Broc Cresta

The Legend Lives On.

- Kendra Santos

It’s impossible to believe that we’ve been missing Broc Cresta for five years already. It still seems unreal that after roping one with boyhood buddy Spencer Mitchell at the Daddy of ’em All in Cheyenne, Wyo., then enjoying a Hank Williams Jr. concert with his friends, Broc didn’t wake up the next morning. A lot of hearts stopped when Broc’s did on July 28, 2012.

Because Broc was worth knowing—and future generations of cowboy kids won’t get the chance to do that for themselves, like we did—it’s the people closest to Broc who will tell his story now. Loving Broc changed a lot of lives. Losing Broc shipwrecked them. Broc will live in their hearts always and forever—until they meet again.

Fourth-generation California cowboy Broc, who was the Resistol Rookie Heeler of the Year in 2007, won his share of rodeos and more, including the Daddy itself in 2008 with Logan Olson. Broc roped at his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in 2010 with Turtle Powell, then followed that up with a second NFR with Spencer the December before he died. Fittingly, Spencer and his fiancé, Whitney Lynn, welcomed baby boy Broc Alan Mitchell on Memorial Day, May 29.

“I didn’t think there was any other name to consider,” Spencer said. “As soon as we knew it was a little boy, it was pretty much set in stone. Nobody really needed to ask what it was going to be. It’s like Tuff Hedeman naming his boy Lane— somebody you grew up with and looked up to and respected—that’s what you want for your kid, to be respected.”