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Show - ..V ' . "") -r--'' ), ' ' " -." -v, i , ," I ' inv-t , "", ' '' V... o. . M . V. , 'Mi' ' '':--' Kyv. - i i .f. Nathan Cooper, 22 and cousin Austin Orton, 17 both of Panguitch show the rewards of their recent first place win as team ropers at the Mesquite Classic last weekend in Nevada. Each received CooperOrton Clans Winning Big At Southwest Rodeos PANGUITCH - "It's quite the family affair," says dad Than Cooper of the CooperOrton clan involvement involve-ment with everything horses. Son Nathan Cooper, 22 and his first cousin, Austin Orton, 1 7, both of Panguitch, just keep having outstanding success at rodeo competitions throughout ornate saddles and $5,000 and will go on to compete the last 10 days of Oct. in Oklahoma City at the National Finals U.S. Team Roping Championship with a purse of $48,000. the southwest. Most recently the pair took first place in team roping at the Mesquite Classic held last weekend. They each brought home an ornate saddle and $5,000 in prize winnings. Now both have won shoot-out positions posi-tions and will compete at the National Finals U.S. Team Roping Championships to be held the last 10 days of October in Oklahoma City, Ok. This is the third trip to nationals for Nathan and the first for Austin. Earlier in the month Nathan also took first place at the Pine Country Classic held in Phoenix, Ariz., and the Las (See RODEO on page 3A) Big Win At Rodeo From Front Page Vegas Classic as well, acquiring a number of saddles and prize money. Austin, a Panguitch High School senior, has accu- ' mulated three saddles of his own in recent competitions. Another first cousin, Zach Orton is also on this roping path. Grandpa Gary and Grandma Coleen Orton have been widely recognized as the couple who are "super supporters" of all their grandkids horse endeavors. ' Gary especially has raised each 1 grandchild to respect animals and to take excellent care of them. He has also encouraged ' each to ride the range and in all ' aspects of roping and horsemanship. horseman-ship. Nathan is the eldest of five ' children, all actively competing in rodeo and horsemanship events. He took a break for two J years to serve an LDS mission j in Florida, then returned to ! attend Southern Utah University in Cedar City. His brother, ; Justin, 20 is currently on a mission mis-sion in Simi Valley, Calif., and team ropes along with sisters, , Eliza, 18 and Maegan, 16 and youngest brother, Paxton age 1 1 . They are the children of Than and Gaylene Cooper of Panguitch. Cousins Austin is a ' son of Kelly Orton and Zach is a son of Dave and Maryann Orton. Since a very young age Nathan has roped, farmed, handled han-dled cows and competed in rodeoing. He is serious about his career and as a freshman he began competing and had encouragement and instruction from coach Vern Robison and many others (including Dad), 'along the way. He is currently employed with Garkane Energy and newly engaged to fellow student at SUU Carlie Campbell of Hurricane. V Grandpa Gary Orton attributes attrib-utes the success and strength of j character in his grandchildren to ' the influence of horses and the rodeo "family." |