Category: Team Cavender’s

Anna Wilder started her career in rodeo in fourth grade. The 18 year old from Millington, Tenn., grew up around horses. Her mom, Bebe, barrel raced in college and her dad, Keith, started roping after he met Bebe. When she went to high school, she competed in all the timed events, barrels, poles, breakaway, goat tying, and team roping. “I started doing them all and wanted to be my best at all of them; goat tying, and breakaway roping are my favorite.” She uses the same horse for both events, Sadie, a little bay mare. Anna uses another horse, Movin, for barrels and poles.

She just graduated from Tipton-Rosemark Academy, a small Christian private school; there were 23 in her graduating class. “That’s where both my parents went and it’s only about 20 minutes from home.” She has friends through high school rodeo as well as school. There are a few others in school that share her interest in running the barrels, but for the most part it’s just her and her brother, Daniel, who also goes to that school and competes in all the timed events. Anna has an older sister, Emma Kate, who competes in breakaway roping and ties goats. Emma Kate goes to UT Martin, which is where Anna will go in the fall. They will live together. Both girls are getting their college education thanks to scholarships.

Rodeo has taught her a lot. “Definitely to trust God’s timing and patience. I’ll have my plans and goals and it doesn’t turn out how I envisioned,” she shares. “I have to think that it’s not my time it’s His. It happens a lot. It’s a continual thing – and it’s always just trusting in His plan.” Her plan is always to give it her all and leave it all in the arena; and give the glory to God.

After the finals, she will go to little jackpots and she is hoping to go to the CINCH world championships at the Lazy E. She and her sister have been doing goat tying clinics around her place and they will have a few over the summer. She plans to college rodeo and see where that takes her. Her major is going to be in accounting and finance. “I’ve always been somewhat good at math, and it’s been suggested to me. I I shadowed someone that was an accountant and thought it would be interesting.”

Anna has been part of the Cavender Team for a year. “It’s helped me in many aspects of life. I’ve learned about sponsorships and how the rodeo world works.”

Jada Trosper is cherishing every minute of her senior year and her time at home with her family. This fall, the 17-year-old from Ponder, Texas, will be a freshman at Oklahoma State University. “I am going into college six credits shy of my junior year,” said the captain of her cheerleading squad. She plans on majoring in business and minoring in media and marketing. “We have three family businesses and I have hopes to eventually take those over.” She also has her radar on working for a big-name company within the Western industry. “I want to give back to the community that I get to be a part of – the greatest people on earth.” Jada knows one thing is certain. “I do not want a desk job – I want to see the world and travel and be in this industry.”
Jada competes in barrels and poles but retired her good pole horse last year. “Poles is my absolutely my favorite event; it takes pure focus and determination, and if you have a horse that can do it, it’s amazing.” Jada has a list of accomplishments a mile long and attributes her success to the rodeo contestants that have gone before her. “I am able to learn and grow as an athlete by watching the most successful athletes prepare their mental game, perform, and win.”

Her mom, Melinda (MAIDEN NAME) was Miss Rodeo Oklahoma in 1994 and Jada and her 15-year-old sister, Tana, learned from her the strength – both mental and physical -it takes to compete. Jada competed in ????sports???? until her sophomore year, when she chose to focus on cheerleading and rodeo. “With cheerleading, I could still be part of all the sports,” she said. The family spent last summer living in a living quarters trailer, chasing Jada’s rodeo dreams across the country. This summer will be a bit different. “I will still rodeo, but it won’t be as far.”

“This summer is my parents 25th anniversary, my sister will celebrate her sweet 16, and I’m going to college,” she said of the upcoming trip to Aruba. “We’ve been on maybe two vacations – we have horses. We are a unit and each other’s best friends so me being the first to leave the nest will be hard. We are going to do other special little moments this summer.”

For now, Jada is excited to get to the Texas High School finals, Region 3, the end of the month. “My little horse got hurt, so he couldn’t run last year,” she said. “My young horse did amazing, but Texas is tough. This year my main man is back and I cannot wait to run down that alley.”

