Southern Utah University Rodeo Team Kicks Off Season At Cedar City’s Great American Stampede
If you think rodeo is simply a bunch of people climbing onto animals and hoping they don't get launched into the next county, Avery Bassett and Olivia Madsen would like to offer a somewhat more complete picture.
The two Southern Utah University students will be competing this weekend in the Great American Stampede, a Cedar City tradition that is celebrating its 25th year. The collegiate rodeo brings competitors from throughout the Rocky Mountain Region to the Iron Rangers Arena at the Cross Hollow Event Center, and for the SUU Rodeo Team, it marks the beginning of a new season.
It also happens to be a pretty good place to find people who really, really like animals.
Bassett, from Washington, Utah, is studying agriculture and plans to attend veterinary school. Her relationship with horses goes back to when she was barely old enough to know what a horse was.
“My major is agriculture and I'm currently going into vet school. That's my plan. So it's a lot of schooling, but I'm really excited for it.”
And when asked about her horses, Bassett didn't exactly have to think about the answer.
“Oh, 100%. My horses, they're the reason I have a testimony, honestly.”
Madsen, who is from Las Vegas, is also studying agriculture, focusing on animal science and equine studies with an eye toward veterinary medicine. She will compete in barrels, team roping and breakaway roping this weekend.
Breakaway roping is essentially exactly what it sounds like. A competitor ropes a calf, and once the rope breaks away, the clock stops. No wrestling match with the calf is required.
Rodeo Seen As Part Of The Agricultural Way Of Life
Of course, rodeo sometimes comes with criticism from people who believe the animals are being mistreated. Bassett and Madsen say that view misses an important part of the story.
Bassett grew up around horses and cattle and sees rodeo as part of maintaining an agricultural way of life. Madsen said the animals used in rodeo are treated very well, even though spectators may primarily see what happens during the competition.
For Madsen, rodeo is also about lessons that have very little to do with winning a buckle.
“I think it's super important for, especially just for us, like college kids and high school kids going into this rodeo because it teaches you so much about life, you know, caring for an animal. Competing, being humble, I think it's really important. And going on until you're older too, it's just a way of life.”
And this isn't recreational rodeo in the backyard. The SUU competitors are part of a collegiate system that includes five rodeos during the fall and five during the spring. The top competitors and teams in the Rocky Mountain Region can earn a trip to the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming.
Madsen thinks SUU has a legitimate shot this year.
“We have a really good women's team this year. Like there's a lot of girls on the team that I think are going to be really cool. We lost a couple of our seniors last year on the boys team, but I think the women's team is going to win this season.”
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The Great American Stampede begins at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Iron Rangers Arena. Friday night features the first performance, with additional competitors taking part in slack Saturday morning before the top performers return Saturday evening for the short go. Saturday's event will have a patriotic theme.
And if you happen to see Bassett or Madsen around the arena, there's a good chance they're thinking about horses.
That's because, as Bassett put it when asked whether she enjoys this life, “I thoroughly enjoy it. I'm so blessed to live like this.”
You can listen to the entire interview with Bassett and Madsen in the podcast below.
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Gallery Credit: Phylicia Peterson, Townsquare Media Laramie/Cheyenne
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