BAKER CITY — Riggin McGinn doesn’t remember a life before rodeo.

The 12-year-old was 2 at his first playday, which is a local gathering with rodeo-style events.

“He’d be on the horse and we’d lead him,” his mom, Desi McGinn, said of herself and Riggin’s dad, Robert.

And he had a mentor in his uncle, Mike McGinn, who travels the rodeo circuit and is ranked No. 31 in the world for steer wrestling.

“I went and hung out with him when he practiced,” Riggin said.

The McGinns live in Haines, and rodeo is just part of the family — he’s following in the footsteps of uncles Mike and Gus McGinn, and cousins Dawson McGinn, Howdy McGinn and Parker Deal.

Riggin, a seventh-grader at North Powder School, is a member of Oregon Junior High Rodeo, Central Oregon Pee Wee Rodeo Association and American Cowboy Team Roping Association team roping.

He spends hours and hours in the practice pen, his mom said, in addition to competitions.

“We travel a lot,” Desi said.

“This summer we were gone every weekend,” Riggin said.

And that’s why he missed his favorite rodeo, the Haines Stampede, which was held at the same time as the Silver State Rodeo in Winnemucca, Nevada.

He competes in team roping, tie-down roping (calf roping) and chute dogging (a version similar to steer wrestling, but the competitor doesn’t start on horseback) and ribbon roping.

He used to ride mini bulls, but decided rough stock events weren’t for him.

“It’s not very fun,” he said.

Heading to Vegas

Although his rodeo season typically ends in the fall, Riggin is heading to the Vegas Tuffest Jr. World Championship in December in Las Vegas.

He qualified in Caldwell, Idaho, in the tie-down roping event for ages 12 and younger. He rode his horse named Ringo.

His first time was 45 seconds, and his second time was 26 seconds.

“The calves were a little smaller, and I roped them a little faster,” he said of the second round.

In his event, Riggin races on horseback to rope a calf, then jumps off to lift it onto its side and tie one front leg and both back legs.

And the ties have to stay.

“The calf has to stay down for six seconds for my time to be good,” he said.

Vegas Tuffest is held Dec. 4-10 and brings together 1,300 competitors from 31 states. Riggin will compete on Dec. 9. The event pays out $1.75 million in cash and prizes.

Vegas Tuffest is held at the same time as the National Finals Rodeo, Dec. 5-14.

Riggin has never been to the NFR.

“We told them they couldn’t go to Vegas until Uncle Mike went,” Desi said.

“Now I get to go before him,” Riggin said with a grin.

And, now that his football season is over, Riggin will continue to practice before the big event in Vegas.

“He’s always had a rope in his hand and is always roping something,” Desi said.

“Sometimes I’ll rope our dog,” Riggin said, another grin crossing his face.