Rodeo Life

Author: Charity Pulliam

  • Team Cavender’s: Dillon Grote

    Team Cavender’s: Dillon Grote

    In the fast-paced world of rodeo, where the stakes are high and the competition is fierce, young athletes like Dillon Grote, an 18-year-old from Bennington, Oklahoma, must balance dedication, ambition and family support.

    “Rodeo is a family affair,” said the young competitor. His mother, a former professional rodeo athlete, and his father, a cattle-showing winner, played a significant role in shaping his passion for the sport.

    Photo Courtesy of Dillon Grote

    “My mom got me into rodeo,” Grote said. “She made the college finals, won the CRRA, and really paved the way for me to take the next step.”

    As a child, Grote said he would accompany her to competitions, eventually taking up the sport, and gradually working his way up.

    “My dad won, my mom won,” he added. “I think winning was the only option. It just ran through the family.”

    Grote said his parents’ unwavering support—especially his mother’s decision to step away from the rodeo world to focus on his training—has been a cornerstone of his career.

    “She devoted all of her time to me,” he said. “I owe my parents all of my success.”

    Grote said he first learned about the opportunity to join Team Cavender’s through his good friends, Kyan Wilhite, Luke Coleman, Colee Cox, Riley Edens and Coralie Massey.

    “I just kind of saw the merch they were wearing, the jackets and stuff, and I thought it looked cool,” he recalled. After chatting with Kyan, Grote said he received the green light to apply. “Kyan texted Sydney, who told me about the application process. I filled it out, and then we talked at state finals.”

    The young rodeo athlete said that Team Cavender’s isn’t just about the competition; it’s about building relationships. He added that the team provides valuable exposure and networking, opening doors to bigger opportunities.

    “Not everyone gets to be on Cavender’s, so if you make it, it says something about you as a person and as a rodeo athlete,” he said.

    Grote added that team members attended a media training day and had access to bigger sponsors, which gave him an edge in the sport.

    Grote said he focuses on preparing for life after high school outside of rodeo. He is enrolled in a vocational technology program and added that learning a trade will set him up for success beyond rodeo.

    “I’m in the HVAC class,” he said. “HVAC technicians and plumbers are projected to be among the highest-paid jobs in the next five years. It’s a good business to get into.”

    The tech program allows students to complete roughly 1,050 hours of coursework over two years, giving them a head start in their careers after graduation.

    “I’m hoping to be a contractor and work in HVAC while still rodeoing on the side,” he said. It’s clear that while rodeo is his passion, he is pragmatic about his future.

    Grote said rodeo has taught him valuable lessons in perseverance, especially regarding the complexity of tie-down roping.

    “It’s one of the most complicated events. There are so many things that could go wrong,” he explained. “You have to do everything right, and it requires skill, timing, and a great horse to make a perfect run.”

    Grote said the challenge is part of what makes the sport so rewarding. He added that his victory at the 2024 Hooey Junior Patriot, where he won $25,000, stands out as one of his proudest achievements.

    “Being 17 and winning $25,000, I didn’t even know what to do with that kind of money,” he said.

    Grote said his goals don’t stop there. With his ProRodeo permit in hand, he added he wants to qualify for the permit finals and circuit finals, and eventually make a run for the NFR.

    “I’m just excited to see where this journey takes me,” he said.

  • Blood, Grit, and Glory: The 2025 PBR World Finals

    Blood, Grit, and Glory: The 2025 PBR World Finals

    The 2025 Professional Bull Riders (PBR) World Finals is set to be an electrifying experience that will bring together the best bull riders from across the globe for an action-packed showdown. Bull riding fans can expect to witness the ultimate test of skill, bravery and athleticism as the cowboys battle some of the toughest bulls in the sport.

    This year’s event will be a three-part affair, with the first stage taking place at Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas, from May 8-11. Here, 45 elite riders will compete in a series of qualifying rounds, aiming to secure their spot in the final championship round. Contestants will face off against a roster of fierce bulls in a race to earn points, with the top 15 from the Unleash The Beast standings and the top 5 riders from the Fort Worth event advancing to the grand finale.

    The Ride for Redemption round, also held at the Cowtown Coliseum May 14-15, adds an extra layer of drama and excitement to the competition. Twenty-five contestants who have not already qualified, along with 15 invited riders, will face off in two additional rounds for a chance to make the big show. The top five in the aggregate will advance to the Championship Rounds.

