Wrights, other state superstars have a proven rodeo track record
SALT LAKE CITY – Over the course of ProRodeo history, there have been 10 Utah world champions who account for 29 gold buckles.
They’re men like Lewis Feild and his son Kaycee, who own 11 combined – Lewis is a three-time all-around titlist and a two-time bareback riding winner, while Kaycee has six bareback riding crowns. Both are in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. Throw in bull rider Blue Stone and bareback rider Lan LaJeunesse, who each have two championships, and the Beehive State has had some rodeo talent.
In the current stage of the sport, no name is more popular than Wright. The family from Beaver County, Utah, has amassed 14 Montana Silversmiths gold buckles over a lifetime of elite competition. Saddle bronc rider Cody Wright started it off in 2008 when he won his first world title; he followed with a second two years later. Younger brother Jesse – who, alongside twin Jake, competed at several National Finals Rodeos – won gold in 2012, and another brother, Spencer, claimed the title in 2014.
The second generation is continuing to take the sport by storm. Cody’s oldest three sons, Rusty, Ryder and Stetson, have all been to multiple NFRs, and the youngest, Statler, is on pace to compete in Las Vegas for the first time this December. Stetson is an eight-time world champion, having earned the last five all-around titles, the 2020 and 22 bull riding crowns and the 2021 bronc riding buckle. Ryder won bronc riding gold in 2017 and 2020.
It’s that type of talent that will be on display at Utah’s Own PRCA Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, and Saturday, Sept. 7, with the final performance at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 9, in the Days of ’47 Arena at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City. Tickets can be purchased at UtahStateFair.com/tickets.
“That rodeo is huge for our circuit,” Ryder Wright said of the Wilderness Circuit, which is made up primarily of rodeos and contestants in Utah and southern Idaho. “It’s big toward the gold buckle even. There’s a lot of money there, and we love going there. You’ve got good horses, good money and good crowds. You can’t beat Utah rodeos.”
Ryder Wright is seventh in the world standings with more than $170,000 in earnings. He’s an eight-time NFR qualifier who won the aggregate title in 2020. He was the second of Cody’s sons to earn a trip to Las Vegas – older brother, Rusty, was the first to qualify in 2015, and Ryder followed a year later and hasn’t missed a finale yet. He is also the defending bronc riding champion at Utah’s Own Rodeo.
“Any dollar counts toward a gold buckle,” he said of the big purse available in Salt Lake City. “I won my first gold buckle by $1,200, and I lost my third one by about the same. Any amount of money helps, and those good-sized rodeos just make it that much better.”
Rusty Wright has sat out about two months with a torn groin but is expected to be back in action by September. Stetson Wright, who suffered a badly torn hamstring last year, has opted to sit out this season. Statler Wright is having the best season of his young career but would like to continue to add to his annual salary through the final few weeks of the season, which ends Sept. 30.
“It feels a lot better being in this position than what I’m used to doing,” said Statler Wright, who is ninth on the saddle bronc riding money list with more than $135,000. “I’m used to trailing, but I am giving myself a little bit of a cushion but no room to sleep on it.”
He finished his rookie campaign 20th on the 2022 money list and was 19th a year ago. That’s a close margin considering only the top 15 in the world standings advance to the NFR. His winning percentages have increased, and that tabulates into a great opportunity to battle for a gold buckle in December.
“Stetson and I sat down at the end of last year and talked about it,” Statler Wright said. “We realized my goals weren’t where they were supposed to be. My goals last year and the year before were trying to make the finals. This year, I switched up my goals. I am going to try to win the world title.
“I don’t like participation trophies, so we’re going to try to get that gold buckle. Anything less than that, I think, is a failure, so we’ll just keep going at it until it happens.”
That’s the kind of mentality it takes to earn rodeo’s gold. Utah’s Own Rodeo features $10,000 in local money per event that is mixed with the contestants’ entry fees to make up the entire purse. Only a small percentage of contestants will earn a check, so the payout will be substantial.
“Utah rodeos are my favorites,” Statler Wright said. “You can’t really beat them. I love the crowds there and being close to home. It’s awesome.”