story by Lily Weinacht
Rhett Murray of Belvue, Kansas, won the team roping at state this summer with header Jesse Boos from White City, Kansas, and the team went on to finish second in the nation at the NJHFR. “It was pretty exciting to be at Nationals again,” says Rhett, who’s qualified two other times for the NJHFR, and competed there this summer in the ribbon roping, tie-down roping, and team roping. “I caught a leg in the short-round, otherwise we would have won it, but it was pretty exciting to make it that far and know we did good all year.” His momentum from Nationals has carried into his rookie season in the KHSRA, where the 15 year old is sitting in the top ten in the tie-down and team roping standings. “I’m probably better at team roping, but I’m starting to like tie-down roping quite a bit. Choosing a favorite event is probably the hardest question I’ve ever been asked!”
This season, Rhett is heeling in the KHSRA for his brother, Reed, who is a senior. “We rope together all the time,” says Rhett, who also competes in the USTRC, and won the all-around in the KJRA in 2013. “My brothers and I like roping the dummy, but especially with Reed, it’s a rope-off. He wins on the heading dummy quite a bit, but if it’s a tying contest, I usually win.” The roping tradition comes from both sides of the family, and one of Rhett’s uncles, Mitch Murray, competes in the PRCA, while Rhett’s grandpa, Danny Elwood, competed in rodeo and trained horses for several WNFR competitors. “He lives in western Kansas, but he’ll come and rope with us sometimes, and he’s really helped me with my tie-down roping,” says Rhett. “My uncles have helped me quite a bit with team roping, and my parents are always helping us and making us better.”
Rhett, his parents, Todd and Bobbi, and his brothers, Reed (17) and Rylen (8), run 30 head of roping steers, along with roping calves. They also run cows for Rhett’s grandpa, Steve Murray, as well as neighboring ranches. “I like roping cattle in the pasture and doctoring. Reed and I do most of that, and we also ride colts. We have some of our own we train for roping horses, and we also ride colts for a lot of other people. Rylen likes to ride and rope the dummy with us.” Rhett team ropes on two horses, Riggs and Pecos, and is competing on Cooper Martin’s horse Bluebell in the tie-down. His own horse, a paint named Luke, is recovering from a torn meniscus.
A freshman at Wabaunsee High School, Rhett prefers his fitness classes like P.E. and weights, which help him stay in shape for rodeo. “Ag. is my favorite subject – right now we’re doing horse judging and cattle judging. It’s pretty close to what I do every day at home, so it’s more fun,” he explains. Rhett also played football until this year when he decided it conflicted too much with rodeo, though he’ll play basketball with the Wabaunsee Chargers this winter.