    The conclusion of this intense competition will be held at the state-of-the-art AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on May 17-18. Fans will experience the excitement of watching the sport at its highest level in a massive arena capable of holding tens of thousands of spectators. Twenty-five contestants will give it their all for the chance to claim the prestigious PBR World Champion title. Over the course of the finals, the PBR will award more than $2.38 million plus a $1 million bonus to the 2025 world champion.

    In addition to the bull riding, the 2025 World Finals will feature Kid Rock’s Rock N Rodeo. Rodeo meets rock concert while six teams, each coached by a legend of ProRodeo, compete in a head-to-head bracket-style competition. The rodeo will feature seven rodeo events, and Kid Rock will perform live in concert.

    The 2025 PBR World Finals will not only showcase the world’s best riders but also celebrate the spirit of the sport itself. Whether you are a longtime fan or a newcomer to the world of bull riding, this year’s PBR World Finals promises to be an event like no other.

  • Team Cavender’s: Daniel Wilder

    Team Cavender’s: Daniel Wilder

    Daniel Wilder said his journey into the world of rodeo was shaped by his family, his fierce competitiveness and his passion for the sport. As a member of Team Cavender’s for the past two years, Wilder said he has witnessed firsthand the value of being part of a team that emphasizes growth, camaraderie and success.

     

    “Just growing up through junior rodeo, I looked up to people like Jordi Edens Mitchell and Riley Webb,” Daniel says. “Then my sister Anna got on Team Cavender’s, and she referred me when it was time for her to graduate. That’s how I got on the team.”

     

    Wilder said being part of Team Cavender’s has allowed him to compete alongside some of the most driven and talented young athletes in the rodeo world.

     

    “What I love most about Team Cavender’s is how tight-knit everyone is. It’s a group that really pushes you to be the best version of yourself,” Wilder said. “A lot of youth teams are competitive, but Cavender’s really takes it to another level.

     

    “We have three people going to The American this year, which motivates me to stay on top of my game,” he added. “It’s not just about the competition; it’s about being around athletes who truly care about each other’s success.”

     

    Photo by Jennings Photography

    Wilder said one unique aspect of Team Cavender’s is that it is not only about rodeo. Team members also get exposure to the business side of the industry.

     

    “We got to be around people who work at Cavender’s, not just the rodeo side,” he said. “I think that’s cool because we learned a lot about how the business operates as a whole. I think the relationships and connections we’ve made through Cavender’s will be valuable for us, whether we go professional in rodeo or take a business route.”

     

    Wilder, who will attend University of Tenessee-Martin on a rodeo scholarship in the fall, said he is exploring both his athletic and academic future.

     

    “I’m just taking it as it comes,” he said. “I want to rodeo for as long as I can, but I’m also leaning toward the business side, especially since I come from a farming background. After college, I’ll likely return to the family farm, but I’ll still be involved in rodeo, training horses and competing when I can.”

     

    Wilder’s passion for horses is something he said runs deep in his family. His great-grandfather, Lowe McDaniel, introduced the family to Tennessee Walking Horses. Over time, his family transitioned into breeding and raising American Quarter Horses, which eventually led them into rodeo.

     

    Wilder said his mother was a barrel racer, and his grandfather played a huge role in teaching him and his sisters how to ride and compete.

     

    “My grandfather was a huge influence on me,” he said. “He’s the most competitive man I know, and he taught us the value of being the best at whatever we do.”

     

    Wilder said he inherited his grandfather’s competitive spirit, which has served him well in the rodeo arena. He has excelled in several events, including team roping, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, and reined cow horse.

     

    “Growing up with my sisters, we would practice together, and it was always a competition,” he recalls. “That helped me push myself and get better.”

     

    As Wilder continues to build his future in both rodeo and business, his deep-rooted passion for the sport and his family’s legacy remains at the heart of his journey. Whether competing professionally or pursuing business ventures, Wilder’s commitment to excellence and his love for the sport will undoubtedly guide him toward success.

  • American Hats: Baylee Barker

    American Hats: Baylee Barker

    Atlanta, Kansas, cowgirl Baylee Barker said her relationship with American Hat Company stands out as one of the defining moments of her rodeo career. Barker said it all began in an unexpected way during the National High School Finals Rodeo.

