Weathers

POWELL BUTTE — Wearing a pair of pink chaps once worn by the famous Wright brothers, Kannan Weathers of Adams won the bull riding title at the Oregon Junior High Division State Rodeo.

The event, which ran from May 26-28 at Brasada Ranch, also saw Weathers place second in bareback and third in saddle bronc, and earn a trip to nationals in all three events. Nationals are June 18-24 in Perry, Georgia.

In just his first full year of rodeo in the junior high division, Weathers finished the season with 44 points in bull riding, and won the average at state in bulls and bareback.

Weathers, who just finished the eighth grade at Weston Middle School, started his rodeo career in mutton busting, then did a year of Cayuse Rodeo in 2019. He did not compete again until this year.

To help hone his craft, he attended a clinic with his older brother Gunnar, put on by the Wrights over Thanksgiving in Ogden, Utah. They also attended Gary Leffew’s bull riding clinics in Panguitch, Utah, in October and April.

“They are down-to-Earth people,” said Kimberly Weathers, who took her boys to the Wright clinic. “We bought the pink chaps there. They were originally Rusty’s, and his three brothers (Ryder, Stetson and Statler) wore them too.”

In addition to the history lesson of the chaps, they were signed by the entire Wright clan — Cody, Jesse, Jake, Spencer, Alex, Stuart, Rusty, Ryder, Stetson and Statler, along with bull rider Ky Hamilton and saddle bronc rider Coburn Bradshaw.

Weathers wears pink in honor of his mom, who was first diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2010. The pink chaps were a must have.

Gunnar Weathers, 16, will compete in the Oregon High School Rodeo Association State Finals from June 7-10 in Prineville. He will compete in bulls and saddle bronc.