story by Riata Cummings
Hailing from Mona, Utah, Keyton Wright is a senior at Juab High School. His favorite classes are based on agriculture, and he is currently serving as the president of the Juab FFA Chapter. When he isn’t busy with that, he also enjoys playing on the football team and helping his father, Kory Wright, manage their herd of more than 800 cattle. After graduating high school, Keyton hopes to attend Utah State University to study animal nutrition.
Keyton started roping with some friends when he was in sixth grade, and eventually the passtime became a nightly occurrence. This is Keyton’s first year competing in the Utah High School Rodeo Association as a tiedown roper and team roper. “I always wanted to do high school rodeo, but I never really had the time. This year I decided to just go for it since I’m a senior. Just give it all I’ve got.”
Keyton is heeling for Cole Marrott on his heel horse Grizz, and he is tiedown roping on his calf horse Babe. He practices Monday through Thursday, rotating between the two events. He has set a goal to qualify for the state finals rodeo and to become a better competitor every rodeo. He loves that rodeo gives him the chance to do what he enjoys and be amongst other people who “have adopted the rodeo lifestyle.”
Keyton lives by the saying, “Rebuilding your loop is better than never throwing one.” The mantra reminds him to “get back up, no matter how many times life knocks you down. Trying again will always be better than never trying at all.” One of Keyton’s greatest strengths is his ability to lead those around him. As the FFA chapter president, he strives to make the chapter better and include more people through leadership. In the arena, he endeavors to learn from those around him and is always willing to lend a helping hand.
Part of that leadership ability was inspired by one of Keyton’s heroes, Carl Pew. “He has been pretty much a rock in my life. He taught me everything from training horses, shoeing horses and roping, and he is the kind of guy I want to be more like. He is good to everyone and always has a positive attitude. He is always trying to learn and willing to teach and help anyone who comes along. He is just the best kind of guy.”
Keyton would like to thank Carl, Mitch Durban, and his father for helping him become the roper and person he is today. He is especially grateful for his father for pushing him “to be better all the time and to approach everything with an open mind and a good work ethic.” Keyton is thankful for the people who have made his roping career possible, and is excited for the season ahead.
