While most 12-year-olds spend their free time playing video games or in the backyard, Rex Walker spends his spare time clinging to the back of a bucking bull in the centre of a rodeo arena.
The boy from Miriam Vale, just south of Gladstone in central Queensland, began competing in rodeos only a year and a half ago.
He has already qualified through the National Rodeo Association to compete for his age level at the Youth Bull Riders World Finals in Abilene, Texas, in August.
The young cowboy said it was an easy decision for him to get involved in the sport.
"I decided I wanted to go and see some rodeos and it went on from there," he said.
"I'm proud of where I've gotten.
Brothers to make trip
Brothers Ben and Jack Bode, from Biloela in central Queensland, will also be heading to the US next month with Rex to compete in their age categories.
"We've not really grown up around [video games] and that sort of thing," Ben said.
"I started off on poddy [calves] and worked my way up."
The 18-year-old said he was preparing for the contest with practice at his home, as well as hitting the gym.
Nine years after starting to competitively ride bulls, Ben won the National Rodeo Association Reserve Champion Under 18 Bull Rider title, guaranteeing his place at the world finals.
But for him, the key to a successful ride was having good balance.
"It's a lot of training on practice bulls during the week when getting ready for the rodeo," he said.
He said when the moment came to get on a bull and enter the arena, it was important for him to keep his mind clear.
"I find if you're trying to think about it too much it doesn't usually go your way," Ben said.
"But if you're just there and let it happen it usually comes out all right."
Jack, 16, will also compete in his age level and said he was initially inspired to get involved after watching his older brother compete.
Rodeos 'not cruel'
Rodeos and bull riding have, in recent years, been in the sights of animal advocacy groups such as Animals Australia.
The organisation has labelled the sport as animal cruelty and called for it to be banned.
Ben said he wanted others to know that he, and many others from the Queensland bush, didn't agree.
"It's not like we make the bulls buck. They want to do it. We want to do it," he said.
The boys, alongside Cloncurry teenager Cade Ferguson, have received strong support from the central Queensland community, with farmers donating beasts for auction, as well as other farm products.
The Miriam Vale pub has hosted a fundraiser, and Rex has taken up selling firewood to help fund the month-long trip.
"When you see all the community come together and do something like this … it makes you feel good," Ben said.
