story by Riata Cummings
Wallsburg, Utah, is the small-town home of Waylen Daley, a rodeo athlete and 12th grader at Wasatch High School. Waylen’s favorite class is his agricultural mechanics class, and he is a member of the Wasatch Chapter of the National FFA Organization. As part of his FFA participation, Waylen helped manage the family farm and competed in the livestock judging career development event. After high school, Waylen is planning to jump into a job as a farrier or electrician for a little while before continuing his education. Eventually he would like to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a lineman.
Waylen is the youngest son of Chad and Rachel Daley, and his older siblings are Justin and Kolbie. The family enjoys going snowmobiling and fishing together when they aren’t at one of Waylen’s rodeos. Waylen also enjoys hunting and snowboarding, and is most likely to be found out of doors during his leisure time.
Waylen’s older brother competed in the Utah High School Rodeo Association as a bareback rider, and Waylen soon began competing in the rough and tough event. He was the state champion bareback steer rider his 7th grade year and competed in nationals that season and the following year. Last year, Waylen qualified for the National High School Finals Rodeo in the bareback riding and started competing in the bull riding. “The first time I got on a bull there was just a huge adrenaline rush. That’s really what I chase when I climb in the chute.” Waylen wants to become a state champion bull rider, and he wants to take both of his events to nationals. “I am going to keep placing in as many rodeos as I can and keep working for that title.” After he finishes his high school rodeo career, Waylen would like to start riding in the Rocky Mountain Professional Rodeo Association and the Professional Cowboy’s Rodeo Association.
Rodeo has taught Waylen that “life is all about putting your mind where you want to go. You have to set specific goals and stay focused on them.” He watched his brother struggle for years before he gained some focus and started succeeding. “When my brother really started to be intentional about what part of his ride he was working on and just buckle down, he started to stay on and started to rack up points. Focus works the same way for me, and I went through the same kind of thing in bull riding.”
Waylen loves that “rodeo people are so friendly and willing to help.” One of Waylen’s greatest strengths is his good sense of humor and easy-going nature. “Being able to laugh about things is important, and it helps me get along with lots of people at the rodeo. Those people eventually become your biggest supporters and best friends.”
Waylen lives by the saying, “Keep it 90.” The mantra may be talking about a score for a rough stock event, but for him it applies to all of life. “You have to know what you’re shooting for; what is the best you can get? Do your best in everything and spur to the end.” One of Waylen’s greatest role models is J.B. Mauney, the professional bull rider that has “overcome so many struggles and has made his career a long-time thing.” Watching Mauney has taught Waylen that you have to “always pursue the dream that you’re after to be successful, even when everything tries to stop you.”
Waylen knows that that kind of commitment to your passion requires a great support system, and he is grateful for his parents and siblings for supporting his rodeo aspirations. “Thank you for being so helpful and so supportive. You let me do what I love and I’m grateful for that.”
