story by Laurie Dineen
Cody Huwa resides in Roggen, Colorado with his parents Brent and Tonya and siblings, Kylie (17), Austin (15), Trey (11) and Brealynn (7), where they raise 600 head of cattle, run a business (H2) and work together on their rodeo talents and sporting events.
This year will mark several milestones in Cody’s life. As a senior at Wiggins high school, he will graduate and prepare for college life at Plains College, Texas where he will study Ag. Business as well as compete on the schools rodeo team (where he received a rodeo scholarship). He will also be competing in his last year as a CJRA member.
“I have been a CJRA member for the past 6 years and it has been a great experience for me and my family,” said Cody. “CJRA is very family oriented which is a benefit to us as our whole family can participate in it. All my siblings compete whether it is in the Peewee, the Jr. or the Sr. divisions. My Dad also gets to rope with us in the Parent/Child ropings. It is great family time for us and we have made many life-long friends and have learned life-long lessons through it all. My mom doesn’t rodeo, but she is very supportive of us all in and out of the arena and has been instrumental in everything I aspire to do. “
Cody competes in the calf roping, ribbon roping, team roping – mixed, open and parent/child events. Cody just loves to rope! “I started roping when I was 11 years old,” he said. “My grandpa always roped and my dad and I picked it up and we have been going ever since.” Last year Cody said he had a rough start in his events, but qualified for the CJRA Finals in all his events. “I had great partners and although I didn’t place first in my events, I made a respectable showing and ended up sixth in the Sr. Boys All-Around. My goal this year, obviously, is to win. I will do the best that I can but I know that winning isn’t always everything. Rodeo is a very humbling sport – you have good days and bad and that just makes me want to work at it that much more to do better than the last run.”
In addition to the CJRA, Cody also competes at the CSHSRA, CPRA, PRCA, IFYR, USTRC and jackpots every chance he gets.
Cody enjoys the time he gets to practice, especially spending time and helping his siblings. “We spend a fair amount of time practicing which involves working with our horses and each other. What I have learned from my mentors (my Dad, Walt Woodard and Brock Hanson), is to always have a plan and a vision when I practice and try to accomplish something whether it is with my roping technique, my horse or my mental awareness, and that no matter what I do, always, always have fun!”
This time of the year, Cody will spend more time gearing up for the spring rodeos. “I haven’t focused as much on rodeo as I have been playing football and basketball for my school since fall. It is sometimes hard to balance all the sports – the practices and games, but I have been lucky that my coaches are very understanding.” This year Cody received awards for both football and basketball. “I have been fortunate to have been able to experience a variety of activities throughout my upbringing. I have been involved not only in rodeo and sports, but also in 4H – showing cattle and I have been a member of FFA as well. Each one has its own set of challenges and expectations and the life lessons that I have learned as a result are invaluable to me.”
The future holds a lot of unknowns for Cody as he continues to write new chapters in the lessons of life. “I have a lot of aspirations and I will make the most of everything I do and take advantage of every opportunity I can. It is an exciting time in my life and I feel prepared to take on the challenges. If I had one thing to share with other young guns reading this article it is to not let your emotions get the best of you. Be positive and open to advice, practice hard, compete to best of your ability, always be willing to learn and always have fun at what you are doing.”
We wish Cody all the best this year and look forward to seeing where life will take him.
