Some people live for this sport and it is a lifestyle for some people, they do not know what this sport is. Especially in high school people don’t talk about it unless you’re already a part of it or you have family that does it or you already do it with other siblings. High School Rodeo is a sport and there are different clubs around the state of Utah. The Participants travel around the state on Fridays and Saturdays during the school year they have a spring and fall season. They usually always miss school days to be able to travel and get to be able to go rodeo and participate in their events. The Fall season has just barely come to an end this November in Hurricane, Utah for the final Dixie 6 rodeo before taking a break before they start spring season in March in Ogden, Utah. 

West Desert Rodeo Team, which is Grantsville’s High School team, has practices on Saturdays so they can keep up and make sure they are on top of their game so they can be ready to do the best they can do. Everyone on the team does different events from roughstock to timed events. 

The team had a great time during the Dixie 6. Carson Hale was able to qualify in Boys Cutting and had a very great weekend. Cooper Seagers was able to Qualify on his rides in saddle bronc, he did very well all 3 weekends. He is also the Team’s president. Trevor Johnson was able to qualify in team roping with his partner. Wyatt Marshall was able to qualify on some of his rides in bull riding during the weekends. Hayden Strickland was able to qualify for state with his team roping runs with his partner. Brooklynn Hunsaker was able to also qualify for state with her Breakway run.

This is a very hard sport and it’s super competitive and people live for this sport it’s not just something they do to do, they do it for the love and drive and how it pushes them to do their very best. “Dixie 6 is one of the funnest rodeos one can go to. It’s always a party. We love to go hang out and make some trouble, but my Dixie 6 went pretty well. I missed a run on poles, but every weekend improved. With breakaway, it was a of a bit rough start but by the end of the second weekend, I qualified for state. So overall it was a pretty good outcome,” says Hunsaker, Senior. 

During the 3 weekends of fun and competition, the association puts on a fun dance during the last weekend of the Dixie 6 and it is called cowboy prom they always have different themes every year. It’s like a high school dance but it is always more elevated. “My favorite part about the weekends was hanging out with my sister and Cowboy Prom. So far, I like high school rodeo, and some people will help you find where you need to go and what they are on. You can see people practicing and sometimes they will help you. People are willing to answer some questions if you have any,” says Taylor Rackley,  sophomore. 

Rodeo is a very diverse sport it has a place for anyone and everyone so they can show their talents between rider and horse and how people can stay on an animal and be able to stay on for those 8 seconds to be able to get a good score so they can earn points and get money. In this sport it is a family environment you get to meet new create new memories every time you go to one of the events to participate.

This sport has evolved into something amazing and it will always change for the better. This sport keeps people humble teaches them hard work and to never give up and to chase their dreams. To some people it’s all they know how to do some people just love to go and watch for the fun of it. But either way, rodeo will always be a sport and be a lifestyle.