By Daniel Green | BWS Sports

HICKS — One of the most decorated rodeo athletes in recent Vernon Parish history is getting an opportunity to take it to the next level.

Hicks senior Kase Busby, currently ranked second in the state in both tie down roping and team roping, inked his letter-of-intent late last week to attend Wharton County Junior College in Texas to continue both his education and rodeo career.

“I chose Wharton because I felt like it was the place for me,” Busby said. “I felt a connection with the coach and I just knew. It’s a perfect fit to further my education and rodeo career.”

And Busby has had quite the rodeo career. He has been a member of the Louisiana High School Rodeo Association and the Vernon Parish chapter for seven years, three of which he has served as the Vernon Parish association president.

As a junior high competitor, Busby attended three junior high state rodeo finals and two national finals. At the high school level, Busby was the state champion in tie down roping in 2021, while being the reserve champion in team roping the same year. As a result of that success, Busby was able to reel in the 2021 Louisiana All-Around Cowboy.

As he enters the collegiate ranks, Busby, who was also a multi-year starter for the Hicks Pirate basketball team, is still undecided on a major, but he knows exactly what he wants to do on the rodeo team at Wharton.

“I’m going to tie down rope, team rope and steer wrestle at Wharton,” Busby said. “My goal is to one day make it to the collegiate rodeo finals and become a champion But I also want to do this while pursuing a degree so I can have a successful career.”

Busby, along with many other members of the Vernon Parish High School Rodeo Association, will be competing this weekend at the Lions Club Covered Arena on the West Louisiana Forestry Festival Fairgrounds. Admission to the event is $10 per session or you can purchase a $15 weekend-long pass.