story by Riata Cummings
“I have been hunting for as long as I can remember, giving me experience around guns and shooting. Last year I heard about shooting with high school rodeo through the club that I shoot with and decided to start competing.”
Those are the words of Caden Bowcutt, the 17-year-old athlete from Tremonton, Utah. Caden is the son of Brett Bowcutt and his stepmother is Tawnie Bowcutt. Caden’s sister is Ashlyn and his stepbrothers are Kutter and Kooper. Together they enjoy hunting, fishing, and going camping in the summer.
Caden is a senior at Bear River High School where his favorite classes include welding and law enforcement. Caden also enjoys collecting knives, shooting trap and being outside. After high school Caden plans to attend Utah State University to study forestry or biology before pursuing a career with the Division of Natural Resources or as a game warden.
Caden currently competes in the light rifle shooting and trap shooting competitions through the Utah High School Rodeo Association. Last year, Caden qualified for the Silver State International Rodeo where he won the high school trap shooting. This year he is leading trap shooter in the state and has set a goal to take the title and compete at nationals.
Caden loves that the UHSRA has such a competitive but friendly environment. “Last year I shot against the top 2 shooters in the nation. It was hard because they are great competition, but that is what makes it so fun.” Competing in the shooting has given Caden the opportunity to, “travel, make new friends and meet new people.” The experiences awarded to competitors stick with them for the rest of their lives. “I have made some memories I will never forget.”
To Caden the difference between the shooting events and other rodeo events lies in the focus demanded of competitors. “We have to focus all day long, not just for a few seconds or minutes. You can’t let your mind wander between rounds or stations. That, and we don’t have to haul a horse trailer.”
One of Caden’s favorite quotes is, “It’s better to try and fail and try and fail again than to try and fail and fail to try again.” To Caden that quote means that “it is okay to fail, but not ok to give up on yourself.” He has seen that kind of perseverance pay off in his shooting. “Sometimes in practice you can try and try and try but when the shoot comes you mess up or lose focus. You have to just keep trying and keep practicing.”
Caden’s father is his hero. He looks up to Brett for being “a hardworking guy who is always there for his family. The kind of guy that never gives up.” One day Caden would like to be remembered as a “fun, happy, good guy who is easy to talk to and willing to make new friends and help anyone who needs it.”
Caden would like to thank his father and the rest of his family for supporting him, believing in him, and never giving up on him.
