Just days after losing her uncle Cody Hodges in a tragic accident, 16-year-old Wylie Jo Hodges of Bloomburg, Texas, backed into the box at AT&T Stadium for the 2025 Women’s Rodeo World Championship (WRWC) with a quiet determination—and a purpose beyond buckles or payouts.
Encouraged by her father to compete in his memory Wylie Jo competed in both the breakaway roping and barrel racing all week at the Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, advancing all the way to the Finals at AT&T and picking up $9,000 along the way.
“My papa told me to go out there and ride for my uncle,” Hodges said. “He would want me to. He was always there for me and my siblings, always encouraging us and teaching others about God. I want to be like him.”
In the Challenger Division, Hodges roped a 3.15 in Round 1, a 2.37 in Round 2 and a 2.19-second run in the Semifinals to top the average, sending her to the Finals.
Although her final run didn’t go as planned, Hodges called the experience “really cool” and credited her horse, Boots—a 6-year-old gelding her family trained themselves—for handling the bright lights and chaos of the stadium with composure.
“He was a bit of a handful when we got him, but we kept working with him,” Hodges explained. “Now he’s so powerful and focused. He didn’t spook at anything, even with the bulls loading right next to us.”
Boots is just one of the many horses Hodges rides and trains at home, where she balances homeschooling, rodeo workouts, and hours in the saddle. She trains most of her horses herself, riding everything from her 5-year-old futurity horse Jolene to her heel horses, Vegas and Hot Rod.
“There’s just something about riding one that I’ve trained myself,” Hodges said. “They know my signals better, and we kind of learn together.”
Wylie Jo Hodges knows the importance of competing against her peers and roping up—which is why she nominates to events like the WRWC and World Championship Junior Rodeo (WCJR).
Youth can nominate to compete in the WCJR in Guthrie, Oklahoma, July 22–27 or opt for an open entry, which guarantees their berth into the prestigious youth rodeo.
That level of commitment helps explain her resilience and maturity beyond her years. Even amid personal loss, Hodges leaned on her faith, family, and passion for rodeo to press forward.
“God has just blessed me so much to make it that far and do what I do,” Hodges said. “Even though I missed at the finals, I still had fun. That’s why I do it.”
Next up, Hodges will compete at the Texas High School Rodeo State Finals in Abilene, representing Region IV, before a few summer breaks and family vacations.
Still, the WRWC will remain a milestone—not just in her rodeo resume, but in her heart.
“Uncle Cody was an inspiration to a lot of people,” she said. “He was always striving to be more Christlike and helping others. That’s who I want to be like, too.”
