Currently sitting 18^th in the World standings, Arizona cowboy Derrick Begay took time to talk to The American Roper about his career highlights and life after roping.
 

TAR: You will turn 24 this year, how old were you when you started roping and how did you get into it?

DB: I don't know exactly, I just grew into it. There was really no starting time. I was always around it.

TAR: Have you always been a roper or have you dabbled in other rodeo events?

DB: Always just a roper.

TAR: How long have you been roping with Victor Aros?

DB: Exactly a year now, started at Reno last year.

TAR: How did you two meet?

DB: It started at the George Strait last year, first time we ever roped together. Then we roped at the Horn Dog after that a couple weeks later. And then we didn't really plan on roping, we just both needed a partner here and there and we entered and did good, and entered the next one and did good, and then it just happened.

TAR: So the partnership has been working out pretty well?

DB: Yeah, it's been ok, just like any other one - good and bad.  

TAR: What do you look for in a roping partner?

DB: I never really got to jumping around to partners. When I started I just roped with my Dad and my brothers and I got Victor and those were the only guys I really roped with so I don't really know about the partnership deal - which kind is good...I don't try to break it down too much.

TAR: Is there a certain style or personality you look for or did you just think it would be a good fit?

DB: We weren't sure what was going to happen, it just happened...I wanted to try it, I'm glad I did.

TAR: We're five months into 2008, what have been the highlights of your year so far?

DB: I won Laughlin, that was probably the main one but that's not the biggest highlight I guess. Just getting to go to all the winter rodeos that everyone talks about, I always wanted to go to those. I got to go to all those this year.

TAR: Is that your first time going to those?

DB: Yeah, everything before Reno I never went to until now.

TAR: So what rodeos and circuits were you going on before you did this?

DB: Things right around the house, a lot of Indian rodeos.

TAR: What would you consider the highlight of your career so far?

DB: Being three-three at the George Strait (2007).

TAR: Who were you roping with then?

DB: Cesar - Victor's nephew...We ended up winning the round - we got one of those red warp steers, like a bonus steer. And we ended up winning that the round on that and ended up winning like $10,000 man extra.

TAR: I know you have been involved with the All Indian Rodeo Cowboys Association (AIRCA), can you tell me about that group?

DB: That's all I did. There are quite a few Indian associations out there. That's all I did - amateur rodeos in the Arizona area. There some in Montana too, and Florida. Mainly in Arizona though.

TAR: Tell me about the horses you are riding - do you have a favorite? Did you train them yourself?

DB: I don't really have a good horse. I've been jumping around here and there. One works good for awhile but I really don't have nothing I can brag on. Mainly the one I have been riding is a little Paint horse.

TAR: Is that the one that was Horse of the Year at the Indian rodeos?

DB: Yeah, I don't know what that deal was about.

TAR: What's that horse's name?

DB: I just call him Paint.

TAR: What do you think you would be doing if you weren't roping?

DB: I always think about that, but I don't know. I always get asked that question and I think I don't know what the heck I'd be doing.

TAR: Is there life after roping?

DB: Not for me I guess!

TAR: Did you have any roping idols or guys you looked up to when you were young?

DB: Probably Jake Barnes. I never really had someone I really looked up to. I just liked Jake and Clay because I was right around all that. I'd seen them a lot, in Arizona a lot.