story by Riata Cummings
Thirteen-year-old Brooke Humphries is a rodeo athlete from small town Enterprise, Utah. She attends Enterprise High School as an eighth grader, and she enjoys the natural challenge of her math classes. Brooke plays in a local softball league as her team’s catcher. She also enjoys spending time with her family and friends at the rodeos or in her free time.
Brooke is the youngest child of Brandon and Amber Humphries, and her older siblings include Ashlee, Amanda, Bryson and Austin. Amber works as a math and personal finance teacher at the high school, and Brandon owns several businesses and is currently serving as the mayor of Enterprise. The family also owns and operates the Bigelow Ranch where they produce hay and run horses, cattle and a few goats.
Brooke was introduced to rodeo by her older siblings, and she “instantly fell in love with it.” In sixth and seventh grade she competed in ribbon roping, and this year she started goat tying. So far, she loves that goat tying gives her the opportunity to “control more of the outcome and process.” Brooke’s ribbon roping partner is Dax Hunt, and the two were 3rd in the average at state finals last year. Brooke is now a member of the Cinch All-Star Team for ribbon roping. They are in the top 15 ribbon roping teams so far this season, and Brooke wants to continue pushing herself to be a faster and more efficient runner. She has also set a goal to qualify for state finals in the goat tying and to become consistently faster.
Brooke competes in the goat tying on a horse named Scooter, borrowed from Jackie Coronado, who has a sweet, easy demeanor and entertains Brooke with silly antics. She rides everyday she can, and she practices groundwork every day for an hour or more. She also does sprints and lifts weights to prepare her body for ribbon roping and goat tying.
“Never be scared of your dreams. It’s important to focus on what you’re passionate about and don’t be afraid to go get it.” Brooke lives by a mantra passed down from her great grandfather, “‘Example, example, example.’ Being an example means that you always put yourself in a position to learn and improve. Even if you aren’t always winning, you will be an example if you learn from your mistakes and keep a positive attitude.”
“Being real with people and showing them that I make mistakes helps them feel comfortable around me. Being a friend is sometimes the strongest example to others.” She loves that rodeo creates such a positive, supportive environment where everyone cheers for everyone.
One of Brooke’s heroes is her father, Brandon. “He has always been so encouraging, and supporting, and even if I don’t do well, he is always there for me.” One day she would like to work in a similarly supportive and helpful manner as a therapist or sports medicine professional. “I like to help people, and in either job I get to help people accomplish their dreams.”
Brooke would like to thank Jackie Coronado for letting her use Scooter and teaching her to be a better horsewoman. She would also like to thank her friends and family, especially her parents, for supporting her in and out of the arena. She is grateful for the opportunity to rodeo and for the people who make it possible.
