Cutting

Kyle Farris repeats as cutting world champion in his last Ford Youth World

by Christine Hamilton
The American Quarter Horse Journal

In 2011, Kyle Farris told the Journal he planned to be back to the 2012 Built Ford Tough AQHYA World Championship Show, for his last year of youth eligibility. He’d just taken the youth world championship in cutting aboard his grandfather, Jimmy’s, mare, Bingos Mate.

He did come back, this time with two – Bingos Mate and another mare, KL Genuine Dually. He qualified both to the August 10 youth finals, with a 214 and a 216, respectively.

Lauren Kleck of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, and 2010 Select cutting reserve world champion Can Yall CD Freckles were first in the finals go and set the bar with a 219. Lauren is a two-time youth cutting reserve world champion with Lucky Nurse.

But Kyle felt prepared. He was fifth in the go with Bingos Mate and scored a 214, the same as in the prelims. Lauren’s score was still the one to beat by the time he rode in with KL Genuine Dually, eighth in the go.

“Mr. Ed (Dufurrena) and my dad (Mitch Farris) picked out a lot of my cows,” Kyle said. “I didn’t really study the cows because I get way too nervous when I look at the cows.

“We were pretty confident with all three cows that I cut. … I couldn’t have asked for a better run, the mare was good the cows were good.”

The judges scored it a 219.

“I didn’t think there was going to be a cut-off,” Kyle said. “I thought someone would maybe do better. You never know with cutting. I was just thinking, I need to keep my horse going just in case there is.”

After all 15 goes, Lauren and Kyle were called for a work-off for the world championship. Kyle knew he'd won third place with Bingos Mate.

“(I knew the work-off) was going to be tough,” Kyle said. “Lauren does a great job and is very competitive. It was fun.”

Kyle scored a 213 and Lauren a 196 after losing her third cow. Kyle would take home the gold, along with the bronze.

Kyle’s grandparents, Jimmy and Carolyn Farris, got him the mare a few years ago.

“I’ve shown her a lot, made a lot of finals; I’m fortunate to have her.”

Kyle’s parents are Mitch and Tracy Farris of Midway, Texas; they own and operate Mitch Farris Cutting Horses. Mitch is in the National Cutting Horse Association Non-Pro Hall of Fame but has been training professionally for several years. Jimmy is a 40-year cumulative AQHA breeder.

Though it’s Kyle’s last Ford Youth World, he hopes to return to AQHA world show competition in amateur. Right now, he’s headed to school at Tarrant County College in Fort Worth, Texas, and his horses are going with him.

“I actually move into my new apartment this afternoon,” he said, “so we’re jumping into the trailer and going to move in.”

But he’ll take time to celebrate his world championship as soon as he’s settled.

“This is the second year in a row that I’ve won it, and it’s just unbelievable,” he said. “I can’t believe it happened. It’s such a blessing to be here and compete. I just don’t realize how fortunate I am.”