    “It was freshman year of nationals, I believe,” Barker said. “I was just walking around, and I always thought it would be cool to be sponsored by American, but I didn’t think much of it.”

    After a brief conversation with a representative, American Hat Company surprised Barker by following her outside the event and asking, “Hey, do you want to be an ambassador?”

    That moment marked the beginning of a rewarding partnership with the brand.

    “I’ve been an ambassador for a couple of years now,” Barker said. “The best part is that we, as riders, put in the work to earn our sponsorship. We meet the requirements, and American gives back to us. Getting a free straw hat every year is a great perk, but it’s the loyalty that means the most to me. They treat us well, and it’s cool to see that, even as younger riders, we get the same kind of attention and support that the pro rodeo athletes get.

    “It’s not just the product, but the people behind the brand,” she added. “The brand has supported me in my journey, and that’s something I value a lot.”

    Barker said her journey into the rodeo world began at a young age. Growing up in Kansas, she quickly found her passion for the sport.

    “I started rodeoing when I was probably three,” she said. “I did all the things that one to six age group can do—rode sheep, ran barrels, did goat tying. I rodeoed up until about 7 years old before I took a break to play junior high club volleyball.”

    Barker said it was not long before rodeo found its way back into her life.

    “When I was 10, one of my friends was roping, and I told my mom, ‘I kind of want to get on a horse and rope.’ Since then, I’ve stuck with it and been very accomplished,” she said.

    A recent recruit to the Vernon College rodeo program, Barker said she has big goals on the horizon, with aspirations to succeed in both rodeo and her future career. She said she plans to study nursing and wants to pursue a career in the medical field, specifically as a neonatal intensive care unit nurse.

    “I want to be a NICU nurse because I love babies and kids,” she said. “It’s rewarding to be able to send a NICU baby home.”

    In addition to her rodeo and academic pursuits, Barker said she is also focused on making the most of her time at college. She aims to attend the College National Finals Rodeo with winning in mind.

    “I look forward to making it to the college finals and winning before I’m done with college. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, and I believe I have the work ethic to make it happen,” she said.

    Despite the challenges of balancing rodeo with her academic goals, Baylee remains dedicated to both.

    “I want to give my best effort in both areas. If I can, I’ll continue to compete in pro rodeos after college, but I’ll have to see how it all fits into my career path,” she added.

    Barker also reflected on the pride she has in representing Kansas in the rodeo world.

    “Kansas doesn’t get as much recognition as other states in rodeo, but it’s cool to represent it,” she said. “It’s been a huge part of my journey, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of my family, especially my parents and my Uncle Dave.”

    No matter where her journey takes her—whether in the rodeo arena or the hospital—Barker will continue to proudly represent Kansas and American Hat Company.

  • American Hats: Mackenzie Mayes

    American Hats: Mackenzie Mayes

    Mackenzie Mayes said her family has always been friends with Stan Redding, American Hat Company’s national sales manager. She said her professional relationship with the hat brand started while she was in high school.

     

    “I was at a rodeo in the stockyards in Fort Worth, and I talked with Stan while I was there,” she said. “I’ve been sponsored by them ever since, and I am so thankful for the people there and the opportunities they have given me.”

     

    As a third-generation cowgirl from Winnsboro, Texas, Mayes said she is never short of people around her who have helped her grow into the horsewoman she is now.

     

    “My whole family rodeos and trains horses, really,” she said. “My grandma has been to the NFR in the barrel racing, and my dad has made the NFR as a calf roper, so I really have the best of both worlds being a barrel racer and a breakaway roper.”

     

    Mayes was not exaggerating when she said rodeo is a family affair. Her grandmother, Nancy Mayes, qualified for the National Finals Rodeo in 1983 and was later inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame. Her father, Jim Bob, was a two-time NFR qualifier in the tie-down roping.

     

    Mayes said she runs barrels on Chicado Moon, a 2018 AQHA mare by Guys Canyon Moon, and out of Chicados Bully, owned by her great-aunt, Naoma LeBarron. Mayes added her horse is more affectionately known as “Rousey” after the cage fighter Ronda Rousey.

     

    “My aunt bought Rousey from Jolene Montgomery when she was two, but she had an injury that put her out of use until the start of her four-year-old year,” Mayes said. “Once we got her back up, she took to barrels so fast, but she bucked a lot of people off.