Cavender’s Team member – Jada Trosper. “I have loved that company since I was a little girl. My dad was friends with Mr. Joe Cavender. I got a little insight into the brotherhood, but I wanted to know the story. Riley Webb has been a family friend and Miss Jennifer came up to me and said I was going to have an amazing opportunity. All she did was tell me a little of their story and then I got to go to Cavender’s Summer Camp. They take us to the headquarters and tell us the story of the brothers. They have the true family morals. They still work together – all the brothers care about giving back and they are giving back to us. We have been exposed to so many opportunities through them. They have completely excelled the sponsorship program – I am now part of their family.”

COLLEGE INFO:
They put a lot of effort into it – one of the few colleges that provide the resource to before we go for enrollment, they can see our skill level to determine our major classes – same one, but help a little more in the areas of weakness, but more personalization to it.
Three hours, just far away – but if I need to swap a horse out, or shoe a horse, I will make the drive.
Cody Hollingsworth – great guy – he seems like an amazing – and if the athletes show they want it, he will get behind them – I’m excited to work with him.
I have been blessed to have several associations work with me and I get to go on the Cowboy channel and do a roundup interview – I love it and that’s why I want to pursue that career.

“Don’t try to prove your haters wrong; try to prove the people who believe in you right.” These are good words of advice from 17-year-old Ethan Winckler, an Oklahoma High School Rodeo Association member from Winnie, Texas. Ethan, the youngest of three brothers (Tyler, 27, and Korbin, 21), remembers always looking up to his brother Korbin; being only three years older, Ethan had to do everything Korbin tried his hand at. From sports to riding sheep and calves, no matter what Korbin was doing, Ethan cried and begged his parents, Keith and Shantell, to let him have a go at it too. Ethan says he was the kid who always cried to go to the rodeo, but once he got there, he was crying again, but for a different reason..he was scared! His folks never forced him to ride, but he continued getting on sheep and then calves. As he got older he worked his way up to the steers, and it was then he realized how much he craved it, and with the talent he had, he was ready for more.

Keith decided to text retired professional bull rider LJ Jenkins out of Porum, Oklahoma, to get help for his son and more opportunities to practice. Ethan recalls LJ saying, “Yep, come on!” So Ethan packed up and headed North, moving over 7½ hours from home to pursue his dream. Ethan and LJ created a bond and Ethan ended up staying in Oklahoma for nine months, becoming a member of the OHSRA and finishing his senior year enrolled in an online charter school. Ethan built a friend group in rodeo but quickly ran into a long buck-off streak. LJ told him to talk to Lonnie Austin (Sulphur Springs, Texas), who went right to work with him on the bucking barrel, and doing exercises to improve his form. With Lonnie living five hours away, Ethan would leave at 5 am, get to Lonnie’s at about 10 am, and they’d practice and train and get on bulls and then drive home day after day. Almost immediately, his form and riding style changed. He began winning and covering about 80 percent of his bulls. Then, on November 4th, 2023, Ethan had a little misfortune after making a ride at a High School rodeo. His landing was perfect, he said, but his knee kind of buckled underneath him, leaving him with a torn ACL, MCL, and a cracked femur bone from the impact. Dr Tandy Freeman performed an MRI and then scheduled surgery for December 1st. Dr Tandy predicted recovery would be 5-6 months.

