Dustin Boquet

By Terry Blake

Dustin Boquet is a dyed in the wool Cajun who hails from Southern Louisiana. He loves hunting, fishing, and anything else that gives him an opportunity to be in the great outdoors. Boquet is also a really good bull rider who has made quite name for himself in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA).

Although Boquet is originally from Bourg, Louisiana, he has made his home in Athens, Texas for almost five years. The move to Athens has made it much easier to travel back and forth to rodeos as it is centrally located in the US and only about an hour or so from the two major airports in the Dallas / Fort Worth metroplex.

Dustin grew up around horses and he spent a lot of time riding them with his dad and his grandpa as a child. He did not begin riding steers, however, until he was twelve years old and a buddy from school talked him into giving it a try. Boquet went on to ride three out of four steers in a local buckle series and won his first buckle. Needless to say, he thought that was the coolest thing in the world and has been hooked ever since.

Boquet was involved in other sports and played baseball until he reached high school. At that point his parents told him he had to choose one or the other because they couldn’t afford to keep doing both. He chose the bulls!

Boquet rode in several regional associations including the Professional Cowboys Association and the Cajun Rodeo Association where he honed his skills until he joined the PRCA in 2013. Riding and competing in these rodeos gave Dustin the confidence to see that he could ride and win and also a chance to learn how to enter rodeos, travel, and how to make it work as a professional bull rider.

Dustin is grateful for the opportunities he had to ride and also for the mentors who helped him develop and mature as a bull rider.

One man, in particular, who played a great role in Dustin’s career was Sheldon Price. Dustin used to go to Price’s house and would have bulls gathered and sorted in pens before Sheldon got off work so they could start bucking as soon as he got home. They did this a couple of times each week over the course of several months. In Boquet’s opinion, this was one of the greatest factors that helped him progress in his ability to ride bulls.

When we asked if Dustin has any favorite rodeos where he likes to compete he mentioned the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo and their Xtreme Bulls event because he has done really well there ever since his first year. He also said that he likes the Pendleton Roundup because of the unique grass field inside the arena. Last but certainly not least, was the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo simply because it is “The Daddy of ‘Em All”!

Boquet rides at the 2018 National Finals Rodeo.

PRCA ProRodeo photo.

Boquet has qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo on two occasions. The first came in 2018 where the NFR rookie had a solid showing and won Round 6 and placed in three rounds to finish the year 7th in the PRCA World Standings. In 2019, Dustin dealt with some injuries and was sidelined for a good part of the season and was not able to qualify for the NFR. However, in the crazy year we know as 2020, Boquet made the cut for his second National Finals Rodeo hich was held in Arlington, Texas due to the Covid restrictions in Vegas.

Since Dustin has experienced the NFR in Vegas and Texas, we asked which one he preferred. He said that each was special and good for their own reasons. Texas being that they worked to pull off an event such as the National Finals Rodeo within a 90-100 day time frame was very impressive.

Boquet went on to say that when you think of the NFR, you just think of Vegas. The bright lights, the history, the close proximity of the fans inside the Thomas & Mack Center make it a really great place to compete.

Dustin is certainly no stranger to bright lights and pressure situations. In the 2021 RFD-TV’s The American Rodeo, he qualified for the final shootout round of four. As the first man out of the chutes, Boquet knocked one down for eight seconds and rode Frontier Rodeo’s bull, Magic Trick, for 87 points. Although 87 points is a great score, his ride was surpasseds by two other men that day and finished in 3rd place which still was worth a check for $10,000.

When Dustin was asked if he has any favorite bulls that he has faced he said that he doesn’t really have any favorites. From his point of view, he just likes all the good ones that buck. However, there are a couple that he would like to ride but has not had the opportunity yet. Chiseled is one that he would like to face and another one of D&H Cattle Co. was SweetPro’s Bruiser. Boquet had drawn Bruiser at one point but then Bruiser had some health issues and was not able to buck that day.

Boquet goes to work at the Championship Bull Riding (CBR) event in Laughlin, NV.

Photo by Todd Brewer.

Boquet usually has a good run at the larger winter rodeos and 2021 was no different. He won the San Antonio Xtreme Bulls and also the Enid Ultimate Challenge Xtreme Bulls. The goal is always to keep the momentum going through the spring and summer and then into the fall. Although he has had a rough stretch so far this summer, there is still plenty of time for a strong finish in the 2021 season and a push to stay on track for his 3rd Wrangler NFR qualification.

With the payouts up for grabs at the NFR, any of the top 15 who make it to Vegas have a legitimate shot at a world championship. Dustin says that it comes down to whoever shows up and wants to ride all ten, gets to walk away with the gold buckle. “If you don’t have a gold buckle on your mind, I don’t know what the heck you’re even riding bulls for.”

At the end of the day, Boquet’s advice is pretty simple. Keep riding your bulls and let the chips fall where they may. Humps N Horns wishes Dustin the best as he continues his journey towards that gold buckle.

Boquet wins the 2020 PRCA Xtreme Bulls at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo.

PRCA ProRodeo photo by James Phifer.