     

    “My aunt had sent her to a family friend, and she bucked the lady off and broke a few of her ribs,” Mayes added. “After that incident, my aunt sent her to me, and I started hauling her. The rest is history, really.”

     

    Mayes, currently a business administration student at Northeast Texas Community College, said she decided to take a step back from college rodeo to focus on her rookie year in the WPRA.

     

    “I decided not to college rodeo this semester, so I can go to some pro rodeos for now,” she said. “I am planning on transferring to Texas A&​M Commerce next fall, and I’m going to pick up college rodeo there.”

    With a brother-in-law who was a top salesman for the medical company Johnson & Johnson, Mayes said she plans to pursue a similar career.

     

    “He is going to help me get a foot in the door after I graduate, so hopefully it will all work out,” she said. “A sales work schedule would allow me to still have days to rodeo and work.

     

    “My whole life revolves around rodeo,” she added. “I don’t see life going any other way.”

  • Team Cavender’s: Abby McCreary

    Team Cavender’s: Abby McCreary

    Abby McCreary, a breakaway roper from Canyon, Texas, said she heard about Team Cavender’s when Jeff Howell, from the Cavender’s in Amarillo, Texas, encouraged her to apply.

     “We were just in Cavender’s to shop one day, and he said, ‘Hey, have you applied for Team Cavender’s?’” she said. “He put me down as a reference and told me I’d be a great fit.”

     Though the application process was delayed for a year, McCreary said she finally joined the youth team and has enjoyed every moment.

     

    “Summit was a blast. I had so much fun with everyone. The team bonding and listening to all the speakers was amazing,” she said. ‘It was a different experience than anything I’ve ever had before.”

     

    McCreary’s journey into the world of rodeo began at a young age. A third-generation rancher, she said her passion for roping runs deep.

     

    “My granddad owns a ranch, and my dad ranched a little bit, and we still kind of do, but it’s hard with how much we travel for rodeo,” she said.

     

    McCreary said her father, Kevin McCreary, introduced her to roping early on. “I’ve been a breakaway roping off a horse since I was 5,” she added.

     

    While rodeo is McCreary’s primary focus, she said she is also active in other sports and youth clubs. She participates in basketball, golf, track, and cross-country. She is also an officer in FFA and is involved in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA).

     

    Balancing so many activities requires discipline and time management, but McCreary said she handles it well.

     

    “It’s pretty stressful, but my coaches are super great about it,” she says. “They know that rodeo comes before anything else, and they understand when I need to miss practice.”

     

    Despite the hectic schedule, McCreary is determined to pursue both her education and her passion for rodeo at the next level. She plans to attend West Texas A&M University, where she will join the rodeo team while studying animal science. The proximity to home is a huge benefit, she added, as it allows her to continue roping with her father.

     

    “I kind of get to take my coach with me to college with my dad being right here to help me,” she said.

     

    She is glad to be close to home so she can continue to support her younger brother, Cutter McCreary, who is just 11.

     

    “He just started team roping,” McCreary said. “It’s funny because I try to give him tips on his rope swing, and he doesn’t listen to me. But that sibling love always shines through, even if we roll our eyes at each other.” This close-knit dynamic is a big part of why McCreary enjoys rodeo. She is grateful for the time spent with her family, even when it is in a cramped horse trailer for weeks at a time.

     

    McCreary said her mother, Jamie McCreary, has never competed in rodeo, but she plays a vital role in the family’s success.

     

    “My mom is great. She makes sure we have everything we need, like food and blankets, and keeps track of all the videos and times at the rodeos,” McCreary said. “We call her our bleacher babe.”

     

    McCreary is considering a career in veterinary medicine, potentially in equine medicine, but she is still organizing the details of completing her education and chasing rodeos.

     

    “I’ve always wanted to be a vet, but I have not decided yet,” McCreary said. “Rodeo and vet school could be a full plate, so I’m going to take my time figuring it out.”

  • The Texas Swing 

    The Texas Swing 

    From January to April, millions of cowboys and cowgirls from across North America will snowbird their way down to Texas for many high-call Western events. Rodeo fans from all sectors of the sport are drawn to the action in the arena. Music lovers come to rock out to their favorite performers. America’s youth drive to show their livestock for some of the largest payouts in the country.

     

    Within the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA), this is the most rotund group of rodeos collectively held in a single state. The paydirt at these will be some of the most significant competitors will receive all year. The money won at these events can help to make or break a contestant’s NFR dreams. This is known as the Texas Swing. 

