Utah State Rodeo Club prepares for second half of the season
As Utah State University’s Rodeo Club wraps up its fall season, they’re looking back at both the good times and the hard times and how the sport has helped them grow.
“The sport of rodeo — it just teaches you so much,” adviser Colton Bair said. “They’re learning life lessons because it is such a roller coaster and there’s a lot of ups and downs.”
USU competes in the Rocky Mountain region, which includes southern Idaho, Utah and western Colorado. They play as part of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, or the NIRA. They have a total of 32 athletes, including two from Blanding’s campus.
Bair said this is the biggest team USU has had since he got involved in coaching. He said his favorite part is watching them grow into adults.
“I really enjoy getting to interact with these students. It’s such a fun age that they’re at,” he said. “There’s a lot of growth that happens in college, and I feel like we can hopefully help them during this period.”
Many of these athletes get involved because of their relationship to the culture and to their animals. Bethany Haynie is a barrel racer who got involved with rodeo because she loves riding horses.
“I’m in love with animals and just the feeling you get when you’re here,” she said.
Haynie is a first-year student, but she’s been in rodeo all throughout high school. She said she loves the opportunities and growth USU has brought her.
“This season has been a big learning curve for me — just getting adjusted into college rodeo,” Haynie said. “I’m looking forward, just applying myself to the things I’ve learned this season and just trying to get better.”
Sophomore Ashley Bartschi also started in rodeo because of her love of horses. She had been riding her entire life but didn’t get involved in rodeo until high school, when her friend started teaching her.
“I instantly just found that ‘barrel bug,’ is what we call it,” Bartschi said. “It’s just kind of like an addiction, just a bond you have with your horses that you won’t find anywhere else in any other sport.”
Dalaynie Brown is a first-year student who has been barrel racing since first grade. Even though she’s grown up with the sport, she agrees the thing that keeps her connected with it is her horse.
“My favorite thing is the community and how much you grow a bond with your horse and how special that is,” Brown said. “That’s something I will forever be grateful for.”
Brown said her horse Phil has a very special story. He’s named after the Book of Philippians in the Bible.
Made with Google AI Brooke Morris competes in barrel racing Sept. 16 at the Fall Stampede (photo by: Alyssa Cook)
“He actually wasn’t supposed to make it at birth, so it has a special meaning, and I’m very thankful for him,” Brown said.
Rodeo is a unique sport because in addition to the health of athletes, the health of the horses need to be considered. The students encountered several horse injuries this season, but the team has dealt with the situation well, according to Bair.
“Our student-athletes, the ones that we need to step up, they’re stepping up,” Bair said.
Bartschi has been dealing with horse injuries as she competes in barrel racing and breakaway roping, but she said she is glad it has taught her so much.
“It’s made me super grateful for the small things and the fact that we’re on a team. I can still somewhat be in the rodeo atmosphere being able to help,” Bartschi said.
Rodeo is a mix of team and individual competition. Each team submits 10 athletes for scoring, and each athlete competes individually for their event. Bartschi said her favorite part of college rodeo is the team aspect, as other levels of the sport don’t have teams.
“We all practice together, we compete together, we travel together, we do everything together,” she said. “We’re just like one big family.”
Bair said he loves to see his athletes progress and become better.
“That’s the great thing about the sport of rodeo, is that everybody’s cheering for everybody,” he said. “You’re just competing against yourself.”
As of Sept. 30, the club sits at No. 4 in the region for its women’s team and No. 8 for its men’s team.
Leading in barrel racing for the majority of the season, CJ Cox is now No. 2 in the region, just trailing behind USU Eastern athlete Saydee Davis. Brecken Smith is tied for No. 7 in that same category and tied at No. 4 for breakaway roping. In the men’s category, Payt Goodey is No. 5 for team roping heeler.
Bair said the thing that motivates the team is their love and passion for the sport.
“We just try to tell them, remind them, we’re doing this because we love it,” Bair said. “We love horses, we love the animals and we love the Western heritage.”