Stetson Wright - 2019 Tuff Hedeman Fort Worth Challenge Champion
#Wrighton
20-year-old Stetson Wright began his rodeo career in the fourth grade. He is the only member of the infamous rodeo Wright family to compete in bull riding in addition to saddle bronc riding. He is making his first appearance on the dirt of the Thomas and Mack as the No. 2 ranked bull rider, but he is no stranger to the hallowed halls of the NFR.
His career began competing in steer riding with Utah's junior associations when he was in elementary school. He moved through the ranks of the Junior High Rodeo Association, Utah High School Rodeo Association, Rocky Mountain Pro Rodeo Association, and other local rodeos. Unlike the other well-known members of the family, Stetson's favorite event is the bull riding, and he committed to riding both bulls and broncs as a professional.
“My Dad (Cody Wright) stresses to stay positive, and you can do anything you want," said Wright before his winning performance at the Tuff Hedeman Fort Worth Challenge in April.
Stetson is the son of two-time World Champion Saddle bronc rider (2008-2010) Cody and ShaRee Wright. His brothers are Rusty, Ryder (2017 World Champion saddle bronc), and Statler and sister is Lily. He is the nephew of World Champion saddle bronc riders Jesse Wright (2012) and Spencer Wright (2014 and his uncles Jake, Calvin, and Alex all compete as well.
Stetson with bullfighter Bryce Redo celebrating riding a perfect night - he rode three for three to win THBRT Fort Worth.
Determined to follow in the footprints of his clan, Stetson achieved his goal of being a contestant earning $152,421.60, and eleven bull riding event wins, including the prestigious Cheyenne Frontier Days in 2019. In the bull riding, he rode in 69 events winning money in 38 or 57%.
He won five rodeos titles in the saddle bronc earning an additional $74,419. He picked up 11 All-Around Cowboy titles, winning both categories at several rodeos.
Sounds like a dream season to most rookie riders looking to get their first back number in Las Vegas, but Stetson's season had its ups and downs like most rodeo professionals experience at some point in their careers.
In April, Stetson was on top of his game, healthy and happy with the first half of his NFR qualifying timeline. He won the Tuff Hedeman Fort Worth Challenge Bull Riding, which bankrolled the second half of his season.
Wright vividly remembers meeting Hedeman as a child at the NFR when he was signing autographs and then again last year at the NFR, but was excited to get the call to come to ride at a tour event.
"Anytime Tuff Hedeman is standing by the chute, you better show up and try. It fired me up, and I knew I had to cock my hammer, show up and show out or maybe never be invited back," said Wright.
On July 31, Wright was injured in Dodge City following his 86-point ride on 4L & Diamond S Rodeo’s Last Cigarette. He returned from the broken jaw injury on August 31 in Ellensburg to ride in the saddle bronc, but not in the bull riding. Before his injury, Stetson was in the lead for bull riding and all-around in the PRCA | RAM World Standings and was ranked 16th in saddle bronc riding. He was also leading the PRCA | Resistol Rookie Standings for saddle bronc riding and bull riding.
"My hand hung in my rope, and his horn caught me underneath my helmet and broke my jaw by my chin," Wright said. "They didn't wire my jaw shut because it didn't break in the back; it was all upfront. They did have to put plates and screws in it, but it could have been a lot worse. It has not been fun (having a broken jaw) because I enjoy food, and I have had to drink everything."
“The recovery of my jaw has been good, but it is not something I ever want to do again,” said Wright. "It's been healing. I had to get four teeth in the bottom front of my mouth pulled because of the wreck, and I'm going to have to get some implants, I don't know when. I think I will be fine (competing). I'm just going to go out there and ride and hope for the best. I'm looking forward to getting back out there."
Wright stayed in shape by riding a bicycle, but losing 25 pounds is a challenge when your career is built on body strength.
Wright joined the PRCA in 2018. He is a graduate of Milford (Utah) High School, where he competed in football and wrestling. He enjoys ranch work when he's not on the road. Being away from home is one of the things many cowboys find challenging about the rodeo lifestyle, but for Stetson, it's a different story.
“You're around friends, and my whole family is there.”
Like most bull riders of his generation, his favorite movie is "8 Seconds," and like most brothers, he enjoys “bothering the heck" out of Ryder while traveling. He's not old enough to gamble, so you might find him at a Sushi bar, bowling, or Top Golf while in Vegas.
2019 Highlights
All-Around
• Won the Spanish Fork (Utah) Fiesta Days Rodeo
• Won the St. Paul (Ore.) Rodeo
• Won the Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo (Vernal, Utah)
• Won the Ogden (Utah) Pioneer Days
• Won the Rodeo de Sante Fe (N.M.)
• Won the Clark County Fair & Rodeo
• Won the Pony Express Rodeo (Eagle Mountain, Utah)
• Won the Cody (Wyo.) Stampede
• Won the Oakley Independence Day Rodeo (Oakley City, Utah)
• Won the West Jordan (Utah) Western Stampede
• Won the Red Desert Roundup (Rock Springs, Wyo.)
Bull Riding
• Won the Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days
• Won the California Rodeo Salinas
• Won the Spanish Fork (Utah) Fiesta Days Rodeo
• Won the Los Fresnos (Texas) Rodeo
• Won the Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo (Vernal, Utah)
• Won the Clark County Fair & Rodeo (Logandale, Nev.)
• Won the Angelina Benefit Rodeo (Lufkin, Texas)
• Won the Pony Express Rodeo (Eagle Mountain, Utah)
• Won the Sisters (Ore.) Rodeo Xtreme Bull Riding
• Won the Oakley Independence Day Rodeo (Oakley City, Utah)
• Won the 2018 Permit Members of the Year Challenge in Las Vegas, Nev.
• Co-champion at the win at the Guymon (Okla.) Pioneer Days Rodeo
Saddle Bronc Riding
• Won the Ogden (Utah) Pioneer Days
• Won the Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo (Vernal, Utah)
• Won the Big V Feeds Pro Rodeo in McAlester, Okla.
• Won the Livermore (Calif.) Rodeo
• Won the Sheridan WYO Rodeo