story by Riata Cummings
Heath Hammerstrom just finished his eighth grade year at Dugway High School where his favorite classes were physical education and history. He is the son of Jared and Jessica Hammerstrom of Rush Valley, Utah, and has three younger brothers, Holden, Haze and Huxton. Heath enjoys roping goats and donkeys with his brothers, as well as going fishing or camping.
Heath’s parents, uncles and cousins competed in rodeo, and he was raised around the sport. When he was 10-years-old, Heath was hurt in a horse accident. The trauma of the accident made it difficult to get back on, but he eventually pushed through the fear and learned to rope and ride again because he “loved roping too much to give it up.” He started competing in rodeo his 7th grade year, and loves the “fun, challenging environment where you get to see how good you can get while hanging out with some of the best people.”
This season he competed in team roping, boys breakaway roping, ribbon roping and chute dogging. His ribbon roping partner was Tylee Torgerson and his header was Gentry Goza for the team roping. Heath’s horse is Slim Shady, a “versatile and talented” gelding.
At state finals, Heath finished eighth in the first round, first in the short round, sixth in the average and fifth overall in the boys breakaway roping. In the team roping, he and Gentry were tenth in the first round, second in the second round, fifth in the short round, first in the average and second overall. They went on to compete at nationals where they caught fast enough in the first two rounds to qualify for the short go-round. They were the fourth place team in the short round and finished seventh in the world.
Heath believes that, “hard work pays off. If you work and work and work for the things you want, you will get better and you will see the work pay off. You will never be as good as you want to be if you don’t work.”
One of Heath’s best characteristics is his respectful and kind nature. “If you try to always be respectful and thankful to the people that you see or the people that help you, they will treat you that way in return. If you give help, people will be there to help you when you need it.”
Some of Heath’s heroes are his parents. He is grateful for their coaching and cheering in the arena, and he hopes to one day emulate their “giving and nice” way of treating others. He would like to thank them for the opportunity to compete in rodeo, and for the support and guidance they have given him throughout his rodeo career. He looks forward to traveling with his parents and family to Utah High School Rodeo Association rodeos this fall.
