Rhen Richard

Rhen Richard – Roosevelt, Utah ($88,661)
2-time WNFR qualifier

Rodeo fans loved watching Rhen Richard in two events at his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo last year. He qualified in the tie-down roping and as a header in the team roping, won over $140,000 in Las Vegas and crossed the $1 million mark.

This December he’ll be back in Las Vegas at the NFR again and will be focusing on the tie-down roping. He’ll start the competition in 14th place with $88,661 in regular-season earnings.

A big part of those earnings came over Labor Day in September when he won the prestigious buckle in Washington at the Ellensburg Rodeo. And it was a double hitter for the Utah cowboy. He picked up some money in the team roping and won the championship in the tie-down roping and got an all-around buckle.

After last year’s NFR, Rhen went home and slept and rested and rested and slept. The grind of the NFR and being there in two events was more than what he had imagined. This year, he only has one event to think about, will only have to worry about two horses instead of five and is busy preparing for his second trip to rodeo’s championships.

Rhen father’s side of the family came to Utah from Louisiana. That is why their name is pronounced Reeshard. His family was involved in the energy industry. His dad also started ranching.

That gave Rhen and his siblings a chance to grow up riding horses, being around cattle and learning responsibility. They also have racehorses and raise alfalfa hay. And, in their free time they roped.

That roping turned into a passion for Rhen. While the family was team roping, he also started roping calves. He was the National High School Rodeo Association champion in 2007.

He joined the PRCA in 2008 and came close to qualifying for the NFR too many times to count. With his qualification last year came the confidence that he is supposed to be competing against rodeo’s best. Now with qualification number two, there is no doubt that he deserves to be roping in the Thomas and Mack Center.

His wife, Challis and daughter Ruby were among his biggest fans at last year’s NFR. This year, they will be joined by baby Lyla in the stands and a growing fan base that knows this guy is an all-around talent.