story by Holly Wilson
Kamryn Carlsen graduated from Roosevelt Junior High School, and will be attending Union High School in the fall.
As a junior high competitor, Kamryn competed in the team roping, breakaway, barrels, goats, poles, ribbon roping.
“I started to ride when I was two years old and stated to rodeo at five years old with the Utah 5th and Under Rodeo Association,” Kamryn said. “My whole family rodeos.”
“My dad competed in high school, college, amateur, and pro rodeos. My mom high school rodeoed, competed in amateurs, and lots of barrel racing associations. My sister Kayla rodeos, and my youngest sister can’t wait till she can rodeo.”
It is quite the family affair in the Carlsen household, and they often spend long nights practicing and preparing with each other.
“In the summer we work our barrel horses in the mornings and rope at night,” she said. “During school we try to focus on a couple of events each night to work on.”
Perfect practice makes perfect preparation, and Kamryn was able to qualify for the Junior High National Finals all three of her eligible years.
“I had a great time competing at Silver State International Rodeo in Winnemucca, Nevada in July as they had opened it up to Junior High this year.”
Kamryn relies on her horses Charlie, Cinder, Thunder, and Diesel to help her through her competitions.
“My barrel horse’s name is Charlie, I’ve been running him for two years and we have had some great runs together,” she said. “I’m looking forward to start high school rodeos this fall.”
Kamryn is planning on rodeoing in high school, and beyond.
“I would to go to college in Texas so I can rodeo, rope, and run barrels all year long.”
Kamryn also enjoys other activites outside of rodeo, including sports and spending time with friends.
“I love to play volleyball, boat, camp, and hang out with my friends when I have extra time,” she said.
Kamryn thanks her parents for introducing her to rodeo, and the state of Utah for all of the opportunities to continue her passion.
“Utah is a great place to rodeo, they start you out young, like with the Utah 5th and Under Rodeo Association, and then the junior high rodeos and high school rodeos,” she said. “I feel like this is why Utah has such strong teams they send to Nationals each year!”
“Even though we have cold, long winters, we ride all year long and love every minute of it!”
The sport of rodeo has provided Kamryn and her family with many opportunities, and has also taught her some valuable life lessons.
“Rodeo is amazing because we can travel and practice and we grow stronger as a family. I can not imagine what else we would do if we did not rodeo,” she said. “It gets in your blood and it doesn’t leave.”
“I love rodeo because it teaches me to be responsible and try hard and practice the best I can,” she said. “This helps me compete with the best and do my best every time I ride in the arena.”
