story by Riata Cummings
Gracie Peterson is a rodeo athlete who recently graduated from Delta High School, where she enjoyed her animal science and veterinary science classes. She was a member of the Delta chapter of the National FFA Organization and competed in and served as a team leader for the livestock and horse judging career development events. Her favorite part of high school was competing in the Utah High School Rodeo Association and developing lasting friendships through the greatest sport on dirt.
This fall, Gracie plans to attend Southern Utah University to study nursing. “When I was a junior in high school, my mom encouraged me to take a certified nursing assistant class. I really came to love it and I can’t wait to learn more about working with and helping people feel better.”
Gracie is the daughter of Tyle and Callie Peterson of Delta, Utah, and she has an older brother, Hagen, and a younger brother, Koda. “My brothers are great. They might be the ones that give me the hardest time and beat me up about things, but they are also the ones I go to for advice and friendship.” When her family isn’t busy at a rodeo, they enjoy riding horses in the mountains and spending time in the practice pen.
Gracie first started competing in rodeo in seventh grade after she had watched her older brother find success in the arena. She now competes in the pole bending, team roping and breakaway roping through the Utah High School Rodeo Association. Her favorite event is the pole bending because “there is so much tough competition, but more support between friends.” Gracie also enjoys heeling for her team roping partner, Burgan Torgerson.
Gracie’s horses are Cowboy, the pole bending and heel horse she took over from her dad; Lena the breakaway mare; and Betty, the mare she occasionally uses to run barrels.
Some of her most memorable moments in the arena include winning her first team roping buckle and running her first 20 second pole run. This year, Gracie qualified for the state finals in all three of her events. At state finals she made good, clean runs the pole bending, finishing in the top 30 pole benders in the state. Overall, state finals rodeo was a “fun experience with lots of good friends and laughs.” Gracie’s next big rodeo is the National Little Britches Rodeo Association Finals.
Gracie loves the saying, “Cowgirls are God’s wildest angels. They have cowboy hats for halos and horses for wings.” She finds the quote to be fitting because “cowgirls aren’t afraid to work or get dirty, but they can also be so kind. That’s something I try to be.”
Gracie would like to thank her father for pushing her to be a better competitor and helping her “move past the bad runs.” She would like to thank her mother for “helping in every way she can and always making sure everything is ready.” Finally, she would like to thank her brothers for coaching her and pushing her achieve her goals. Gracie is grateful for the opportunity she has had to compete in rodeo and for the rodeo family that has made it possible.