Before leaving for Oklahoma, Ethan went to school at the Hamshire-Fannett school in Hamshire-Fannett, Texas. He was first-team all-district in baseball his freshman year, then second-team all-district in football his sophomore year. His community is a small rice-farming town between Beaumont and Houston. “It’s very marsh down here with gators and pigs everywhere.” He laughs as he tells me a story about the time he and his buddies were swimming and fishing off a boat, and a ten-foot alligator came up on them. “Oh, we’re used to them,” he says, “they pretty much go away if you leave them alone.” Ethan is no stranger to the water; he’s saved his money to continue rodeoing by working for a crawfish farmer. He drives a boat, dumps the crawfish traps, cleans the crawfish, and delivers them to places to be sold. His buddies always told him with his build, he’d be a good bareback rider, so he tried it, but he just never got into it. He’s a first-generation bull rider, and he says his want to comes from “pure passion.” Ethan’s first bull, at just shy of 16 years old, was Universal Pro Rodeo’s “Chandler’s Mule.” A bull that went to the NFR that same year, Ethan got him rode for 87 points and 2nd place at the Hull-Daisetta rodeo in Texas. Ethan is sponsored by the Lane Frost Brand and has bought himself a 1999 red Ford conversion van to travel in, complete with a full-sized bed for sleeping on the road. He’s looking forward to the new Lane Frost movie coming out. He and his van are featured in the movie, and they’ve been out to film at the place where Lane Frost built his arena.

Ethan takes care of his practice bulls while recovering from surgery, down at the arena on his family’s place, and likes to visit and hang out with his friends, most likely eating a nice hot “Cup a Noodles.” His future plans include pro rodeoing full-time with the money he’s saved from previous rodeo winnings and crawfish farming.

He says he’d like to make the NFR finals his rookie year and be rookie of the year, and he has dreams of winning multiple world titles. Ethan’s favorite Bible verse is Psalms 16:3: “Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.”

With a family with rodeo flowing through their veins, Sage Gaillard is no stranger to the competition or the lifestyle of competing on the arena floor. Sage has major wins from her freshman and sophomore years, claiming the gold at the Texas High School State Finals in barrel racing.

Sage competes in barrels, breakaway, and goat tying. She has had most of her success in barrel racing. Sage shared that her favorite arena to compete is in Abline where the Texas State High School Finals are held. She had two good clean runs but didn’t have a fast enough time to make it to the National High School Finals Rodeo.

When getting in the competitive mode, Sage shares that she treats it like any other day; she tries not to get nervous but instead spends time with her friends. She also listens to music of all genres and one of her favorites is Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus.

When Sage is not on the rodeo road, she is found at school or hanging out with her friends. She shares that if she could spend the day with any celebrity, she would love to meet professional barrel racer Hailey Kinsel.  When Sage has a moment at home, she loves to binge-watch Gilmore Girls. While on the road Sage shared that her favorite road trip snack is peanut butter crackers.

Sage has been a member of Team Cavender’s Youth Rodeo Team since her freshman year of high school, when her brother, Gus Gaillard, introduced her to the team. She has continued to grow and make new friends along the way. Her favorite thing about being part of the team is the team summit where the members come together and meet professional rodeo athletes and learn life skills such as how to interview and be more professional day to day. Now as a senior, she is looking forward to the next chapter in her life. 

Sage shared about life with her brother Gus, a PRCA saddle bronc rider. He is a third-generation saddle bronc rider in the Gaillard family. “It is great to see my brother accomplish his dreams,”. Sage’s family also has a great history of rodeo athletes, as her father was the reserve college finals champion back in the ‘90s. Her mom also competed in breakaway roping. 

Now as a senior, Sage is looking forward to the next chapter in her life. Although rodeo is not in the cards for her going off to college, Sage has ambitions to pursue a career in communications and marketing. She hopes to design a line of apparel and be active in social media content creation. 

The Rodeo News family wishes Sage the best of luck in her new endeavors! She’s left a lasting impression on the young rodeo competitors ready to follow in her footsteps!

