LAS VEGAS – Cole Franks arrived in the City of Entertainment with dreams on his mind and a big-ticket item.
“When you’re going to the big show, you’ve got to make big moves,” said Franks, a 23-year-old bareback rider from Clarendon, Texas, now competing for the third time at the National Finals Rodeo.
In a few short days in Las Vegas, he’s made those moves. The first came Tuesday night, when he proposed to Dustie Warr, his girlfriend of two-plus years. He had plans to do it prior to their arrival, but that didn’t happen. He had a couple other opportunities, but he missed the mark.
Nerves can get the better of a young man in a big moment like that. After bareback riders enjoyed their annual dinner following the back-number presentation, their bus met back up with their significant others. With a little bit of push from other cowboys, Franks summoned his courage and dropped to a knee.
“Caleb Bennett told me to just quit trying to find an excuse, but because I was nervous, I couldn’t quite make myself do it,” Franks said. “Caleb said, ‘You just need to di it and do it right now.’ He put me on the spot, and then jumped in the middle of the bus and told everybody to be quiet.
“I was like, ‘OK, here it is; we’re doing it now.”
It was just the precursor to what he hopes is a magical 10 days at the NFR, which kicked off Thursday. Franks rode Calgary Stampede’s Yipee Kibitz for 85 points to finish in a three-way tie for fourth place, worth $9,418. He matched scores with Utahan Dean Thompson and Louisiana cowboy Taylor Broussard.
“I’ve been dreaming of getting on that horse since probably 2019,” Franks said. “That’s the first time I’ve ever been on her. She’s everything I’ve dreamed about.”
With the ride, Franks pushed his season earnings to $158,974 and sits ninth in the world standings. The nerves he felt leading up to his proposal were just part of excitement he’s experienced with regards to his return to the NFR, an event he missed a year ago.
“Honestly, I was probably more nervous coming in here this year than I was my first year, because I know what to expect now,” said Franks, the 2021 intercollegiate bareback riding and all-around champion who won the rookie-of-the-year title in his first bid for the NFR. “I think knowing more about what to expect added to the nerves a little bit. It just strikes a little more.”
He remained contained on opening night, and it paid dividends. The streaks start at one, and he has nine more nights to cash in.