Kaycee Feild is no stranger to performing at his best in front of sellout crowds, but even the six-time PRCA World Champion Bareback Rider gets butterflies competing just an hour from home on the Fourth of July.
It was a slower than normal Cowboy Christmas run for Feild, he competed in just four rodeos over the seven days. Two in Utah, one in Wyoming, and one in Arizona. It’s no surprise that his best performance came just down the road from his hometown of Genola.
“I didn’t enter as much on the Fourth, a lot like last year,” said Feild, 36. “I feel like I’ve burnt myself out in the past on the Fourth of July. Now, where I’m at in my career, I’m trying to take my family as much as I can. So, I wanted to rodeo smart and stay a little closer to home this time around.”
With his family by his side, Feild made the trek north to the Oakley (Utah) Independence Day Rodeo, a place he’s found a plethora of success at during his 17-year ProRodeo career. He wasted no time reintroducing himself, putting together an 88.5-point ride on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Worth The Whiskey to win the rodeo.
“That horse started off the ride pretty tricky actually,” he said. “It had a big move one way then another right out of the chute. Once we got through that I really went to riding. He kind of hung in the air and let me show off a little bit.”
The win kept Feild inside the top 5 of the PRCA | RAM World Standings, a spot he’s been a majority of his career. He said while the grind of rodeoing wears on him a little more these days, it makes it all worth it when his preparation meets the perfect opportunity.
“I feel as sharp as I ever have, but honestly getting to the rodeo and getting motivated and pumped up is more of chore nowadays,” Feild said. “But on the other side of things my preparation is more enjoyable than it ever has been. That’s what I remind myself when I’m standing on the back of the bucking chutes. This is where I can go out and get it done and all my hard work really pays off.”
Other winners at the $271,290 rodeo were all-around cowboy Cole Eiguren ($2,528, tie-down roping and team roping); steer wrestler Ty Erickson (3.3 seconds); team ropers J.C. Yeahquo/L.J. Yeahquo (3.9 seconds); saddle bronc rider Statler Wright (87.5 points on New Star Pro Rodeo’s Southpoint Buckle); tie-down ropers Haven Meged and Zack Kirkpatrick (7.3 seconds each); breakaway ropers Kelsie Domer and Cheyanne Guillory (2.0 seconds each); barrel racer Shelley Morgan (17.22 seconds); and bull rider Stetson Wright (91 points on New Star Pro Rodeo’s Smorgasboard).
Source: ProRodeo
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