the Deville brothers don’t play. Ranging in age from fifteen to six-years-old, each is serious about the sport and has high goals of becoming the best in his age division. Drake, the oldest of the pack, has suffered more than a few injuries, but doesn’t let that deter him. Brayton, eleven years old, plans to pursue it, honing his skills by “going out here and making a legacy.” Next there is Brandt, who at ten years old, admits it’s a rough sport but says “a rush goes through your veins, and you want to be the best.” When asked how he feels, Cooper, the youngest of the clan, smiles from ear to ear and says he has “no fear whatsoever” when they put him “in the box.” He’s currently riding calves and plans to progress to the big bulls when he’s old enough.
Sons of Danny and Memrhea Deville, the brothers are members of the National Little Britches Rodeo Association, and to say bull riding is their shared passion, falls short of an apt description. They have quite a fan club too; their parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents and even a few cousins attend the rodeo events they enter just to watch them ride and cheer each one on to success.
Bull riding is a family tradition as their dad rode bulls when he was in high school while their mom watched. The boys have only been participating in rodeo bull riding (the younger boys ride steers and calves) for a year, but they’ve been avid spectators for a while, watching rodeos and the many events from the stands. Each has suffered injuries and experienced some breath stopping close calls, but Memrhea takes it in good stride confessing to frequent prayer before and during the events.
“I got three concussions, got stomped and got hung up,” Brayton expressed with enthusiasm as Mom raised an eyebrow and smiled.
Drake shared how his dad bought them a “mini bull” that was supposedly tame and wasn’t inclined to stomp or hook. The bull would provide practice sessions that were safe, or so his dad said.
“I got on it first,” Drake explained. “He (the bull) hurt my knee on the chute. I got hung up on him. He hooked me and I had to go have that checked out!” So much for a tame practice bull. Dad had to intervene and remove Drake from the pen and the bull.
The young rodeo connoisseurs currently own two bulls and practice routinely on them. They also use a variety of barrels, including one swinging from a tree, to help perfect their form and balance. When that gets boring, they simply get on the trampoline and practice “bucking each other off.” They each enter a couple of rodeo competitions monthly, and each is becoming more skilled.
“Being the mom of four young bull riders is hard work for sure,” Memrhea shared. “At daylight, you hear cowbells dinging. They have their ropes over their shoulders heading outside to climb on the barrels. It can be stressful at times! We teach them to pray and ask the Lord to protect them and the bulls. You just pray, pray, pray, and enjoy the ride!”
Danny and Memrhea are present for every event and are the boys’ biggest support team. He can be found preparing the bulls in the chutes and pulling the ropes for riding, while she is behind the chutes with the boys helping them put on their gloves, chaps and vests. Once geared up, Mom prays over her sons, and helps them become mentally prepared for the tasks ahead. When done, they put in their mouth pieces, and she hands them over to Dad who’s waiting in the chutes with the bulls. Then the fun begins.
What’s the best part of the rodeo for each of them? For Drake and Brandt, it’s riding the bulls. Brayton confesses it’s initially getting into the bucking shoot, while young Cooper confesses to liking the calves, although he says it’s the same thing as riding a bull.
“I always watched it (bull riding),” Brandt admitted. “I wanted to do it my whole life.” Brayton added, “It’s an adrenaline rush and it gets me excited. It’s tradition!” “You get to win money!” Cooper said excitedly.
The four brothers are each preparing for the future in his own way.
While Drake desires to pursue an undecided lucrative career, he plans to bull ride on the side. Brayton is interested in becoming an electrician while continuing bull riding.
Brandt hopes to become a welder and a golfer, but intends to make time for bull riding too. In his own words, he’s a “bad cat and everybody better watch out!”
Cooper, however, is quite clear that he is only going to be a bull rider, emphatically stating,” I don’t want to have no job!” and as an afterthought added, “I’m gonna win first place, and I’m confident my brothers will too.”
Without doubt, the Deville brothers have their goals set and their minds made up to find their place in the rodeo arena, each astraddle a bucking bull – one hand in the air and the other on the ropes – with Mom in the wings sending up prayers and Dad watching from the chute. Ride ‘em cowboys!
