Written by Lori Bizzell / Photos Courtesy of Clemens Family and Cavender’s Team

Westin lives 30 minutes south of Des Moines, Iowa, and was raised in rodeo life. Both parents rodeoed, so this world was always home, a foundation shaping how he works, competes, and carries himself.

Westin competes in several rough stock events, showing he doesn’t avoid challenges. Bareback riding, saddle bronc, bull riding, and even some bulldogging -each teaching its own lessons.

At sixteen years old, Westin Clemens is already learning that rodeo can teach many lessons both in the arena and outside of it.  It teaches you that the ground is part of it. Some lessons come fast, some come bruised. Winning feels good, but true character is built in those deeper moments. Moments of persistence, humility, and learning.

When I asked Westin about his early memories, he didn’t mention titles. Not that he doesn’t have many. Instead, he recalls the excitement inside the chutes, the nod, and the cheers. That energy hooked him early. Rodeo isn’t just something he does. It really is something he loves.

Bareback has taught him grit. Saddle bronc has taught him flexibility. When he talks about bull riding, his voice changes. That’s where the fun comes out. He takes it seriously, but describes it with more freedom and enjoyment, less overthinking, and a simple love for the ride.

What I appreciated about Westin was how he shared about the mental side of it all. He knows rough stock is not just physical. In some events, especially saddle bronc, the challenge is as mental as it is anything else. Timing matters. Position matters. Reaction matters. And when something goes wrong, there is no luxury of standing still and sorting through your thoughts in the middle of it. You react. You counter it. You respond…quickly, and you try to recover. Then later, when it is all over, you go back and look at what may have gone wrong and what went right.

Westin already understands something many adults never fully learn. He knows it matters to recognize what went wrong, but he also knows you cannot only focus on the negative. He said it is important to remember what you did right. Even if the ride was not what you wanted, even if all you really had was what someone once called a “good nod,” there is still something to learn that is not rooted in tearing yourself down. That way of thinking says a lot about him.

Westin has already had significant success, including winning National Junior High All-Around titles, but even then, what meant the most to him was not only the spotlight moments. It was also the local rodeos, friendships, the little steps that lead to the bigger stages in life. He shared about the camaraderie. He shared the fun of being surrounded by people who are chasing something difficult together.

One of his favorite memories from Nationals was not some polished victory scene. Instead, it was something simpler; carrying his gear uphill by himself while everybody else was back at the campsite. Somehow, even that felt like part of the fun. That answer stayed with me because it sounded like a boy who is already learning not to despise the ordinary parts of the journey. While some young athletes only want the big moment, Westin seems to understand that the whole life around it matters too.

Growing up in a rodeo family brings expectations, a certain standard. People assume things; families expect things. There’s pressure, both spoken and unspoken, but Westin isn’t bothered much by any of it. He’s simply aware. He knows being raised in this world means being corrected, sharpened, and doing things right.

There is also a quiet responsibility in him that comes through when he talks about home. He sounds like the kind of young man who already helps, already carries, already gets called on. It is just part of how life works where he comes from. His sister, who is a year older and a rodeo competitor, adds a little humor and spark to the family dynamic. The way he talked about the teasing between them, the joking, the give-and-take made the whole picture feel real and warm. It sounds like the kind of family where everybody is busy, everybody has something going on, and everybody knows how to laugh, too.

Outside of rodeo, Westin is just as active. He has played football, wrestled, ran track, and run cross country. He is also involved in FFA and SkillsUSA. He described himself as a fast-paced guy, and that seems accurate. There is a lot moving in his world. But even with all of that, he has learned something important. When he is at football, he focuses on football. When he is at the rodeo, he focuses on rodeo. He understands that split focus does not serve you well. You have to be where your feet are.

That mindset helped him get through an elbow injury and surgery that interrupted his other sports. He shared that season with surprising humor. Of course, it was disappointing and frustrating, but he did not talk like someone defeated. He kept showing up and staying involved where he could, finding ways to be near the action even when sidelined.

When I asked who had helped shape the way he thinks, he mentioned his dad right away. His dad sounds like the kind of man who tells him the truth, points out what needs work, and helps him keep moving. He also mentioned his wrestling coach, someone who has reminded him that you can do difficult things if you decide you can. That kind of message sounds simple, but for those who really take it to heart, it becomes part of the way they live.

This year is Westin’s first with Team Cavender’s, and he spoke about that opportunity with genuine appreciation. At first, joining the team sounded like one of those things that takes a minute to fully sink in. But as he stepped into it and began to understand what it meant to walk it out, he realized he was surrounded by good young people, strong in their own ways. He seems grateful to be part of Team Cavender’s where what he is working toward outside the arena is supported inside the arena as well.

When I asked him what kind of cowboy he wants to become as he matures further into adulthood, he said he wants to be successful, which is fair and honest. His definition of that success only makes Westin more likeable. He said he wants to be the kind of cowboy who makes time for the smaller guy. The kind of person who helps someone at their first rodeo. The kind of man who never treats anybody like they are less than him.

And of course, he wants to do well in his work. He wants to keep growing, winning, and becoming more capable. Rodeo builds toughness and grit. It teaches resilience. Yet at its best, rodeo shapes character by teaching how to endure while staying true to yourself and helping others.

That is what I heard in Westin.

It is true he is still growing, learning, getting stronger, and figuring out how to take the punches as they come. But there is already something steady and worth noticing in him.

In the end, perhaps what matters most is not the buckles or the cheers, but the quiet choice to help, to notice, and to stop when needed. That legacy says more about who Westin is becoming than any trophy ever could. Of course, he’ll gladly take the trophy as well!

 

Accolades Courtesy of Team Cavender’s:

**2024 National Junior High Saddle Bronc Riding Champion

**2024 National Junior High Steer Riding Champion

**2024 National Junior High All-Around Champion