Hard work pays off.

Just ask Wyatt Hansen.

For more than a decade, Hansen has been competing in and honing his craft at the sport of rodeo.

Now 18, the Oakdale Charter High School student started in junior rodeo at age six and has had a passion for rodeo ever since. The well-traveled teen has participated in dozens of rodeos in his career and has competed not just in California but also in Oregon, Washington, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming and Oklahoma. This coming weekend, Hansen will be competing in the 2017 CINCH Timed Events at Guthrie, Oklahoma at the Lazy E Arena.

“This is my first time competing there and the competition will be tough,” Hansen said of the three-day event that begins March 3.

Hansen will be competing in several events throughout the weekend, including calf roping, steer wrestling, heading and heeling, with one round of each event per day. Hansen will be judged on timing only.

“It’s going to be a long week, and a long weekend,” Hansen said. “The judges will be judging us on time and we have to get it right the first time if we want to win any money.”

Competitors will come from many states, including Texas, Oregon and some from back east.

“It’s a big honor to be competing and to be recognized for my talent. I put a lot of hard work and time into competing,” Hansen said.

This past year, 2016, was a profitable one for Hansen, with some wins in team roping and calf roping average. His 2017 season begins this weekend and the young cowboy has high expectations.

“I recently bought my PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) permit, which I would like to fill this year. You have to win $1,800 to fill that. I also committed to Weatherford Junior College in Texas. I intend on competing for them in the future, but I also want to compete in the High School State Finals in Bishop this year as well,” said Hansen.

In college, Hansen will be majoring in Agricultural Business.

“Rodeo is not forever, and I want something to fall back on,” he said.