story by Riata Cummings
Ky Cowley is a young rodeo athlete from Cedar Valley, Utah, a friendly and supportive community. He recently completed his eighth grade year at Frontier Middle School. He has a younger sister Addie, and their parents are Jade and Amanda Cowley. As a family they spend a lot of time on the rodeo road. Ky considers all of his hard working family members his heroes. In fact, family tradition is part of the reason Ky now participates in the fast-paced sport. His father, uncles, and even grandfather were all ropers and rodeo contestants, and Ky started competing when he was only eight.
Today, Ky is a successful team roper. The header enjoys the event because it is a team effort and each contestant has to pull their own weight. He loves the pressure of competing and the adrenaline and satisfaction from a good run. Ky knows that the sport of rodeo is demanding and competitive and, unlike some sports, consumes your life. The lifestyle and constant effort required to be the best is something that can only come with a lot of self motivation. He knows that nobody else’s work will make you a winner, only your own determination and willingness to put in the hours will put you at the top of the leaderboard.
Rodeo has taught Ky to have a strong work ethic, to be responsible, and to set and work toward goals. So far, he has qualified for the state finals every year and finished in the top three at nearly every qualifying rodeo. Ky makes a habit of setting large goals but breaking them down into steps and requirements so he constantly has something to work on. As he moves on to high school rodeo, he has set a goal to finish in the top ten. He is excited for a new level of competition and knows that it will help him rope more aggressively.
Ky competes on a horse named Chip, who was given to him by his uncle Rhett. The horse is a rodeo veteran and has been to many of the biggest shows in the sport. His back up horse is Radar, who is less experienced but still a good mount. Ky is also training a young horse named Booger and hopes to calf rope off him in the future.
The rodeo athlete practices everyday except for Sunday. He ropes the dummy, exercises his horses, and ropes every chance he gets. He remembers to go back to the basics and always works hard. If he could advise rookie rodeo athletes, he would tell them to practice hard, build confidence in themselves, and develop a winner’s mindset. He knows that achievement is possible for all those who believe its possible.
