Work Hard , Be Kind , Be GOOD !
Dream big . Dream so big it ’ s almost impossible because then , if you even get halfway there , you are ahead of most .
Work Hard , Be Kind , Be GOOD !
JUNIOR NOGUEIRA
Written by Lori O ' Harver
Dream big . Dream so big it ’ s almost impossible because then , if you even get halfway there , you are ahead of most .
Those are the words of Junior Nogueira ’ s grandfather - words that made a big impression on the 26-year-old cowboy who comes into the WNFR topping both the team roping heeler and all around standings . He ’ s living the dream , but it ’ s a dream hard work and 100 % focus on God has manifested for the young man from Presidente Prudente , Brazil .
Nogueira is fast and true with his heel rope , but what stands out most in the minds of spectators is the way he slings himself backward in the saddle with his hat brim almost touching his horse ’ s tail after he throws his loop .
“ When I was a little kid , the best roper in Brazil did that . We all wanted to be like him . Even in dummy ropings , we ’ d all rear back like our hero when we threw ,” Nogueira said .
“ I lost my dad when I was about 5 . My grandfather was a great cowboy and the man who stepped in to help raise me . He took me to every roping he could , even the ones I wasn ’ t supposed to go to because I ’ d be in trouble with my mom for doing bad in school or something ,” said Nogueira . “ She ’ d yell when she found out , but Grandpa would just smile .”
A few short weeks before WNFR , Junior ’ s grandfather died in Brazil . The young champion he raised wasn ’ t able to make the trip home . His absence in this world has left a trace of sadness in Junior ’ s trademark smile , but he ’ ll use that sorrow to build fire in his performances . He believes if it ’ s God ’ s will for his gold buckle dreams to come true , that his grandfather will be drowning out the heavenly choir of angels with shouts of joy for the boy who believes in miracles .