story by Riata Cummings
Britton Davis is the thirteen-year-old son of Bryce and Mindy Davis. He has an older brother named Wyatt and a younger sister named Brylee. As a family, they spend a lot of time in the arena and on the rodeo road. They live in Spanish Fork, Utah, a pretty community with lots of rodeo people. This fall, Britton will be starting his eighth grade year at Spanish Fork Junior High.
He competes in the Utah Junior HIgh School Rodeo Association as a team roper and breakaway roper. His favorite is team roping where he competes as a heeler. He enjoys the fun-loving atmosphere of rodeo where he can spend time with his friends and family. The heelers first year competing, he and his partner finished in the top five at state finals. This year his goals include finishing in the top ten in the team roping and to compete at the Silver State International Rodeo in the breakaway roping.
Britton competes on a horse named Popeye, a sixteen-year-old gelding who is a reliable and fun mount. Britton practices three times a week and the repetition helps him be at the top of his game. He is a competitive athlete out of the arena, too, and plays basketball and baseball. He considers rodeo to be his strength and hopes to one day be remembered as a great roper and professional cowboy.
He couldn’t live without his supportive family, and believes that his parents are his greatest supporters. He looks up to his father, Bryce, who has taught him to rope and ride. Rodeo has taught Britton to always work hard and never give up. He knows that with enough try and effort, every goal is within reach. He would advise his fellow rodeo athletes to try their hardest and believe that they can succeed.
Like many other team ropers, Britton has some rituals and superstitions. Every time he ropes, he reminds himself that, “It feels good to rope two feet”. Maybe it’s that irreplaceable adrenaline or sense of accomplishment that keeps rodeo fans and athletes returning to the arena again and again.