If you happen to be behind the bucking chutes at a Texas high school rodeo, you may just come across a singing jokester who happens to be one of the top saddle bronc riders in the state. Jase Stout, from Decatur, Texas, has made a name for himself over the past three years.
Jase started his rodeo career early in the mutton busting while his dad rode bucking horses. He soon moved from riding steers to entering his first junior high rodeo, where he rode saddle bronc steers. Jase quickly worked his way into the winning circle after entering high school. He made it to the High School National Finals in his freshman, sophomore and junior years. Although, those wins came with a price.
During Jase’s sophomore year, he had a horse rough him up in the chutes. The judges gave him a re-ride which flipped over on top of him. He waited two weeks and got on two more head before finally heading to the doctor.
“I ended up tearing my MCL and meniscus and had to have surgery,” said Jase.
He had a long road to recovery but learned that patience is key with an injury like this. Jase took his physical therapy serious and managed to be back riding after two months. While he missed a few high school rodeos and UPRA rodeos he still managed to qualify for the finals.
This year, Jase came back stronger than before his injury. He has been working on his endurance to ensure he has the strength in the event of having to ride a second horse. He stays in shape by doing a lot of cardio. He worked hard through the season and became the 2023 UPRA rookie of the year. He came home with a short-go win and claimed 3rd place overall in saddle bronc at the National High School Rodeo Finals.
When Jase isn’t on the rodeo road, you can find him on the golf course or out hunting hogs with his friends for farmers and ranchers in the area.
Jase shared he has gone to over 100 rodeos across the state of Texas and beyond this past year. He shares his go-to traveling snacks are a coconut Red Bull, peanuts and teriyaki beef jerky.
He has come face to face with many great horses and many not so great but shares about the one he and many other riders keep an eye out for.“ A J and J Rodeo has a horse named Soda Pop Valley is one that we all have a love hate relationship with.” says Jase. “If you ride him you’re going to win but he’s a tough one to get by.”
Jase graduated earlier this fall from high school and is currently taking a year to spend time hitting a lot of open rodeos before starting college in Weatherford in the fall of 2024. He is hoping to study ag business and plans to be involved in some trade programs and get his HVAC license.
He has been a part of Team Cavender’s since his Sophomore year of high school. He has been so thankful for the doors the team has opened and the people he has met.
“I have met some of my best friends through the team,” said Jase, “and honestly, this is more than just a team, it’s a family.”
Jase is gearing up for the Junior World Finals in Vegas. This will be his fifth time to qualify for saddle bronc riding.
Jase says, “I’ve been riding pretty good lately and have been hot, so I hope that carries over.”

“Work with me, Blue Bell,” Natalie says. Their hearts begin to race as they jet out into the arena. They make their way around three barrels, and the duo returns home, stopping the clock. It all came together. Natalie Peacock becomes the 2023 Alabama High School Rodeo Association champion barrel racer.
Natalie didn’t start her barrel racing career until four short years ago. She was raised around horses and as a young girl participated in hunter-jumper and horse showing. As time went on she watched many barrel racing athletes on TV compete and the desire began to grow within Natalie. She decided to step back from her horse showing and jumping competitions to pursue a more fast-paced sport of barrel racing.
Her parents decided to get her a pony to run on. They wanted to make sure it wasn’t a phase.
“We didn’t buy her a cookie-cutter horse,” said Kimberly Peacock, Natalie’s mother. “She had to earn it.” When Natalie proved she was in it for the long haul, her parents brought Blue Bell into their lives.
Natalie trained Blue Bell from the day she arrived at her house. They have become one, and she describes her as her heart horse. “It’s the connection with her that makes that pattern perfect.” Blue Bell is a dapple grey mare who loves her job. Natalie shares that one of her special quirks is always running with her tail in the air. When the duo is warming, up Natalie mentioned she likes to find the quietest place with some natural sounds to relax and connect with her horse. She will always eye down the pattern to give herself the best chance to bring home a win.
Blue Bell is a name you rarely hear at rodeos and barrel races. “I wanted to have a name that was different that you didn’t hear all the time. Blue Bell’s name is one in a million, and the nickname I gave her is Bluelulu when she’s being silly, or I call her Bluelulu, short for Blue Bell.”
Natalie and Blue Bell have traveled all across the country together, from WPRA, high school, andto open rodeos from Alabama to Florida. Natalie said out of all the places they have competed her favorite arena is Andalusia, Alabama. She explained her choice because that is always where she will remember winning her state barrel racing title.
When you see Natalie run, she is always wearing a helmet. Her biggest idol is Fallon Taylor, who also is found sporting the helmet. Natalie’s mother had a severe head injury while running barrels when she was younger and has always ensured Natalie has a helmet. Natalie’s mother likes that she admires Fallon. “It’s the safety that Fallon promotes,” said Kimberly.
Although horses are Natalie’s life day in and day out, when she isn’t busy with school or rodeo, she can be found bedazzling tack sets. She also finds time to be with friends and spend some time at the beach 30 minutes from her home in Ardisal, Alabama.
Natalie is excited for the next step in her life and rodeo career. She hopes to become a vet tech while also competing in the WPRA, PRA and the PRCA. When Natalie joined Team Cavender’s, the good news came when she needed it the most. Her grandmother had recently passed away. Natalie was very sad and mourning her loss. It was then that she received the call, informing her that she made the team. The news renewed her excitement and helped her get that energy back in time for the National High School Finals. “I am so thankful to be a part of this amazing team.” said Natalie.

