story by Riata Cummings
Hazen Bennett is a 14-year-old rodeo athlete from Lakeshore, Utah. Hazen is an eighth grader at Spanish Fork Junior High School, and his favorite class is science. During the spring, Hazen plays pitcher, catcher and short stop on his baseball team. Hazen is the son of Jake and Tana Bennett, and has an older sister named Hallie. The family enjoys roping, camping, hunting and playing cards together.
Hazen’s parents competed in high school rodeo, and it was only natural for him to follow in their footsteps. He competes in the tiedown roping, ribbon roping, team roping, goat tying and chute dogging. His favorite event is the tiedown roping, and his team roping and ribbon roping partner is Sage Webster.
Last year, Hazen and Sage were the state ribbon roping champions and finished 10th in the state team roping. Hazen also finished 10th in the chute dogging, eighth in the goat tying and fifth in the tie down roping. Hazen has won six all-around saddles during his career. This year he has set a goal to become the state tiedown roping champion, and to qualify for nationals in tiedown, ribbon roping and at least one other event.
Hazen’s horse, Paint, is a 16-year old gelding he uses for tiedown roping, ribbon roping and goat tying. Hazen also uses Sunny and Blue as heel horses. During the season, Hazen ropes the dummy or rides his horses every day, and some of the rodeo families in Hazen’s community get together to practice at least three times a week.
Hazen lives by the saying, “Perfect practice makes perfect.” The quote reminds him to do his best and give his all, even if its “just practice.” Eventually, Hazen would like to be a professional rodeo and baseball athlete, putting that practice to good use.
Hazen’s hero is his father, who works and sacrifices to help Hazen succeed. “He is always there for me and does everything to make us happy. He works hard for us and provides us with opportunities to do what we love. One day I want to be able to do that.”
Some of Hazen’s greatest strengths are his kindness and humility. “I try to be nice to everyone and befriend everyone. I don’t like cocky people, so I try not to be one.” These traits have helped Hazen develop a network of friends and supporters..
Hazen would like to thank his parents for making his rodeo dreams possible and his sister for always supporting him. He would also like to thank the rodeo parents that help him at practice and his grandparents who cheer him on. Hazen is grateful for his rodeo family and for the opportunity to chase his gold buckle dreams.
