21-year-old Colten Fritzlan looks eye-to-eye with Wicked Hou after getting bucked off in the long round of the Professional Bull Riding’s Built Ford Tough Invitational at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona on March 14, 2021.

It’s been said that cowboys are a dying breed; but to those in the western lifestyle, rodeo is as alive as ever. Rodeo is a generational family and many riders start at a young age. (Photo by Marlee Smith)

Young riders like Logan Reichwald, 17, have been getting on bulls since as early as 12 years old. Reichwald rode his first bull at 11 years old and rode steers before that. All eyes were on the young cowboy as he rode his re-ride bull to close out the Delbert Days Rodeo in Lake Havasu City, Arizona on January 30, 2022. (Photo by Marlee Smith)

Miss Teen Rodeo Arizona 2022 Tova Conner, 19, showed off the new teen rodeo crown at the Gilbert Days Rodeo in Queen Creek, Arizona on November 21, 2021.

Conner and her family donated the crown to the Miss Rodeo Arizona organization. The crown was designed by Tova herself and will be passed to the next queen in August 2022. It will be a reminder of her legacy as Miss Teen Rodeo Arizona and her mark on the rodeo queening world. (Photo by Marlee Smith)

All-Around cowboy Seth Hall jumps off his horse during the calf roping event of the Turquoise Circuit Finals in Camp Verde, Arizona on November 6, 2021.Hall has been a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association athlete since 2009. The New Mexico cowboy has been a leader in the Turquoise Circuit for the younger athletes to look up to. (Photo by Marlee Smith

Bull rider Wyatt Nez waits in the rain on the chutes before the bull riding event at the Flagstaff Pro Rodeo in Flagstaff, Arizona on September 17, 2021. Rodeo has a rich history in the west and with Native American riders like Nez. (Photo by Marlee Smith)

5-year-old Ryden Alford stands in the arena as a sheep fighter during the mutton bustin’ event at the Gilbert Days Rodeo in Queen Creek, Arizona on November 21, 2021. As he gets older, he will learn to protect riders in the arena as a bullfighter. (Photo by Marlee Smith)

Bull rider Kayleb Erwin is bucked off onto his back by a bull named Southside at the first Tombstone Shootout in Tombstone, Arizona on January 22, 2022. Shootout Arena was built over the COVID-19 pandemic by donors from the town, where rodeo is a community event. (Photo by Marlee Smith)

Queen contestant Emily Hinkle fixes her concealer in the dressing room before the live auction portion of coronation day at the 2022 Miss Rodeo Arizona Pageant in Queen Creek, Arizona on September 11, 2021. The winner of the pageant will represent Arizona and rodeo as an ambassador and role model for the next generation of rodeo. (Photo by Marlee Smith)

Miss Rodeo Colorado Hailey Fredricksen reacts to her name being called as the winner of the 2022 Miss Rodeo America Pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 5, 2021. Fredricksen has been an advocate for agriculture for the last two years as Miss Rodeo Colorado and will serve for one year as Miss Rodeo America where she hopes to inspire the next generation of women in rodeo. (Photo by Marlee Smith)

Saddle Bronc rider Gregory Koehler tightens the halter around a bronc horse during practice in Rio Rico, Arizona on January 15, 2022. The rodeo community works together by running practices and events for riders to get comfortable before rodeos. (Photo by Marlee Smith)

Miss Flagstaff Pro Rodeo Teen Jaquelyn Garner, 14, carries the Arizona flag into the arena in the rain during the final night of the Flagstaff Pro Rodeo in Flagstaff, Arizona on September 18, 2021. Garner is one of the youngest teen queens in the state and is just beginning her rodeo queening career. (Photo by Marlee Smith)

Professional Bull Rider Keyshawn Whitehorse stretches in the halls of Gila River Arena before the finals of the Built Ford Tough Invitational in Glendale, Arizona on March 14, 2021. PBR has built training facilities for the riders to stay healthy and work together in training and competition. (Photo by Marlee Smith)

Professional Bull Rider Keyshawn Whitehorse prepares for his ride during the Last Cowboy Standing at Cheyenne Frontier Days in Cheyenne, Wyoming on July 27, 2021. Most of the Unleash the Beast tour for PBR sold out around the country by fans missing rodeo during the COVID-19 pandemic. PBR was one of the first organizations to begin touring in 2021. (Photo by Marlee Smith)

2-time World Champion Jose Vitor Leme screams on his knees after winning the Last Cowboy Standing event with a 91.25 point ride in round 5 at Cheyenne Frontier Days in Cheyenne, Wyoming on July 27, 2021. Leme went on to win the world championship and a check for 1 million dollars in November. (Photo by Marlee Smith)

Saddle Bronc Rider Gregory Koehler smokes a cigarette and chats with friends after his ride at the Delbert Days Rodeo in Lake Havasu City, Arizona on January 30, 2022.

Rodeo and the western way of life are far from over. With younger generations beginning to take home trophy buckles, work together and continue the legacy, the western way of life will continue to thrive. (Photo by Marlee Smith)