Imagine battling it out every weekend at high school rodeos in Texas to qualify for the National High School Rodeo Finals to arrive and have it all taken away the first ride out. This occurrence is a reality for now Sophmore bareback rider, Kash Loyd.
When he got on his first horse of the finals, he covered with a score of 65 points to start the event out. As he grabbed his riggin’ the pick-up men began to move in. They thundered around the corner to pass the bucking chutes. Suddenly, Kash’s leg collided with someone along the chutes who didn’t quite make it out of the way, sending Kash flying over his riggin. In that moment, Kash’s arm snapped. He knew what had happened, and the worst part, he was hung up. The pick-up men moved in and safely got him to the ground, but the outcome led Kash straight to the hospital. He completely broke his radius and the growth plate in his wrist. He was out for the rest of the rodeo.
“I was frustrated,” Kash said. He pushed to tell his family he could still ride, but they weren’t convinced. He stayed an extra day to support his friends riding before taking a family road trip back to Texas empty-handed. This incident, however isn’t the end for Kash. That ride is motivating him to come back stronger than before. Kash has been working and training with allstar, Tilden Hooper, who often comes to support these young up-and-comers.
Kash began riding bucking stock when he was just seven years old. “I remember it like it was yesterday,” Kash said. The ponies were rank, but that didn’t scare Kash off. He continued to ride in the Junior Roughstock Association, which only features bucking horse events. When he finally came into high school rodeo, he was in a whole new world. “It was a culture shock,” Kash said. Seeing all of the different events at the high school rodeo was nothing he’d seen before. “It’s not something you get to see every day.” With bareback riding being the first event out, he often didn’t watch the other events, but at many of the finals rodeos he always makes time to watch the other events.
Kash has grown up near Fort Worth, Texas. He is no stranger to the competition the state brings. Although the competitors are friends, they want each other to get better to better themselves. “We are the elite [in Texas],” Kash said. “If you want to succeed at rodeo, you’re coming to Texas.” This competition helped Kash get comfortable quickly at some of the larger rodeos he’s attended. He didn’t feel the pressure that many others may have in these situations.
As a successful bareback rider Kash does have some rituals that must be done before each ride. “I am a lion,” Kash says as he gets ready to get down in the chute. He recites his scripture verses to himself to get him in the zone. “As long as I have God on my side, I’m good.” He, unlike most athletes, prefers to have some quiet time or chatting with the other riders rather than listening to music to get ready. He has one superstition that stands out above the rest, and that is why he wears Snoopy socks for each ride.
Kash joined Team Cavender’s recently and is starting his first year on the team. “They [Cavender’s] give me an extra boost of confidence every time I step into a room or arena.” Kash said. He mentions how nice it is to have people who have his back and help prepare him for the next steps in rodeo and in life.
When Kash isn’t riding bucking horses, you can find him on the football field, the track field or the golf course. He made the varsity team in all three sports his freshman year. Although he cannot play now with his broken arm he is hopeful to make the team again this spring when he is healed.
Kash is ready to hit the rodeo road again as soon as he finishes up physical therapy. He is hoping to be back to riding by the beginning of November and aims to be the Rookie of the Year in the Cowboy Professional Rodeo Association and win the Junior World Finals in Las Vegas this December.