     

    Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo 

    January 17- February 8 

    What started in 1896 as a stock show held on the banks of Marine Creek in North Fort Worth, Texas, now brings over a million people to North Texas every January. The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo happens over three weeks and includes a variety of events and competitions. There is something for everyone, from agricultural mechanics, American Quarter Horse Association​ and National Cutting Horse Association horse shows, sheep dog trials, and a celebrity goat milking contest to wine tasting, nightly concerts, and a bracket format​​ PRCA rodeo. One thing is for sure…​​​ This Thing is Legendary®​.

    2025 Champions:

    Bareback Riding: Nick Pelke

    Steer Wrestling: Jesse Brown

    Breakaway Roping: Josie Conner

    Team Roping: Tanner Tomlinson and Travis Graves

    Saddle Bronc Riding: Kade Bruno

    Tie-Down Roping: Shad Mayfield

    Barrel Racing: Andrea Busby

    Bull Riding: Maverick Potter

     

    San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo 

    February 6-23

    Approximately 1.5 million people enter the gates of the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo fairgrounds to experience more than an 8-second ride. The first stock show was held at the historic Joe and Harry Freeman Coliseum in 1949, and the rodeo was added to the event list in 1950. Since then, the stock show and rodeo have experienced exponential growth. In 2003, the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo moved to the AT&T Center, a new state-of-the-art facility at the time, and was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2008. 

    2025 Champions:

    Bareback Riding: Bradlee Miller

    Steer Wrestling: Brandon Harrison

    Breakaway Roping: Aspen Miller

    Team Roping: Dustin Egusquiza & Levi Lord

    Saddle Bronc Riding: Dawson Hay

    Tie-Down Roping: Tuf Cooper

    Barrel Racing: Megan Mcleod-Sprauge

    Bull Riding: Stetson Wright

     

    RODEOHOUSTON

    March 4-23

    Since 1932, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has achieved many accomplishments, including but not limited to its induction into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2008. With youth​ and education being the organization’s focus, they have committed more than $630 million to the youth​ of Texas since the first stock show 93 years ago. The PRCA bracket-style rodeo is a 20-day tournament where fans see a champion crowned in eight events. Along with the monetary payout, each champion receives a custom-made saddle, belt buckle, and an invitation back to RODEOHOUSTON the next year. 

    2025 Champions:

    Bareback Riding: Rocker Steiner

    Steer Wrestling: Tucker Allen

    Breakaway Roping: Taylor Munsell

    Team Roping: Derrick Begay & Colter Todd

    Saddle Bronc Riding: Ryder Wright

    Tie-Down Roping: Riley Webb

    Barrel Racing: Kassie Mowry

    Bull Riding: Tristen Hutchings

     

    Rodeo Austin 

    March 14-29

    For over 80 years, Rodeo Austin has vowed to help grow the next generation of Texans. Since 1981, Rodeo Austin’s Scholarship Program has awarded over eight million dollars and impacted the lives of over 2,000 students. While Rodeo Austin is a nonprofit that works year-round, the funds they award are raised during the monthlong real Western experience held every March. Fans gather to watch top PRCA athletes compete, but they also attend rocking concerts, and a livestock show, all while raising money to promote the Western way of life. 

    2025 Champions:

    Bareback Riding: Tanner Aus

    Steer Wrestling: Logan Kenline

    Breakaway Roping: Rylee George

    Team Roping: Marcus Theriot & Wyatt Cox

    Saddle Bronc Riding: Quintin Taylor

    Tie-Down Roping: Tuf Cooper

    Barrel Racing: Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi

    Bull Riding: Wacey Schalla

     

    San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo 

    April 4-20

    Foster Communications Coliseum on the San Angelo Fairgrounds is where the tie-down ropers receive louder applause than the bull riders. Celebrating 91 years, the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo has a rich rodeo history. The first experimental rodeo was added to the event in 1932, and only two short years later, San Angelo hosted their first ProRodeo. Since then, the San Angelo Rodeo Committee has prided itself on knowing how to put on a rodeo. Each year, they go above and beyond to make the event bigger and better, but they never stray from the heart of it all…Rodeo.

  • Team Cavender’s: Kyan Frost

    Team Cavender’s: Kyan Frost

    Kyan Frost, a third-generation cowgirl from Baldwin City, Kansas, said being on
    Team Cavender’s has become a family affair.

