Cody Anthony

story by Lily Weinacht

photo by Robby Freeman Photography

Cody Anthony is a saddle bronc rider in the TCRA. The 26 year old from Monahans, Texas, tried his hand at various rodeo events growing up before finding his niche riding roughstock in college. “My dad rode bareback horses, and as a little kid, I always wanted to do that. But then I thought steer wrestling was going to be my calling,” says Cody. In high school, Cody left rodeo for a while to play football and other sports. When he was accepted into Western Texas College in Snyder, Cody was team roping, but soon found himself with a group of roughstock riders, putting a saddle in his arms and telling him he needed to ride broncs. Although Cody was eager from the start, he soon learned that perseverance was the name of the game. “I was young in the sport, and there were a couple of people who helped me get to where I am today, instead of giving up on me after the first 40 times I bucked off. Cody Angland is one of several buddies who watched me get bucked off hard several times in a row at practice, then helped me up and told me to ride another one.”
Once Cody got his boots underneath him, he joined the TCRA and won Rookie of the Year in 2009. He won his first buckle riding broncs in the TCRA, the perfect end to a summer of travelling with his brother, Clay, who was riding bareback broncs at the time. “Riding broncs is just a thrill to me, and I’m always seeking to do better. I was pretty bad at the start and I drove myself to do something that most people didn’t have the faith in me to succeed in. I’m doing much better now. If I take a weekend off to do something other than rodeo, I’m miserable!” He adds, “I want to thank my parents, family, and friends for all of their support throughout my career.”
After graduating from Tarleton State University with a degree in physics and engineering, Cody started 3C Cattle and Construction with his brother Clay and their friend, Colton. Their day might be filled with tasks from building fence to fixing corrals and rotating cattle. Their cattle business is on the rise again after the 2011 drought. “The oil fields have also brought new life into the area and people are sharing the wealth. It’s a good time to be in west Texas,” says Cody. He enjoys setting his own schedule with the family business, which allows him flexibility with rodeos, although he is competing mostly locally this year.
The 2014 rodeo season has gone better for Cody than his 2013 season did. Last year, Cody broke his arm riding saddle broncs at the Denver National Western Stock Show in January, which overshadowed most his 2013 season. This year, Cody is rodeoing with the TCRA, United Professional Rodeo Association (UPRA), and the Cowboy’s Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA), as well as the PRCA on the Texas Circuit. He has been sitting in the top 12 in the Texas Circuit and is working to ensure a spot in the circuit’s finals for the fourth time. Cody loves to travel and one of his goals is to make some longer runs and pursue rodeo full time.
“I started riding broncs at an older age than most people, but I don’t regret my choice at all – I just wish I had started riding sooner! My goal is to qualify for the NFR and make a run at a PRCA world title,” Cody concludes. “I want to go bigger and better and always push on for the best!”