“I crave the rodeo environment,” said Colee Cox, Team Cavender’s athlete from Childress, Texas. Rodeo has consumed her life, from hometown rodeos to traveling across the country to some of the largest junior rodeos in the country.
As one of the newer members on Team Cavender’s, Colee has felt so honored the moment she got the call recruiting her to the team. “I have always hoped I’d get to be on one of these teams.” While Colee has had other friends on the team they invited her over to one of their events and soon she felt the connection with the team. She often gets to compete side by side other members across Texas. It is common to see these ladies sweep the rodeo taking home first, second and third. “I want to be able to win more titles and have Cavender’s on my shirt while doing that.”
Imagine the feeling of claiming a National Junior High Rodeo Finals breakaway champion title and the next year, heading into freshman year becoming a state champion goat tier. This unique conquest is the reality, for Colee.
After tieing a quick 6.6 seconds and a 7.1 at the start of the Texas State High School Finals Rodeo, the pressure and stress began to build. Colee had to wait a dreadful five days to see where she would place at the finals. She’d also been assigned as the goat-tying director, leaving her to stand in the arena and watch each girl tie in front of her. She returned in the short round sitting second behind a junior. “I was ecstatic I made it back and I was extremely nervous,” said Colee, “I chewed all my nails off before I even got to the back of the alley.” After tying a 7.2, she tied for the average and won the title of goat-tying champion as a freshman.
Being homeschooled has been a blessing for Colee. She trains day in and day out, working her horses no matter the Texas weather. “The truck said it’s 103 degrees, and I’m about to head out and practice,” said Colee. She has been working with her new horse, Ruby, which she bought a week before heading to the National Junior High School Finals Rodeo in Georgia in 2022. The gangley sorrel resembles a thoroughbred with hips that are taller than her shoulders making her look a little off balance.
“She [Ruby] has been just a blessing for me,” said Cox. “She’s not the prettiest confirmation-wise, but she can run fast and loves to do her job.”
While traveling the country competing in goat tying and breakaway Colee finds time to participate in her local youth church group and her other pastime, golf. She is on her local school district’s high school golf team. While traveling to rodeos you may spot her on the local greens before the performance. She also finds time to show pigs in 4-H since she was in third grade, while other hobbies have gone by the wayside. Her secret love is baking. She recently learned to make scones and says her family loves her homemade pecan pie.
Colee plans to work on getting her PRCA card and make it to the NFR for her rookie year competing in breakaway. She also hopes that one day the PRCA will allow goat tying in the contest. Although she has already competed with and against some of the biggest names in breakaway roping, she wishes to share the arena with big names like Lari D Guy and Lynn Smith.
Cox shares that she is a music lover and has a special playlist that she blasts before each run. Her favorite gallery is titled, “Hype Rodeo Playlist,” one of the number one songs on there is “The Champ is Here” by O Fresh. She’ll also be caught drinking lemonade before a run, which is her favorite drink while on the road traveling and warming up.
This year, Cox’s goal in the arena is to tie a five-second run. Her current personal best is a 6.1-second run, and she is still pushing to shave seconds. She would also like to qualify for the American in breakaway roping. The goal is to be fast and consistent to step up her level with Ruby in the goat-tying arena.

“I remember thinking, they’re all winners in and outside of the arena, I want to be a part of that team.”

