RODEO NEWS

Carlee Otero Named Utah’s Pioneer Week WPRA Top Hand for 2025

By Ann Bleiker

In 2023, the Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo spearheaded Utah’s Pioneer Week initiative featuring three PRCA rodeos the third week in July in Salt Lake City, Spanish Fork and Ogden, all within 150-mile radius of each other, that would offer a two-million-dollar week for professional rodeo athletes. If the two-million-dollar week wasn’t enough they then collaborated with the State of Utah to recognize Utah’s Pioneer Week Top Hands by offering a $15,000 bonus for the top earning female and male athlete across these Utah rodeos. The 2025 Utah Pioneer Week Top Hands are Carlee Otero and Stetson Wright.

Pioneer Week was a good week for the Otero family. WPRA barrel racer Carlee stood atop the medal stand in Salt Lake City winning $19,483 and added another $9,037 in Ogden bringing her weekly total to just over $28,500. She led all WPRA members in money won at those three events. WPRA breakaway roper Rickie Fanning was second in earnings on the WPRA side after winning the gold in Salt Lake and taking home just over $19,000.

“I want to thank the State of Utah and the Pioneer Week Rodeos for putting such a great award together,” said the Perrin, Texas, cowgirl. “To be able to be the recipient of this means the world to me. I work very hard alongside my horse to be recognized as standout athletes, and this honor has shown I have accomplished just that.”

Carlee’s husband, Michael, also added nearly $15,000 to the family’s bank account after a silver medal showing in tie-down roping in Salt Lake City.

Wright competing in saddle bronc riding and bull riding won the all-around title at both Ogden and Spanish Fork where the bulk of his $48,000 was won at these three rodeos. He cashed in every time he nodded his head at these three rodeos during Pioneer Week, the third week of July.

Stetson Wright and Carlee Otero will be officially honored and presented with their bonus during the Governor State of Sport Banquet at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City in April of 2026.

“Utah has always supported the Western lifestyle that harkens back to the pioneer heritage and history,” stated Tommy Joe Lucia, Executive Director of Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo. “We are honored to continue to keep this front and center in today’s society in collaboration with our fellow Pioneer Week rodeos. To be able to recognize these rodeo athletes alongside Olympic and professional athletes is a true honor.”

Created in 2012, the Governor’s State of Sport Awards celebrates Utah’s sports industry and honors excellence in high school, collegiate, adaptive, professional, Olympic and Paralympic sports. The Utah Sports Commission is the proud host of the Governor’s State of Sport Awards which has honored Utah’s finest athletes, teams, coaches, events, and numerous Utah sports icons.

“To me, my horse is an incredible athlete just as much as any Olympian or ball player and being honored with the athletes amongst those sports is amazing and I’m very thankful,” Otero said.

Pioneer Week honors and celebrates the time in the area when Brigham Young and a determined company of Mormon pioneers realized their dreams upon entering the Great Salt Valley.

Former Top Hand winners include WPRA barrel racers Jordon Briggs (2023) and Kassie Mowry (2024) along with PRCA team ropers Tyler Wade and Wesley Thorp (2023) and tie-down roper Marty Yates (2024).

Utah is known as the State of Sport — and for good reason! Through the years of appreciation for adventure, Utah has carved out a distinct reputation as the premier sport destination for Olympic, professional, amateur and action sporting events. By leveraging their world-class venues and awe-inspiring backdrops, Utah also has an established reputation as a top international sports destination. In July of 2024, they were officially awarded the 2034 Olympic Winter Games marking the second time Salt Lake City has been chosen to welcome the world for the Olympic Games.

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