It’s not easy being a roper in Ovid, Michigan. That’s why Tavis Walters travels down to Oklahoma and Texas often.

“I have to come down here several times a year,” the 17-year-old said. “I come down here and rope for the shows. It’s fun. I have a lot of friends down here.”

And those friends were on hand, some even competing in John Justin Arena against him, when Tavis and his 8-year-old gelding, Hot Colonel Badger, won the youth world championship in tie-down roping on August 7.

“It’s my fourth world championship, and my second on this horse,” Tavis said, adding that he and “Badger” won the heading youth world title in 2006.

Tavis was second in the draw of 15. He backed Badger into the box and waited for the calf to be released.

“(Badger) was good in the box. The calf went out a little bit, but I just ran my horse down there and roped the calf. I tried to get there and do my work as fast as I could so my horse didn’t have to work as much.”

They marked a 220.5, which held through the next 13 riders.

“My horse was really good, and I’m happy with him,” Tavis said. “I’ve had him about five years, and he tries so hard for me every time I back him in there. He gives me what he’s got.”

Tavis will be a high school senior this year, and plans to move down to Oklahoma or Texas for college when he graduates next year.

“I would like to do something with horses,” he said. “But I would really like to come down here to be closer to my friends."