Cooper Lane was four years old when he entered his first rodeo and would never have imagined how that entry would shape the direction of his life. The 17-year-old saddle bronc rider from Keller, Texas caught the rodeo bug watching his older cousin’s rodeo when he was just a tiny little boy. His uncle Justin Lane, who spent 15 years as a PRCA saddle bronc rider and finished 16th in year-end standings twice, encouraged his parents to let him enter the mutton busting at a PBR in Fort Worth. Cooper fell in love with bucking stock that day and rode his way to the finals in the short round that night at AT&T Stadium, where he was inspired by the pro guys and bucking bulls under the bright lights. Then when Cooper was in eighth grade and he met athletes from Team Cavender’s, he had a similar feeling, “I remember thinking, they’re all winners in and outside of the arena, I want to be a part of that team.” He wondered if he had what it took to be a part of the team, a question that was later answered in his favor. Now as a member of Team Cavender’s, he hopes other kids are looking up to this team just the same, “they’re a great group of people and winners, I like being a part of that culture.” His strong faith is what keeps him moving forward, “I want to be on the big stages for God’s glory, not my own… I’ve been putting God first and letting everything work out, and it’s been going pretty good lately.”
Cooper comes from a long line of rodeo athletes, and his parents are behind everything he does. His dad, Brent, has been behind the chutes with him at every rodeo since he was four, and his mother, Pam, “is a firecracker who either gives him a hug when he needs it, but also scares him a little bit.” His uncle helps and coaches him every chance he gets, but “Cooper did most of the work,” Justin said, “I think rodeoing in general teaches kids work ethic,” which is why he encouraged Cooper to rodeo from a young age. Cooper started his rough-stock career like many, riding sheep, calves and steers. Once he started junior high rodeo, he rode bareback and saddle bronc steers but only continued with saddle bronc when he entered high school. “It was always my dream to carry on the family tradition.”
There is not much Cooper does that doesn’t revolve around rodeo. However, he plays safety for his high school’s football team during the school year. As he begins his senior year and looks to the future, he plans to rodeo in college while majoring in business and working hard to win a college rodeo title. He looks up to Brody Cress, a six-time NFR saddle bronc qualifier and three-time average winner, for his professionalism in all aspects of life. Brody and his entire family are close family friends, and he’s inspired by the way Brody prioritizes his athletic ability and put his college degree to use with his business, “Level Up Wellness” which aims to help people better themselves and reach their full potential.
Cooper’s favorite part about being on the road to rodeos, aside from the passenger side naps, “even if it’s a 15-minute drive, I’ll probably sleep for 10,” is getting to experience a life with his buddies that most teenagers could only dream of. They make the most of everything together, from jumping in rivers, picking up friends along the highway, unsuccessfully dodging deer on the road, to showing up just in time for the evening performance after a long day of driving. At his first National High School Rodeo Finals last year, he ended third in the average, but this year found himself fifth at the Texas High School finals, one spot out of a second nationals’ qualification, which has made him hungrier for this sport. He will tell anyone that his biggest challenge in rodeo is getting in his head, “I overthink every little aspect,” which is why he likes hauling with his good friends and members of Team Cavender’s, John Crimber, Jase Stout, and Ethan Winkler who encourage him to keep things simple and striving for his dreams.

