story by Riata Cummings
Lane Walk is a 17-year-old senior attending Westlake High School. He is a member the school’s National FFA Organization Chapter and enjoys his agricultural classes. He is the son of Dustin and Amanda Walk of Eagle Mountain, Utah, and has two younger sisters: Haylee and Reagan. Together they spend time hunting, camping, and traveling the state for High School rodeos. When he isn’t rodeoing, Lane spends his time hunting or fishing. After graduating high school, Lane plans to spend the summer rodeoing professionally before attending college.
Lane’s father used to ride bulls, and under his direction Lane started at a very early age. As a tike he competed in the mutton busting, and now he is a bull rider and team roper. He heels for Jake Woodland on a self-trained horse he got from his grandfather, a gelding named Decker. His favorite event, though, is the bull riding. The adrenaline and sense of accomplishment that comes after making the buzzer is what keeps Lane climbing down into the chute, time and time again. Last year in the bull riding, Lane qualified for and competed in the Silver State International Rodeo and won the Panguitch Invitational Rodeo.
So far, Lane’s favorite rodeo has been the Utah High School State Finals Rodeo in Heber City, Utah. The week-long event provides contestants with the opportunity to demonstrate the skills they have developed all year and spend time with their fellow competitors in between performances. Lane enjoys the friendly and supportive nature of rodeo people, and the state finals provides plenty of time to soak that in. Rodeo has taught Lane the value of dedication and commitment. He knows that you must put in the work to find the success you desire. Lane practices every day, exercising his horse and riding the drop barrel or working on his physical condition. This year Lane is hoping his work will help him finish as one of the top 4 bull riders in the state and earn him a spot at the National High School Finals Rodeo.
Lane lives by the saying, “A bad attitude is like a flat tire, you can’t go anywhere until you fix it.” The quote reminds him to stay positive, even in the light of a bad situation. Lane has suffered many challenging injuries due to the dangerous nature of his sport, but his positivity and hard work have helped him recover. He considers his positive attitude to be a strength, helping him shake off the bad days and carry on.
Lane’s father has taught him so much about life and rodeo that Lane looks up to him as a hero. Lane is grateful for his family and lifestyle, and he would like to thank his parents for supporting his dreams and giving him the opportunity to rodeo.
