Dustin Boquet grew up in Bourg, Louisiana, as a young man who simply wanted to spend time with his grandfather, Horace Boquet.

“My older siblings didn’t have jack or want anything to do with rodeo,” he said.

Boquet was raised in the Western lifestyle, working cattle alongside his grandfather, which led to him riding horses throughout his life.

“I just kind of fell into bull riding from there,” he said. “My father always supported it and just wanted me to do well. My mother took a little while to come around because she was worried I was going to get hurt.”

During our interview after the final night of the Days of ’76 Rodeo in Deadwood, you could see and feel that his love for the sport ran deeper than most. His buzzing energy was contagious, and his smile was so big it looked as though it had been permanently slapped across his face and wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Boquet had the opportunity to compete in another rodeo that same night, one that offered larger winnings, but he said he didn’t care. He had always had his sights set on riding the two-time NFR bucking bull Cookies and Cream.

Cookies and Cream is known for his strong, intense style and powerful performances. The bull was raised from a calf by Burch Pro Rodeo and trained by Matt Burch.

It was so much fun to see just how much riding, and this win, meant to Boquet. I suspect that comes from the love and admiration he has for his grandfather and the time they spent together. Riding may be his way of honoring those moments.

His life isn’t all rodeo. He keeps busy building fences, bass fishing, and fitting in a little duck hunting between the PRCA’s summer and winter bull riding seasons.

A serious injury threatened to derail his career in 2016 when he broke his leg, putting his ability to compete at the highest level in jeopardy. Boquet could have walked away, as many bull riders do. It isn’t because they don’t love the sport, but because a serious injury like that can affect a rider’s confidence.

Boquet saw the injury as an opportunity to take a closer look at his riding style and sharpen his skills. He also strengthened his mindset and learned to adapt.

During his recovery, he made the pivotal decision to switch to a Brazilian-style rope for his rides.

“It changed everything for me,” he said. “It suited my style, and it gives me confidence when I’m sitting up there before the gate opens. Some guys thought I was crazy, but you’ve got to do what works for you.”

He credits that style with helping him earn an 89.5-point ride last Saturday in Deadwood. The ride was filled with fast-paced spins, fades, dips, and powerful bucks.

The score was the second-highest ever recorded on Cookies and Cream, behind a ride by Million Dollar Circle Pro bull rider Campbell just a month earlier.

Boquet nearly didn’t make it to Deadwood for the ride.

“When I fell off in Salt Lake the other day, I was kind of mad about it,” he said. “But really, I wasn’t too mad because I knew the bull I had drawn here and what was waiting for me.”

Dustin’s eyes were still gleaming with pride after his winning ride.

“If I would’ve made the short round there, I wouldn’t have been able to come get on him,” he said. “So yeah, it worked out just the way God wanted it to.”

I believe all things are working for Boquet’s good, because a rider doesn’t go through what he has and come out on top like that every day.

His riding style was smooth, placing him in the company of some of the top professional bull riders the sport has ever seen. It was a performance whose excellence was hard for anyone to miss.

Perseverance, along with a Scripture that has been written on Dustin Boquet’s heart over the last month, carried him through.

Hebrews 10:35 says, “Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.”

That message seems abundantly clear. Boquet held onto his confidence, kept the faith, and earned a very sweet victory on Cookies and Cream.