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First family of rodeo stops by the Greeley Stampede

Samuel G. Mustari
smustari@greeleytribune.com

It’s a good bet that sometime during the Greeley Stampede, the Wright boys will be dining at Chili’s.

Reserve a table for Cody, Rusty, Ryder and Spencer — the first family of rodeo.

The Wright foursome was in Greeley June 29 to compete in the Greeley Stampede rodeo at Island Grove Arena.



Tentatively, 19-year-old Ryder and 21-year-old Rusty will be back June 3 for the finals, putting in plenty of miles in between in the family pickup truck and trailer.

Next stop — Prescott, Ariz.



Rusty received an 85.5 just moments after Ryder had taken the lead with an 83.5.

Everywhere the Wright’s compete is sort of like a family reunion.

“I’d like to believe 100 percent that competing against each other makes us all better,” Rusty said. “We’re all buddies as well as family.”

The Wright family consists of 13 kids, including seven sons ranging in age from Cody at 38 to Ryder, who turned 19 in March.

“We joke sometimes who will have the better score on the night and I stepped out of the truck tonight and said something like I’d have about a 97,” Rusty joked.

He fell short of 97, but Ryder was quick to defend his older bro, stating “It’s possible, but I didn’t think he’d have a 97.”

Dad Bill does all the traveling coordination, wisely choosing which rodeos the boys compete in.

“My dad gets a lot of credit,” Rusty said. “Right now I’m third in the world and I just want to keep it going until December.”

Cody earned $100,000 at the Calgary Stampede a few years ago, using some of his earnings to buy some cattle, practically doubling the family herd. His 74.5 probably isn’t good enough go make Sunday’s finals.

In 2014, Spencer, Jake and Cody all earned more than $130,000, but the family haul was $625,704.

However, Rusty explained that everybody is disciplined when it comes to earnings.

“It’s rodeo so you never know what’s gong to happen,” Rusty said. “You put the money in the bank and go from there.

“The goal is to get everybody in the finals every time,” Rusty added.

That would make travel coordination a little easier. There are four Wright uncles who travel in another truck.

“We all want to be the top guy,” said a reserved Ryder, whose recent payday at Reno, Nev., bumped him into the top 20 this season, his first as a PRCA member.

“I’d rather see my brother or my dad beat me than anybody else.”

The biggest winner may or may not have the right to determine where the family dines.

“Actually, it’s usually whoever is the hungriest,” Ryder said. “It’s my favorite, my dad likes it … actually all of us like Chili’s.”


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