r Pro bareback rider, Kaycee Feild is riding high as the 10th overall ranked rider in the PRCA RAM World Standings. Under his belt, he has four world championships in his 13 years of riding — that all started in Payson, Utah.
But there’s someone who sees beyond the rodeo champion. Someone who remembers what it was like to see a young boy destined for greatness both in the ring and in life. That person is his mother, Veronica Feild Jackson.
It was early on in Kaycee Feild’s life when his mother knew he loved the rodeo life. With her late husband, Lewis Feild heavy in the professional rodeo scene, earning World All-Around Cowboy Champion in 1985-87 at the National Finals Rodeo and becoming World Bareback Riding Champion in 1985-1986, Jackson said it was just a way of life for their family.
“I didn’t know Kaycee necessarily had a desire to enter rodeo, it was just our life,” she said. “When he was little, though, I would always find him riding a rocking horse or sitting on the sofa, treating it like it was a horse. At the rodeos we’d go to, we’d let the kids do sheep riding, and move to calf riding. It was kind of scary when they wanted to do bull riding, and we held off on that for a while.”
It was in high school when Kaycee Feild entered the competitive scene a member of the South Utah County Rodeo Club, competing at high school rodeos. He went on to compete as a scholarship athlete for Utah Valley University, alongside his two siblings, all coached by their dad.
“His dad and I were very supportive of him and his siblings who also earned rodeo scholarships to UVU,” Jackson said. “I always told the kids to find what the love and make money at it. I once heard their dad tell the boys that his championships came because he loved it so much, and he always pictured himself as a world champion.”
This, Jackson said, has stuck with Kaycee over the years.
“Growing up, Kaycee would always write down his goals so he could see them,” Jackson said. “Even now, he has a gym in his garage with mirrors, and he has his goals written on them. I believe this is a critical component to his success.”
There was a period of time in Kaycee Feild’s career, however, where success in rodeo was not coming easily. In February of 2016, his father lost his battle with pancreatic cancer, and according to Jackson, Kaycee took the loss hard.
“When my husband passed away, Kaycee and his wife sold their home and moved in with me to help me out,” Jackson said. “Kaycee thought he had to take care of me and it really affected his riding. I went to Canada to watch him compete, and he bucked off all four horses. After that, I felt like I needed to talk to him.
“When we got home, Kaycee was in the barn taking care of horses and I walked up to him and said, ‘It’s OK to grieve. Don’t worry about me. I’m OK.’ It was then when he broke down and sobbed. It was as soon as he released all of that sadness he had blocked out, when he was able to grieve and in turn, start winning again.”
It isn’t just being a caring son or even a world champion rider that makes Jackson proud. She told Serve Daily that she is most proud of the husband and father he is, and of all the service he gives to the community.
“Kaycee’s career has always come second to his family, that’s the way his dad was,” she said. “He has a wife and three children who he takes on the road with him the majority of the time, and they all love it,” she said. “He also does a lot for the military bases overseas, and spent six years, three weeks at a time, giving some soldiers a piece of home. Kaycee will often say that he is able to compete and do what he loves because of those who have fought for our freedoms.”
When Kaycee Feild is home, he helps at the Days of 47 Parade and spends time at local schools with a message to follow what you love. And according to Jackson, her son hopes to help the city of Payson design facilities like they have in Spanish Fork to help young riders further their dreams just like he has been able to do.
To stay updated on what Kaycee Feild is up to, follow him on Facebook or on Instagram @kayceeefeild.
