From Deseret News archives:
Rodeo is a family tradition
Utah preps are hoping to lasso another national title
They share the same events, breakaway, poles and goat-tying, and they also share the same goals to be the best they can in their respective events. And they both got involved in rodeo in a similar fashion — through their parents and grandparents.
Their story, however, is the same as many cowgirls and cowboys involved in the Utah High School Rodeo Association.
Rodeo is a family event.
"It's a tradition more than anything," said Kenny Norris, the 2003-04 adult president of the UHSRA.
Thacker credits her entire family for helping her cultivate her love for the sport. Her grandfathers, Theil Atkinson and Roy Thacker, are cowboys. So is her father, Lynn.
"From a young age, my parents started me into it," Tori Thacker said.
Her mother, Donna, also rodeoed at South Summit but took it further and attended Dixie State College and Weber State on a rodeo scholarship.
One brother, Cody, is a steer wrestler on the PRCA circuit, and her other brother, Dustin, is a Utah High School State steer wrestler champion.
The list goes on and on.
"I love this time with my family," Tori Thacker said. "It's fun to go around the state and meet new people."
Kaci Norris went to her first rodeo with her parents when she was 3 weeks old.
Her father, Kenny, was a state champion when he was in high school in the 1980s, and her grandfather, Ken Norris, has been the president of the National High School Rodeo Association for the past 20 years. Her grandmother, Linda, has been the national secretary for the same amount of time.
"It's been fun the four years I've been here," said Kaci Norris, who graduated this year and was the 2003-04 student secretary. "It's taught me a lot of great things: hard work, dedication, and I've met a lot of great people."
Justin Sharp, who is the first in his immediate family to rodeo, was introduced to the sport by his grandfather, John Lloyd, and hopes to establish the rodeo tradition for his family.
"It's been the best four years of my life," Sharp said. "It's great having family support when you do this . . . I'm kind of breaking the ice for my family."
Kenny Norris hasn't missed a Utah High School Rodeo Finals in nearly a quarter century, and the tradition of the sport is evident to him.
"A lot of the parents that are here with their kids rodeoed here with me," Kenny Norris said.
The Thackers and Norrises both agree that the sport has taught them and many others discipline, love for animals and love of competition.
