story by Riata Cummings
Raynee Wallis is the 13-year-old daughter of Rob and Jackie Warner from Tooele, Utah. She has a whopping eight siblings: KC, Tyler, Nicole, Baylee, Jaycee, Hunter, Taylor and Emma. As a family they enjoy spending time outside doing everything from trail rides to hunting. Raynee is an eighth grader at Clark and Johnson Junior High School, where her favorite classes include weights and math. Raynee is not only a rodeo athlete: she also competes in soccer, basketball, and volleyball. Eventually, Raynee would like to become a large animal veterinarian.
Raynee’s mother competed in rodeo, and she feels as though she were born into the sport. She participated in several years of small riding groups in her community while growing up, and now competes as a member of the Utah Junior High School Rodeo Association. She received her first horse from her grandfather when she was only three-years-old. She now uses that horse, Lena, to compete in the pole bending, barrel racing, breakaway roping and team roping. Her and Lena get along best when they are coming out of the breakaway box and the event is a favorite for them both. Raynee also uses a bay gelding named Justice for the barrel racing.
Rodeo has taught Raynee to be patient with herself and with her horses. She recognizes the fact that you can’t always win but you can always improve. Her rodeo experiences have proven to her that you don’t need the most expensive horse or equipment to win, only the dedication to work for success. Throughout her travels, Raynee has won over 15 different barrel races. This rodeo season she would like to qualify for the Utah Junior High School State Finals Rodeo and become a better competitor all-around. Rodeo has helped Raynee develop a kind, giving heart, something she considers to be a strength. Scary and eye-opening accidents sometimes happen in the arena, and her ability to give and reach out to those in need has helped her grow as a person.
Raynee lives by the saying, “Try and fail, but don’t fail to try.” She knows that when we put ourselves out into the world there is a risk of failure, but if we refuse to take that risk we will never grow. Raynee’s hero is her sister, Baylee. While Baylee has seen difficult circumstances and challenging times, she hasn’t given up on her family or her dreams and Raynee looks up to that persistence and dedication. Raynee would like to thank her family for their support, along with the many others that continue to help her down the rodeo road.
