story by Lindsay King
Ryker White from Neola, Utah, backs into the heel box knowing he could one day be like all the pros who do the same. He rides bulls, team ropes, ribbon ropes and ropes calves. “There is a tie between bull riding and team roping for my favorite event right now. They are the two that I am best at,” said the 13-year-old. Ryker rode sheep until he was old enough to get on steers and bulls. “When mom, Jolynn, married Sam, my step dad, he taught me how to rope the hot heels. I was about ten when I first started rodeo.” Both his parents rodeoed their whole lives, helping Ryker learn all his events. “We have a little arena at our house and we do everything there. My mom has been barrel racing at some jackpots and Sam has been roping a lot. I like getting to rope with him.”
Last year Ryker started roping a lot more leading to his success at jackpots with Sam this past summer. “I have come a long way in a short time working hard to get here. That is definitely an accomplishment for me.” This year Ryker qualified for the Utah Junior High state finals in breakaway roping, team roping and bull riding. “This was the first time I rodeoed in the state association because in sixth grade I was just going to junior rodeos.” During the summer, Ryker spends his time on the back of a horse swinging his rope in practice or at jackpots. “I try to find local bulls to get on and local rodeos to go to so I can get more practice on the real thing.” He also goes to the lake with his family and fishes when he gets the chance.
The eighth grader attends Roosevelt Junior High School, his favorite class is P.E. “I like to play all the sports but baseball is probably my favorite. It is fun hanging out with all my buddies that I go to school with and traveling to different states with them.” Ryker plays second base in baseball, is a running back and safety in football, and plays both a wing and a point guard in basketball. “The Denver Broncos have always been my favorite NFL team. I follow the Oregon Ducks for all their sports, the Atlanta Braves in baseball and the Chicago Bulls in basketball.” If Ryker could be talented at anything other than rodeo it would baseball or football. Regardless, he still wants to grow up to be a professional cowboy.
He looks up to Stetson Wright and Briggs Madsen, Utah High School bull and saddle bronc riders. “Their personalities are cool and they are fun to be around. They are both really good help behind the chutes and both have brothers my age.” Every pro rodeo Ryker has attended he has chatted with Joe Frost, one of his other role models in rodeo. “Someday I would like to go to Pendleton or Calgary. My favorite is still the NFR though. I really like to watch Sage Kimsey and the Wright brothers.” Ryker plans to try his hand professionally in all his events but would choose bull riding and team roping over all the others to continue into the future. His favorite part about the UJHSRA is getting to spend time with friends in far corners of the state. “I like going around to places in Utah, especially the ones I have never seen before. It is fun to be there and see how they rodeo in that part of the state.” Sam always reminds Ryker of their shared favorite quote: “hard work beats talent when talent does not work hard.”
