EXCLUSIVE SPOTLIGHT
TUF COOPER THE FOUR-TIME PRCA WORLD CHAMPION IS LIVING UP TO THE FAMILY NAME
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Photo: Clay Guardipee
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AMERICAN BUCKLE MAGAZINE | WORLD FINALS EDITION
hen Tuf Cooper chose to follow in his father’s footsteps, he was well aware he had some big boots to fill. It’s tough for anyone to carry on a family legacy, but it’s especially tough when your father is ProRodeo Hall of Famer Roy “Super Looper” Cooper, himself the son of roping pioneer Dale “Tuffy” Cooper. As such, Roy’s three sons, Clif, Clint, and Tuf, were born into rodeo royalty — meaning they also have to contend with the high expectations that come along with the Cooper family name. It’s no exaggeration to say that Tuf Cooper was born to rope and that rodeo runs in his blood. Bearing his grandfather’s namesake, the 30-year-old cowboy already has four world champion titles under his belt, which puts him halfway to his father’s eight. This year, he’ll head into the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) ranked second in tie-down roping and ranked sixth in steer roping, which has already concluded