story by Siri Stevens
Rylan Stephens rides bulls in the senior division of the IMRA. This is his first year and he is excited to be part of it. “It looks like a good opportunity for me,” said the 15 year old from Shelbyville, Illinois. Rylan heard about the association from Keith Whooten, who produces Cowden Illinois Pioneers Day. “That’s the rodeo I grew up watching,” he said. “All it took was me jumping on a sheep one time doing the mutton busting at 5 years old to know I wanted to be a bull rider when I grew up.” This is his third year riding bulls. “I’ve been working on my own in the practice pen – I go to 3C practice pen and those guys help me.”
Rylan will be a sophomore next year and plans to play football. Along with rodeo, he likes to fish and spend time on the river. He works at the family snow cone shop, Tropical Snow. His mom, Nina, and step dad Matt Clark, bought the shop this year. Rylan has six siblings, one full brother, two foster sisters, one step brother and two step sisters. There are a handful of rodeos close by, but Ryan has to travel for the bigger ones. His grandmother, Marlow Stephens, takes him. “My parents both work and I spend a lot of time with her, so it works out great.”
He has his mind set to make the trip to Oklahoma next January to compete at the IMRA Finals, held in conjunction with the IFR. “When I turn 18 I want to buy my PBR Membership and go to some little events and work my way up the bigger PBRs. I appreciate my grandma Marlow Stephens, my dad Randy Stephens, my mom Nina Clark and my step dad Matt Clark and everything they have done to help get me where I am today.”
