story by Riata Cummings
Bowen Shields is the son of Casey and Laura Shields of Delta, Utah. He enjoys living in Delta where he is close to the mountains and has “the freedom to go hunting, riding, or shooting whenever I want.” He is a senior attending Delta High School, and his favorite class is his CTE or work release class where he receives credit for going to work at D/M Quarter Horses where he starts rope horses. Bowen is a talented athlete and has wrestled competitively since he was very young. He recently became the 3A State Champion wrestler for the 195-pound weight bracket. Bowen has one older brother, Tanner, and two younger sisters, Allie and Swayzie. He enjoys hunting with his dad and brother, as well as hanging out with his friends and helping at various ranches in his area. After high school, Bowen is planning to go to a farrier school in Oklahoma.
Bowen first became interested in rodeo when he went to work for Dan, a friend of his father. While working with the horses, Bowen learned to rope and steer wrestle. He now competes in the team roping as a header for Hyrum Morley, and in the steer wrestling. He especially loves the adrenaline rush of throwing a steer in the bull dogging. “My ability to throw an opponent on the wrestling mat translated pretty easily into being able to throw a steer. Learning new techniques and trying them out came naturally because that is a lot of what we do in wrestling practice.” He borrows a horse named Digger for the steer wrestling, and the horse is consistent and easy-going. His head horse is a stallion named Arnold who is “bulky, gentle for a stud, and has a funny personality.” Over the summer, Bowen won a saddle at a ZD Cattle Co. roping, and he is qualified for the Utah High School State Finals Rodeo in both of his events. He has set a goal to be in the top 10 in both of those events before state finals.
Working with horses and competing in rodeo has taught Bowen patience, which is now one of his greatest strengths. “With training horses I have noticed that they don’t learn everything or anything in just one day. Getting them to do what you want takes time and patience, and people are the same way. I am learning to be more understanding and patient with the people around me because you have to be that way with horses.”
Bowen has heard the saying, “kill or be killed,” his whole life from his family and coaches on the wrestling mat. To him it means “be great or don’t do it.” That mentality is part of the reason he has worked so hard in the wrestling room and in the arena. He knows that he wants the be the greatest and doesn’t let the fear of a challenge stop him from accomplishing those goals. His hero is Kyle Snyder, the youngest Olympic gold medalist and youngest World Champion in American wrestling history. “I have watched him my whole life. Just like him, I want to be a champion but humble.”
Bowen would like to thank his parents, grandparents, great grandparents, and siblings for their constant support of his dreams. He is grateful that they are always there for him and always have his back, even in the hardest of times.
