BY MARLISS SCOTT

Kannon Sappington

Kannon, a 15-year-old sophomore at Fremont High, is a young man who knows his own mind. Classroom learning hasn’t come easy, his thoughts wander to hunting or his future. That all changed when his sixth-grade teacher recognized his innate abilities.

“I’m a hands-on, outside kind of learner,” Kannon shared, and his teacher understood that. “It changed me. I believe in myself more and have proved to myself that I am capable. I’ve always loved the Western way of life,” he continued. “I love hard work and being outside.”

People tell Kannon he was born 100 years too late. Kannon started rodeo at age 12 and has worked hard to get to where he is now. He’s had two great rodeo seasons with high school and youth rodeo.

He began steer wrestling this Spring and, in his words, “ended pretty well in the state.” He also did well in trap shooting, team roping, and saddle bronc.

“I hit some big goals,” said Kannon.

He was recently given a “little filly. I’ve done all her training. I’m excited for our future together at our first rodeo, and the day I take her on a hunting trip.”

In addition to owning his own lawn business for five years, this summer Kannon worked construction, “learning how to do it all.” He shoots trap with the Ogden Clay Dusters and loves to fish. Kannon has high aspirations and would like to do Pro Rodeo someday.

A little filly tells me that there’s no doubt Kannon will.

Codie Sumner

Codie began rodeo at age ten. Her family, who now owns a 20-acre farm, moved around the country for five years for her father’s job, living in a travel trailer from the time she was in kindergarten to fifth grade. Her parents grew up around horses and the rodeo, so it seemed natural that once the family settled in West Weber, Codie might want to do the same.

“Because I got a late start in rodeo, I was determined to put in the hard work needed,” shared Codie. Codie’s commitment is apparent by the hours she devotes, helping with the cattle, horses, and goats on her family’s farm, working the front desk at a local assistant living facility, and practicing barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying, and break-away roping two to three hours a day.

Now a sophomore at Fremont High, Codie has managed to be on the high honor roll every year since junior high. She is also a member of FFA, showing pigs. She competes on four different horses, but her favorite horse is Bling, her barrel horse.

“My favorite event is barrel racing,” said Codie. “And, Bling has helped me meet all my goals in that event.”

Codie’s goal this year is to qualify for the Junior NFR in Las Vegas in December. She plans to become a CNA while at Fremont, helping at the assisted living facility. She hopes to earn a scholarship through rodeo, compete in college rodeo, and ultimately be a veterinarian.