Team Member Spotlight

Cheyenne Wuthrich is a dynamic force on the Texas Beef Team, embodying the spirit of adventure, athleticism, and community. From her hometown of Graham, Cheyenne balances her roles as a photographer, artist, mother, and athlete with grace and determination. With a passion for living life to the fullest, she’s an inspiring example of how beef-fueled energy can power every day and extraordinary achievements.

Cheyenne’s athletic pursuits are as diverse as they are impressive. Since finishing her collegiate career as a pole vaulter and sprinter, Cheyenne has taken up cycling over the last 13 years and is also a passionate rock climber and hiker for the last decade. She definitely thrives on pushing her limits. “I never want to miss an opportunity to do something great because I’m not in shape,” she says, reflecting on her motivation to stay active. Her journey into endurance sports and climbing began as a way to transition from her collegiate career as a sprinter and pole vaulter. “Cycling lets me move fast and explore new places,”. “And, rock climbing is the closest to pole vault and sprinting, in terms of giving you that adrenaline boost and being geared toward the type of athlete I am.”

Her athletic milestones are notable, including finishing the 100-mile Hotter’N Hell Hundred in 6:01 without specific training. She has also summited challenging peaks including Longs Peak and Little Bear Peak in Colorado, and redpointed her first 5.11a climbing route. Also, at the end of 2024, Cheyenne brought pole vaulting back into her life, competing in her first meet in 22 years!

Cheyenne comes from a family rooted in ranching. Her family has raised cotton and cattle on the same land in the Texas Panhandle for over 100 years. Her father, previously an aerospace engineer, took over the ranch when she was young, in part, to raise his family in a small town. Cheyenne loved the freedom of being outside in an open space, riding her horse, and general childhood adventuring. She only had 40 people in her entire high school, and she says she could have never been a “big city girl”.  “Cows have always been part of my life,” she says, recalling how she would read books to the cattle in the fields as a young girl. “I guess they are kind of a captive audience,” she laughs. 

Today, Cheyenne still incorporates beef into her training and family meals. Whether it’s her husband Derek’s signature Flat Iron steak fajitas or beef jerky as a high-altitude hiking snack, beef plays a central role in her diet. “It’s important to know the true facts about beef’s nutrients and how good it is for you,” she says, citing her grandmother’s incredible health at 103, along with her father in his 70s, as proof of the benefits of a lifestyle that includes beef.

Cheyenne shares her love for adventure and fitness with her husband, Derek, and their 11-year-old daughter Zihna, who is already making her mark as a Beef Kids member. Together, they hike, ride bikes, and even tackle climbing projects. “Instead of using kids as an excuse not to do stuff, I’ve always just taken her with me,” Cheyenne says.

Beyond her athletic endeavors, Cheyenne is a talented photographer and artist. She specializes in school and real estate photography and enjoys drawing and painting in her spare time, Cheyenne serves on various boards, coaches youth track, and has long-contributed to events like the Possum Pedal Race and its Trifecta Triathlon.

Since joining the Texas Beef Team in 2018, Cheyenne has embraced the camaraderie and shared purpose of promoting beef’s benefits. She fondly remembers riding the Copper Triangle in Colorado, where a fellow cyclist remarked on her jersey, asking her if she was going to have Ribeye for dinner – this sparked a meaty conversation and 60-mile craving for steak!  

If you ask Cheyenne for advice on how to stay motivated with fitness, she’ll likely tell you to include your children in the fun, choose activities you truly enjoy, and don’t compare your abilities to when you were younger – just keep going! She works from home and also mentions that taking a short workout break in the middle of the day (hers are only about 40 minutes) makes her more productive overall.

Whether she’s summiting mountains, cycling across Texas, getting back into pole vaulting, or leading her daughter up a climbing route, Cheyenne lives each day with energy and purpose—fueled by beef and a love for adventure.

Fun Fact 1: I was the first female All-American pole vaulter at McMurry University and was recently inducted into the McMurry University Athletic Hall of Honor as a sprinter and pole vaulter.

Fun Fact 2: I recently worked as a camera assistant on the “behind-the-scenes” crew for Taylor Sheridan’s new series Landman when they filmed in Graham. Several of my shots made it into the Inside the Series promo. One notable scene I got to film for this behind-the-scenes assignment was a big explosion when a truck hit an airplane. 

Favorite Beef Cuts: Ribeye and Flat Iron.

Reward for a Great Effort: Nothing specific, just a juicy burger after a long ride or challenging climb.

Cool Side Gigs:  One of my riding friends owns an adventure vacation company. Our many rides and runs together have led to some amazing opportunities, including helping her guide a cycling cruise in Croatia last year. 

A Race to Check Out: Spivey Hill Challenge in Graham. This was started by two very special friends who have since left us way too early, and benefits local charities. It’s fun, but as the name implies, it has some of the most challenging hills around. My daughter, Zihna, has won her age group twice! 

Favorite Run Distance:  If I have to run something that isn’t a sprint, I wouldn’t do anything over a 5K! I’d rather hike 18+ miles than run further than the 3.1 miles. Although, I am intrigued by trail runs and obstacle runs, neither of which I’ve done yet!

Motivational Quotes: “If you don’t do it this year, you’ll be another year older when you do.” and “Pick any age you want to be and live that age to the fullest.”  – both quotes are by Warren Miller. 

Favorite Gear: For hiking, I like La Sportiva Bushidos and Scarpa climbing shoes. I tore my arch running the 4×400 in college, and since then, my feet seem to only like Brooks and New Balance shoes. Also, my Felt road bike is obviously a necessity, but I recently bought a GT Grade Carbon Elite gravel bike that I’m excited about.