Tescott High School senior, Rhett Robbins recently learned how it felt to take a big step into adulthood. After having participated in rodeos since he was just a tot, Robbins just won his first professional contest.
Robbins is a fourthgeneration rodeo cowboy, following in a line of rodeo athletes. His greatgrandfather, Tommy Likes, competed as a bareback rider and bull rider. Rhett’s grandpa, John Smith also rode bulls, but mainly competed as a bareback rider. He has coached and helped Rhett with the skills he needs to carry on as another generation of rodeo driven cowboys.
As an all-around cowboy, Rhett competes in calf roping, team roping, and bull riding for the Kansas High School Rodeo Association, of which he has been a member since 7th grade. Rhett’s mom, Karody Robbins, is a medical sales representative now, but spent many years competing as a barrel racer.
Although his dad, Brett Robbins, an insurance salesman, didn’t rodeo, he supports the family’s involvement in it. Rhett’s older sister, Prairie, also competes in the KHSRA as a barrel racer, pole bender, and breakaway roper, and heads for Rhett in the team roping.
“My favorite event is bull riding,” Robbins said. “When I first went to rodeos, bull riding seemed like the coolest event, there was just something about it that I liked. I started riding calves, then steers, and now I am riding bulls this year.”
Although Rhett found success on calves, steers and mini bulls, moving up to high school level bulls has been a challenge for him. “It’s been a little frustrating, but not too bad, and I know I’ll figure it out.
While Robbins stays involved in his school and community, rodeo takes most of his time and focus. He’s been a competitor since he was three years old. Among his accolades, Rhett was the 2019 Champion All-Around Cowboy after excelling in bull riding, bareback and saddlebronc steers, team roping, calf roping, and ribbon roping. It was his fifth all-around title, having earned the coveted title in the Heartland Youth Rodeo Association four years in a row. He has since gone on to earn a sixth all-around saddle in the Central Kansas Youth Rodeo Association.
