ProRodeo Sports News - April 12, 2024

COWBOY GRILLE WITH TANNER BARTH

How’d you get your start in rodeo? Wyatt: My parents rodeoed when they were younger, and it was something that my brother and I were always around. So, it made it a pretty easy decision for us to rodeo as well. When did you know you could make a career out of rodeo? Wyatt: I had always kind of wanted to do it as a career. I had a cutting horse given to me when I was 18 that I could take and make a roping horse. I finally started picking up heeling and decided I wanted to be a heeler in rodeo. I figured one day I’d either be famous or broke. Why did you decide team roping would be your event? Wyatt: I think I chose team roping because as far as timed events go in rodeo, it’s the least expensive. To find a good bulldogging or calf roping horse it’s going to cost you some money. You can usually make a good team roping horse if you put enough work in. Did you do any other rodeo events growing up? Wyatt: I used to calf rope, but my calf roping horse got old on me. I still had a couple younger team roping horses, so that’s just the direction we went. Plus, there aren’t many calf ropings around the house in Utah. What’s one rodeo you want to win in your career? Wyatt: I would probably have to say winning Reno (Nev.) would be near the top of the list for me. I grew up in Las Vegas and always liked watching that rodeo when I was younger. It’s a pretty awesome rodeo. Why did you decide to get your PRCA card this season? Wyatt: My brother and I just kind of amateur rodeoed forever. I’ve had a full-time job ever since I was 16. So, I always stayed busy working. Then I became better and better at roping to where it was time to try it before I got too old. So, we just kept going down the road. What do you hope to learn during your Resistol Rookie season? Wyatt: I’m hoping to get better at my riding position on different types of cattle. I hope that allows me to become a better overall horseman as well. Who’s someone you look up to in the rodeo business right now? Wyatt Thomas, 28, had his ProRodeo career start a little later than most. Thomas and his brother Casey spent most of their time at amateur rodeos. Now, the Cedar City, Utah, team roping heeler is making his name known on the rodeo trail. He pocketed $6,051 at La Fiesta de los Vaqueros in Tucson, Ariz., in February. Thomas currently leads the Resistol Rookie of the Year race with $11,641 earned so far in 2024.

WYATT THOMAS

Wyatt: I really love watching Jake Long and Clint Summers rope. They came to Cedar City last year before Mona (Utah) and we do ropings every Wednesday. They asked if they could come practice afterwards and I got to know them both a little bit. They are probably two of my favorite guys going down the road. What’s your favorite movie? Wyatt: I’d probably have to go with The Blind Side , that would at least be one of my top picks for sure. What’s your go-to restaurant before or after a rodeo? Wyatt: It depends how much food we want. We can either go with something quick like McDonalds or go to a place like Chili’s. What’s the first vehicle you drove? Wyatt: It was a 1997 Dodge RAM 3500. I think by the time I got rid of it, it probably had 240,000 miles on it. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not rodeoing? Wyatt: I really love ranching when I have time. Just being out there riding a horse and chasing cows is what I really like to do.

What’s your favorite holiday? Wyatt: I’d probably have to go with St. Patrick’s Day because I’m red headed. So, everybody thinks I’m Irish. It’s pretty funny honestly. What type of music do you like listening to? Wyatt: It just depends on what we are doing. If we are out cowboying it is probably country music. If we need to get pumped up it’s probably rap or hip-hop or even a little rock. I listen to all sorts of music.

ProRodeo Sports News 4/12/2024

ProRodeo.com

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