    “I joined Team Cavender’s my freshman year,” she said. “My sister had been on the team for two
    years, so I saw all of the stuff she was doing, and I got to know the Cavenders family before I was
    a member.

    “Then later, I got invited to join the team, and I’ve been a member ever since,” she added. “I am a
    senior, so this is my last year.”

    Frost said she is on track to graduate in May from Baldwin High School, where she participates in a
    hybrid classwork program.

    “I do this home-school program through my school,” she said. “I can play sports but still have the
    freedom of online classes.”

    She said she plays basketball and softball, but her true ambitions are in the arena.

    “I have been on a horse since before I could walk,” she said. “I have been barrel racing as long as
    I can remember.

    “My sister and I started high school rodeoing and going to barrel races,” she added.

    Frost said she has always looked up to her older sister, Marion, a student at the University of
    Wyoming.

    “I always just wanted to do what she was doing because I just thought she was so cool,” Frost said.
    “Now she lives 10 hours away, and it’s a lot different going to rodeos and barrel races without
    her.”

    Although Frost said she now travels with just her mom, her love for the sport has not wavered.
    “I know what I want to do,” she said. “I keep my horses healthy, and I give my all every time.

    “Because once you get onto a higher level, it takes a lot of time and effort,” she
    added.

    Frost said while she has six horses at home, she most consistently runs her two
    horses, Casper and Waylon.

    “My main horse is named Casper, and my backup that I run almost as much is Waylon,” she said. “When
    I go to high school rodeos, I usually pick between them, and when I go to barrel races, I run them
    both.”

    Frost said she hopes to have a career as an equine chiropractor. While she has plans for a college
    degree, she added she does not know if she wants to compete in rodeo at the collegiate level.

    “I have not made my final decision yet, but my top school right now is Kansas State University,”
    she said. “I’ve talked to the rodeo coach there too, but college rodeo is a big decision because
    that will be a lot of schooling and having animals there too.”

    One thing Frost said she is sure she will do, no matter what life throws at her, is to continue to
    stay involved in the world of barrel racing with her sister.

    “I may not rodeo forever, but I will still go to barrel races with her because I don’t want to do
    it alone,” she said. “Even if pro or college rodeo is not in my cards, I have good horses, and I
    don’t want to waste them and the opportunity they gave me.”

  • Team Cavender’s: Luke Coleman

    Team Cavender’s: Luke Coleman

    Team Cavender’s: Luke Coleman

    Photos Courtesy of Jennings Photography

  • American Hat: Shelby Meged

    American Hat: Shelby Meged

    “I went into the American Hat store to buy a new hat for my first NFR breakaway in 2020,” said Shelby Meged, the 2023 National Finals Breakaway Roping (NFBR) World Champion. “That is where my relationship with them started. I partnered with them after that, and I have been with them since my first NFR.”

    The three-time NFBR qualifier spoke highly of her contacts at American Hat Company and her experience as an athlete
    with the team.

    “It’s more of a family. I can call any of them at any time for anything, even if it is not hat-related,” she added. “If I am ever
    in a bind and need somebody to help me, there is always somebody I can call.”

    Meged, who grew up just outside of Calgary in Langdon, Alberta, Canada, said she had arope in her hand from an early age, but it was a gift from her parents that jump-started her record-breaking roping career. “From the time I started swinging a rope, the only thing I ever wanted from my parents was a Fast Lane dummy,” she said. “Once I got one, all I did was rope. I wanted to be one of the best female ropers ever.”

    Meged said she was at a slight disadvantage as a roper because there were few places forher to compete in Canada as a breakaway roper. “There’s not a lot of opportunity in Canada for breakaway roping, she said. “There were maybe one or two jackpots I could go to each year.”

    Though she said the Alberta High School Rodeo Association lacked the contestant numbers of its counterparts in the United States, the competition was just as fierce. “In Alberta, we only had three regions compared to the ten regions in the Texas High School Rodeo Association,” she said. “I still had to be super competitive, but I was not roping against 200 other kids.”

    After moving to Ranger, Texas, on a college rodeo scholarship in 2017. Meged said she was in awe at the amount of roping found in the state. “I remember running myself broke because I was going to every jackpot. I went a little crazy,” she said. “I went to every jackpot I could once I got here because the amount of roping was insane. It was all just so new to me. I could go to three jackpots a week and an hour from my house.”

