Austin Laramore recalls vividly the day the world of roping was changed forever.
“My Grandfather, Tom Gipson, lived in Colorado. Other fully auto chutes require compressed air lines to work, which would freeze in the winter. On top of that, the way that they operate was not a viable option for ropers to work their chutes without many additional people to help,” Laramore said.
“One day, Tom was looking at a family heirloom Rolex watch, which is self-winding, using gravity to charge up. He then applied the principles to how a cattle chute might work with the same main operator—gravity.”
The next thing to consider was how was he going to provide the electricity to the product, which just happens to be the most important thing found in nature - sunlight. After he discovered how the mechanisms needed to work together, Gipson created the Chute Help fully automatic chute.
In short, Chute Help can be placed anywhere and simplifies the system of opening chutes from which calves/steers run and are then roped. Along with the front gate being operated with a remote, the weight of the animal controls the opening of the back gate. When one animal leaves the chute, the back gate automatically opens for the next one to enter.
“The inspiration was to fill a need that many people like us had—to make roping simple,” Laramore said. Gipson worked alongside his grandson from 2011 until he passed away in April of 2022. Now, his innovation and inspiration continues through the work of Laramore, who is running the Granbury-based business with his wife Katherine.
Impact on industry
Among those who have used Chute Help for practice is eight-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier Cesar De La Cruz.
Also, the largest and most prestigious horse futurity event, the American Rope Horse Futurity, utilizes the company’s products.
“All of the team roping athletes competing at the NFR rope out of our products at that event two times per year,” Laramore said. “Many of those pro cowboys own a Chute Help setup of their own as well.”
Then, he added with a chuckle, “Something that almost any of them will say is that Chute Help has saved many marriages by making roping simple.”
Family history
Gipson holds the record for being the oldest member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association to place in any event at “the granddaddy of them all,” the Cheyenne Frontier Days in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
“He was 72 years old and placed 5th in the first round and competed against the pro rodeo king, Trevor Brazile,” Laramore recalled.
Laramore’s father, Scott Laramore, is a four- time NFR qualifying team roper. His aunt, Toni Karre, was the Turquoise Circuit Director for the WRPA for many years, and still competes. “My dad, mom, brother and myself all compete in amateur team roping events,” Laramore said.
Laramore said his favorite rodeo memory is when his grandfather competed at Cheyenne. “Starting six months beforehand, he accompanied me to the gym every day to prepare his body to be able to be the most competitive he could be,” Laramore reminisced. “We worked on his agility and strength together. The culmination of that, and his own practice at home resulted in his award.”
Personal experience
“Roping out of a Chute Help consistently has allowed me to make adjustments and improvements as time has gone on,” Laramore said.
Also, Laramore is a member of TechFW, a nonprofit organization to help entrepreneurs launch and grow emerging technology. It was there he met Hayden Blackburn, whom he credits for helping Chute Help grow by introducing him and the company to key experts.
“Hayden and TechFW have given me the opportunity to speak on panels, and have interviews to further grow my network, which in turn has led me down the path to new things,” Laramore said.
“We are currently designing a new look for the ‘hood’ on our chute, which will debut during the NFR at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Customer feedback is paramount, so that is another experience that we draw from to help with our designs.”
More than one thing
Chute Help’s product line includes much more than the Fully Automatic Chute. It offers a full line of arena accessories, and in 2024 launched a full trailer line.
Two other items that have hit the market this year are the Dirteater Arena Drag and Adjustable Bale Feeder. The former is perfect for getting an arena ready before and after heavy usage, a hard rain, or spreading new material. The latter has two height adjustments for horses and cattle, with 1-inch drain holes in the feed pan.
“What my wife and I have done this year is gone back to the basics of how Chute Help started—discovering what is it that we are lacking on our own property. What do we need to make our lives simply awesome?” Laramore said.
“From what we can tell, our solutions have already begun providing customers with what they want and need.”