In This Playbook, The First Ride Had to Count
There’s an alternate universe where Brody could have pursued wrestling—both paths in high school captivated him. But the opportunity for a full ride to compete in rodeo was a game-changer. “I didn’t want to waste that,” Brody says. “It tied into the career path I wanted later on… and that’s why I left here and went down to Texas,” saddling up all-in for rodeo—earning a master’s degree while he was at it.
When Brody went off to college, he wasn’t chasing stardom. What did he take with him on that 14-hour move to Texas? Exactly what his parents taught him—how to stay grounded, look out for others, and hold onto the Cheyenne values that shaped him. “I held onto that.” Those tools gave Brody the grit to dominate the arena. 
“You get somewhere where you’re in charge of yourself for once. It takes a lot of trial and practice to be able to figure out and be successful,” all while learning how to tackle professional and college rodeo at once, competing on both levels. “It kept me level-headed,” shares Brody.
That might be the difference between those who make it and those who struggle to find focus—and in turn, themselves—along the way. “Some guys don’t even make it a year,” explains Brody. Balancing the demands of professional rodeo and competing in college rodeo at the same time is no easy feat. “Then, you’re just on a path where it’s a lot harder to come out on top.” Through it all, Brody stayed anchored to his Cheyenne roots, talking to his parents about the push and pull. “I’m thankful for that every day.”
A Student of the Sport
With so many rodeos, there’s a path a rodeo legend could take where they never take time off —”especially with how rodeos are nowadays.” For Brody, though, taking those off -seasons to be at home is crucial. It’s his time to be with his wife and their son, Rowler—soaking up quality moments as a family. His wife remains a grounding force in his life, and together, they carve out time to work on their passions, hand in hand. The competition for bronco riders today is steep. Even on days off , Brody’s keeping his skills sharp—whether through workouts or watching film to prep. “It really does consume your whole life,” he says. And yet, when you love it as much as Brody does, with the balance and guiding light of home at his side, he wouldn’t trade it for the world.
The competitive spirit? That’s Brody’s endless fuel. It’s not every era where you get to blaze on the leader board, knowing “bronc riding right now is the best that it’s ever been.” But Brody isn’t sitting on his laurels “staying in the top 15 consistently and making it to the NFR year after year.” As he explains, “It’s ever-evolving and changing, keeping you excited. There’s never a point where you can get to a certain level and think, I’ve made it—I don’t need to work at it anymore.” It’s the constant challenge, the risk of a loss around the corner, and the thrill of the next epic win that inspires Brody to keep leveling up. “I’m always looking for more.”
As a proud “student of the sport,” Brody will be the first to tell you—”I love it so much, and that’s where my passion is.” Even though he’s on the older side of the bronc riders, he sees younger competitors with fresh opportunities, and all Brody wants to do is help continue growing a sport he sees as “ours.” His focus won’t waver, especially when he’s so hungry to expand the rodeo-verse. “If you just rely on yourself, you’ll plateau. You’ve got to bring in people with different perspectives, those who show you things you’ve never tried before—it could be that one little thing that takes you from being down there to up here.”
Leading the Reins - The Real Western Way
Rearing within is that timeless Western grit and glory—why Brody hasn’t just qualified for the National Finals Rodeo multiple times, but also won the aggregate title three times, a champion with the best combined score across all rounds, and a dedicated master of consistency and skill. He’s also made waves internationally, landing a Calgary Stampede saddle bronc riding title with a mega 94.5-point ride. Brody loves to take a moment to revel in it all, grateful for the phenomenal Cheyenne community that opened a roundup of opportunities. “Being able to grow up in a place like this is amazing,” Brody shares—because that Western way of life started it all.
Some kids are thrown into sports at such a young age without the tools or support to sustain a healthy rise to success. Something Brody respects about modern rodeo is that “people are starting to be seen as professional athletes, not just cowboys or cowgirls out rodeoing and having fun.” He adds, “I love getting to be a part of that kind of turnaround. The stuff you’re passionate about, you want to leave it better than when you came in. I just want to help keep evolving that.”
The way Brody passes the reins to his legacy is hands-on—helping up-and-comers hone their skills at clinics, striving to make the experience constructive, boosting training and recovery. It’s also about the mental 
game, teaching aspiring rodeo stars how to think like a victor without “a bucking horse in front of you to be able to do it.” Brody remembers being that young dreamer just beginning, “looking up to guys that rodeo’d in Wyoming.”
“Looking back,” says Brody, “I get to do that for kids growing up in Cheyenne now.” Brody feels “lucky enough”—for now, when he’s not soaking in small-town charm (and award-winning baby backs at the Rib & Chop House), catch him gunning for the next rodeo title every year