KING, N.C. — Amanda Paquette was a nervous wreck as the cowboys lowered her 7-year-old son, Preston Malvoisin, onto a roughly 600-pound bull calf. In a few seconds, the calf would bolt out of the chute and wildly flail in an effort to buck him off. Filming through metal bars, Paquette worried if she was about to record her son’s fantastic first ride or a tragic catastrophe that would haunt her. Just a few weeks prior, a 14-year-old had been trampled to death just a few feet away, and Paquette wondered if perhaps she should’ve wanted a calmer life for her family – maybe running a bed and breakfast instead.
Five weeks earlier, Paquette had watched with a mixture of excitement and trepidation as her young son rode for the first time at the amateur Rafter K Rodeo in King, N.C., about 15 miles north of Winston-Salem. Just a few minutes after Preston’s thrill ride, they watched as 14-year-old Denim Bradshaw died during his very first bull ride, leaving Paquette to ponder just what kind of parenting decisions she had made.
While Paquette acknowledges the risks of the rodeo, she wants her son to have the chance to pursue his new hobby, become a part of the tightknit rodeo community, and learn the valuable art of cowboy resilience. She admits it’s a heart-wrenching decision, but she also doesn’t want to put him in a bubble, stating, “You have to let them enjoy life.” And by “enjoy life,” she means having them cling to bucking 600-pound animals for dear life.
Nowadays, Preston engages in various farm activities, such as feeding chickens, mending fences, and picking crops from the family’s 3,000-square-foot vegetable garden. But he’s also found another great way to “try new stuff” – participating in the rodeo. So far, Preston’s progress in the extreme sport has been slow and steady, with jokes and laughs helping him through the nerves, along with the unwavering support of his mother.
In response to the incident, Denim’s mother, Shannon Bowman, has been working on legislation known as “Denim’s Law” to increase safety measures at amateur rodeos. Among other provisions, it would require that all minors riding bulls have 6 months to a year of training, which would need to be verified by a rodeo outfit.
Paquette has thrown caution to the wind, allowing Preston to participate in five rodeos since Denim’s death. One recent Saturday, Preston was back in the saddle for another ride, with his faithful mom cheering him on from the sidelines. Despite not meeting the six-second mark, Preston left the arena unscathed and more determined than ever.
Next season, Amanda Paquette will continue risking her sanity while watching her son hold on tight to an unpredictable animal many times his size. Anxiety and sweaty palms aside, she wants her son to experience the grit, determination, and belonging that come from being a part of their new and wild community in King, N.C.
