Austin Allred, a just-graduated senior at Emery High School, competed in the Utah State High School Rodeo championships at Heber City and came away as the 2016 Bull riding champion and will now go on and represent the State of Utah at the Nationals in Gillette, Wyoming in late July. Allred finished ahead of Stetson Wright of the Milford, Utah Wright family and Kyler Oliver, the season leader.
Austin is the latest Allred from south flat in Cleveland to win the state title with an uncle and at least two cousins also having won the event over the past 30 years or so. One, Guy Allred, went on to win the national title.
Also placing in the top four in their events and will also represent the Emery rodeo club at Nationals are Louie Ivie, a senior, fourth in tie down roping, McKoy Christiansen, a senior, in saddle bronc and Hayden Cloward, a sophomore, in team roping. Cloward teams up with a roper from a different club. Christiansen finished third behind Ryder Wright and Stetson Wright, both of Milford. Christiansen was also fifth in reined horse.
Emery will send several rodeo participants to the Silver State Rodeo later this summer in Winnemucca, Nevada. Qualifying for that rodeo was Nathan Urie in saddle bronc with his fifth place finish, Louie Ivie in team roping with his sixth place finish and Ty Gordon and Taylor Wilstead in team roping with their ninth place finish.
Riata Christiansen was third in the queen contest.The Emery High rodeo club is coached by Kevin and Dawnette Gordon of Huntington.
Austin Allred: Utah State champion bullrider
"Austin Allred is the top bull rider in the state. He will represent Utah in the Nationals in Gillette Wyo. on July 17-23."