OklahomaHorses Magazine July 2022

it into reverse and stopped next to the in- credulous trooper, who said, “Where were you going in such a hurry?” With his char- acteristic big smile, Lux told the officer that they were supposed to be at another rodeo not too far away and if they didn’t get there in time, their steer would be turned out. The trooper had no idea what that meant. After a quick explanation, the pair made it to the rodeo on their third and last call. They ended up at the pay window. A Passion for Roping The fifth child of six raised by Steve and Trish Lux of Mulberry, Arkansas, little Tater seemingly was born with a passion for roping. “All three of my boys roped,” said his father, “but Tater was the one who would be driving the steers up to the pen in the pouring rain just so he could practice.” Of the six — Kim, Stephanie, Stephen, An- drew, Taylor (Tater), and Mackenzie — it soon became obvious that young Tater was headed into the sport as a profession. As a kid, he would be the first one out of the truck, rope in hand, running to say hello to all the ropers. He never met a stranger. No matter what roping the boys were at and no matter how cold it was, he would hook up with any family under a blanket like one of their own. His big grin, big personality, and big heel loop were hard to forget. Sometimes his heel loop would get so large that he could have roped 10 sets of hind legs at once. Persistence, passion, dedication, and sage advice helped him to hone his skills. Steve Lux had taken Tater along to a roping at the Paul Battle Arena in Tuni- ca, Mississippi, when he was about six or seven years old. Walking toward the main arena, Lux noticed a small boy with tears in his eyes being led authoritatively by his father. The boy noticed Lux and pointed at him. “That’s his father, Dad. I swear!” Warning lights went off in Lux’s brain. A few minutes later, here came little Tater with a pocket stuffed plumb full of dollar bills. Apparently the young boys had been roping a dummy and got to betting. Tater played “the poor old country boy without a clue” and then cleaned them out. Nobody ever said he wasn’t supposed to win money at roping! He roped throughout high school, win- ning the 2008 World Championship Goat Roping competition. In 2014, he won the Rodeo of the Ozarks at Springdale, Arkan- sas. He attended Connors State College in Warner, Oklahoma, and then spent several years working for cutting horseman Bruce Colclasure. Grateful for that opportunity, Lux incorporated into his training every bit of knowledge he picked up there. He now trains for American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) roping futurities as well as rodeo and jackpot horses. He tries to attend at least ten to 15 Prairie Circuit rodeos each year. Building a Future Together Lux’s beautiful and talented wife Kelsi helps with everything she can in the training business. Her dad, Mike Oyler, produced ropings for 30 years in and around Perkins, Oklahoma. She grew up around the arena and competed in high school rodeos in roping and barrel racing. “She ropes good,” Lux proudly admits. The Luxes are building their own training facility in Perkins. Hired hand Rio Estevar also works for Lux and heads plenty of steers. FCB Downtown Cat, otherwise known as Worm, a black-and-white paint horse that Lux owned, took him to more than $200,000 in winnings. Worm recently sold in Arizona for $40,000. In 2021, Lux trained a horse now owned by Steve Orth who won the Arizona Sun Circuit in 2022. Electrified Chrome, aka Prime Time, owned by Barry Hamlin, is another winner that Lux trained. A futurity winner in Fort Worth, Texas, and Oklahoma City, Prime Time has nearly 100 AQHA points. Lux is now riding 12 outside horses and four of his own. Without a doubt, Tater Lux will soon be a household name to every roping family and arena. Good luck, young man! Tater Lux andWorm are an award-winning team. Kelsi and Tater Lux work together in their horse-training business and are building a new training facility in Perkins. July / August 2022 • OklahomaHorses 19