Each year, the State of Utah recognizes Utah’s Pioneer Week Top Hands with a $15,000 bonus. Starting in 2023, the Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo initiated the award to shine a spotlight on three major rodeos during the same week within a 150-mile radius: Ogden, Salt Lake City, and Spanish Fork.
All part of Utah’s Pioneer Week, the three rodeos paid out over $2 million this year. An extra incentive for rodeo athletes, the award and monetary bonus are given to the two highest-money earning competitors of the trio of rodeos.
The top female and male athletes being recognized for 2025 are Stetson Wright and Carlee Otero…