    Meged said that although she was roping more often, it was a while before she started to see success in her new home. “I think it took me about two years to win anything down here,” she said. “I got my butt kicked for a long time. It was a pretty big eye-opener for me.”

    Then, in 2019, she was crowned the Reserve National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Breakaway Roping Champion. “I had a huge year in 2019,” she said. “I was making good money and doing well at all the jackpots. I realized I wanted to stay
    here because I was hooked.” Meged qualified for her first NFBR the following year. The Inaugural NFBR ran with the 2020
    Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) at Globelife Field in Arlington, Texas.

    “Roping in Arlington was cool because we were roping out of the same box and in the same arena as the other NFR contestants,” she said. “I did not have a very good NFR my first year,” she added. “I didn’t want to feel that way again when I left the finals that year, so I knew I wanted to work on some changes. They didn’t happen overnight, but everything eventually paid off.”

    After finishing eighth in the world, Meged said she set out to achieve the goal she had set as a young girl. She was the reserve world champion the following year at the 2021 NFBR in Las Vegas. She was ranked fifth in the world standings at
    the end of the 2022 NFBR. But Meged returned to the finals and finished the 2023 season with her first world title and a record- breaking $197,706 earned.

    “I want to keep going back and chasing that next gold buckle because it’s an addiction,” she said. “Our sport is always evolving. There are always new, up-and-coming ropers, and the competition seems to get tougher every year.”

  • Team Cavender’s: Kyan Wilhite

    Team Cavender’s: Kyan Wilhite

    K yan Wilhite, a veteran member of Team Cavender’s, said he joined the team three years ago after his now-teammate and fellow tie-down roper, Luke Coleman, mentioned the team to him.

    “I was at Texas High School Finals two or three years ago, and one of my buddies came and talked to me about it,” Wilhite said. “I thought it sounded like a pretty cool deal, so I sent in my application and joined the team not long after.” Wilhite, a New Mexico native, said his family always had horses and cattle, but no one before him was interested in roping or rodeos.

    “I was probably seven years old, and then I found a rope in his shop. Then I just started roping random things like buckets and old metal cans,” he said. “About five months later, I kept on begging to keep roping. After that, my grandpa and one of his buddies built me a wooden roping dummy.”

    Shortly after discovering his love for roping, Wilhite said his dad’s career moved his family to Albuquerque city limits. This move effectively paused any rodeo dreams Whilihite had. “That move lasted about one year, and then when I got back to where I could rope again, I was about eight and a half years old,” he said. “After that, I went to Sylvester Mayfields house for the first time.”

    Sylvester Mayfield is a two-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) qualifier. Mayfield’s son, Shad, has an impressive resume as well. He is a five-time NFR qualifier and won thePRCA tie-down roping world title in 2020.

    “I went to the Mayfields and started roping with them,” Wilhite said. “Sylvester taught me to rope the right way, and then I bought my first rope horse from Shad. “They are from Clovis as well, and my grandpa knew Sylvester. He hooked me up pretty good with them,” he added. “I would go down to their house and rope. I bought my first couple of horses from them.”

    As Wilhite became more serious about roping, his dad and grandfather recognized this and built him an arena to practice. After competing in junior high school rodeos in New Mexico for two years, Wilhite said he transferred to Texas to rodeo.

    “My eighth-grade year, I transferred and started to rodeo in Texas,” he said. “My whole high school rodeo career, I have been in Texas.” Wilhite said his time in Texas has been good for him. He was crowned the Texas High School Rodeo Association Tie-down Champion, and later that year, he captured theNHRSA tie-down world title. Riding his good horse Jag, whom he bought from fellow roper Marty Yates, he was also crowned the 2023 WCRA Tie-down World Champion.

    In 2024, Wilhite decided to take on the big boys in the PRCA and made the Texas Circuit Finals, where he placed third in the third round with a time of 7.7 seconds. He added that he wants to rodeo on his permit again in 2025 but plans to buy his PRCA card in time for the 2026 rodeo season.

  • American Hat Company: Jarvis Demery

    American Hat Company: Jarvis Demery

    “The rep stopped me and told me I would look good in an American,” Demery said. “That’s where it all started for me. The hat I was wearing before was not good at all. I did not know the difference between 10X and 100X.”