ZANE COMPTON & WHIP PETERSON

Zane Compton and Whip Peterson have roped with and against each other for several years at the various jackpots, junior rodeos and ranch rodeos they both attend. After splitting $20,000 in the National 8 Finale it’s likely they’ll do more of the former.

“We’ve known each other a while,” Compton, 13, said of his heeler. “We won a Junior NFR qualifier together in Globe (Arizona) last April.”

Both are ranch kids in southern Arizona, both are home schooled and both love to team rope. Peterson and Compton partnered again at the inaugural Junior BFI in Reno, Nevada, but didn’t have much luck. It was a new game though when they teamed up in Wickenburg.

“I was more nervous about my partner,” admitted Peterson, who had just won the National 10 Finale the day before with his dad Ace. “I don’t get too nervous.”

“Yeah, I was pretty nervous to rope,” Compton agreed. They were high team back and had to be clean. “The team before us was really good so we had to make a good run. That’s the most I’ve won before. It was very exciting. I looked up at the clock because I wasn’t sure. I thought it was a dream for a while.”

Compton is a sixth-generation rancher in Tombstone, Arizona. He lives and works on his grandpa’s ranch along with his younger sister, Macy, his mom, Marlo, and dad, Beau. Both parents come from strong rodeo backgrounds and Beau is an award-winning silversmith. While Compton has dabbled in silversmithing alongside his dad, he really loves to do ranch work and rope.

“I love branding, dragging calves,” Compton said. “That’s my favorite. I rope the dummy a lot, probably two or three hours every day.”

All that practice pays off. At press time Compton was headed to the Queen Creek Junior Rodeo Association Finals with the All-Around Senior Cowboy title clinched.