A short film showcases one of rodeo’s brightest families.
“There’s a lot of pairs of brothers or families [in rodeo], but not to the extent of what the Wright family is,” says a family friend in the new short film YETI Presents: The Wright Boys.
The film highlights the rodeo family starting with oldest brother and two-time world champion saddle bronc rider Cody Wright. With five Wright brothers and Cody’s sons, Rusty and Ryder, competing on the professional rodeo circuit, the boys are away from their home in Milford, Utah, 230-250 days each year, driving across the West sometimes to attend several rodeos within the span of a couple days all for a chance to compete in Las Vegas in December for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
“It changes everybody,” Cody’s mother Evelyn says. “’Cause they knew if Cody could do it, they could do it. And so they were all young, so they started dreaming big.”
Cody first led the family to the WNFR in 2003 and the family’s first World Champion title in 2008 and another in 2010. Cody’s brothers Jesse and Spencer have also won world titles, in 2012 and 2014 respectively. Since, the family has continued to make appearances at the annual event.
The family has won the world title every other year since 2008, and 2016 looked like it might be another year for a win. With six of the 15 competitors for the 2016 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo saddle bronc competition — five Wrights and in-law CoBurn Bradshaw — the family had strong chances at taking home the gold buckle.
“Family is everything,” Rusty says in the film. “Where we are in rodeo right now, we wouldn’t be without family. ... I love that about this family. We’re all close, and everybody’s there when you need them.”
Although eventually missing out on a World Champion title during the 2016 event, the Wright boys had plenty to look forward to and later celebrate. Not only was Cody back in Las Vegas competing, but he was with two of his sons. Rusty was making a second appearance at the WNFR and his 18-year-old son Ryder was debuting, and what a debut it was. The rookie swept the first four rounds of competition before getting bucked on night five, tying the record for consecutive go round wins.