“Ever since I was a kid I’ve ridden horses and worked on a ranch, and I wanted to do the sport of rodeo because it involves horses and cowboying,” says Benny Proffitt. “I got into rodeoing when I was a little kid and I just loved it, and I’ve stayed after it and made it something I love to do. I always have goals and dreams and try to pursue them.”
The 18-year-old from Canadian, Texas is an all around cowboy, from bursting out of the chutes in the saddle bronc riding to racing the clock in the tie-down roping, team roping, and steer wrestling. “The bronc riding is definitely my favorite—it gives me the biggest adrenaline rush and is kind of the wildest event I do, but I really like them all. Anything with a horse I enjoy.”
Benny’s rodeo resumé grows with each season, from winning national all-around cowboy at the NJHFR in 2019, to qualifying for the Texas High School Rodeo Finals four times with several titles, winning the 2021 Junior NFR in saddle bronc, and winning reserve in the saddle bronc at the 2022 Junior Patriot. “I just really enjoy it—it’s the sport I love the most. I try to accomplish my goals and do the best I can, and have fun while I’m doing it.” He’s qualified for the NHSFR twice in saddle bronc riding, and winning the national title remains his chief goal as he finishes his high school rodeo career. “It’s always good competition when you’re competing against the whole nation and some more. The older you get, everybody just keeps getting better and better, so it’s always tough no matter what age you are in the sport of rodeo.
“I look up to my parents (Jarrett and Shyla Proffitt) a lot. I couldn’t do anything without them,” Benny adds. “And there have been tons of people who have helped me along the way, so many I couldn’t name them all, but I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. Everybody is always willing to help you.” Benny’s parents and 13-year-old brother, Rankin, come to all of Benny’s rodeos that they can, while Rankin competes in ranch rodeos.
One supporter of Benny’s high school rodeo career in particular is Cavender’s, who invited Benny to join their youth rodeo team his freshman year. “It’s been really good to be on that team. They take all these young rodeo athletes and promote them and sponsor them, and teach them how to work with a team. They come to rodeos and support us, and every year they have a team summit in Tyler, Texas where we all meet up. They’ve taught us how to prepare ourselves for the next steps of our lives as we pursue the rodeo world.”
When he’s not on the road, Benny divides his time between working on his family’s cattle ranch, practicing his events, and training horses. “I ride a bunch of outside horses and start colts, but mainly I ride our family horses. I start them as colts and then ranch on them for a while, then take them to the arena and rope on them. Anything you do with a horse can help you with your events in rodeo. Just being around horses and trying to be a horseman all my life has helped me.”
Benny rides a variety of horses in his roping events, but depends on his mare Sandy for steer wrestling. “A few other guys borrow her and steer wrestle on her too. As soon as I started bulldogging I started riding her. We’ve always had her and she has a motor. She took to it and loves it.”
A recent graduate of Canadian High School, Benny is attending Clarendon College on a rodeo scholarship this fall. He plans to get a two-year certification in welding while competing on the rodeo team. “I’ll do all of my events, and I might pick up another event or two. I’ve always done it all,” says Benny. “I’m working on going to state finals and doing the best I can, and hopefully going to the National High School Finals and doing the best I can there. And I’ll rodeo all summer and do amateur rodeos. After a few years in college hopefully I’ll be ready to move on to the pros and get after them.”

Merrin Frost lives ten miles south of Lawrence, Kansas, in Baldwin City. She has always had horses, chickens, dogs, and all the animals that come with living in the country. Both of her parents, Richard and Kasey, work in pharmaceutical sales. “Mom takes me and my sister (Kyan) everywhere since she works from home,” said the graduating senior from Baldwin High School. “There are close to 100 graduating with me.” Out of that graduating class, she is the only one that competes in rodeo. Her older sister, Macey, 22, plays college basketball and her younger brother, Kreyton, 14, is a linebacker on the football team.
Merrin competes in barrel racing and pole bending, part of the Missouri State High School Rodeo Association. “I did it my whole life, my mom and grandmother and aunt, so it’s a tradition for us.” She has been part of the Cavender’s team for four years now. “I met them at Nationals my freshman year, in 2020. I’ve been able to go to the Summit every year, and we meet new people every year. It’s fun to learn about the family and do the photo shoots. We meet rodeo kids from all over.” She appreciates the time Cavender’s has spent to make each member of the team feel important. “As a sponsor patch, it’s good to know the family behind the business.”
Her focus is on barrel racing and she’s riding an awesome horse named Cash. “He’s made me a bunch of cash. I’ve been running him since 7th grade. I ran him my first time at Nationals, and he made the short go. We’ve stuck with each other since then. He’s my best friend – he’s awesome.” He’s 15 now, and her back up horse is Superman.
When she graduates, she’s going to Northeastern Junior College. She’s thinking about pursuing athletic training and may end up as a physical therapist. “I’ve always wanted to be a physical therapist – I’ve had to go for different things in sports and I think it’s cool to see how to fix the body in different ways. You can accomplish anything you put your mind to – dream big.”