Young athletes have ‘a blast’ at National High School Rodeo Finals
Young rodeo athletes from the Tri-State area did us all proud in Farmington, NM by showing their abilities both in and out of the arena during the last week of July. High school competitors from all over the nation converged in New Mexico for over a week of fun, competition and camaraderie. Entire families from the region packed up and headed to the southwest to embark on an exciting and once in a lifetime adventure.
“This was the first year I made it to Nationals and I was pretty excited about it,” said Taylor Jo Voelsch of Watertown, SD. “I just think getting there and having the chance to compete at that level was incredible.”
Voelsch ended up 14th in the nation in the highly competitive pole bending event. She will be a senior this fall and looks forward to finishing the summer vying for titles in both 4-H and Little Britches rodeo.
“It was so great to meet new people,” she said of her time in Farmington. “There was so much to do down there and I’m really thankful I got to be part of it all.”
Another top pole bender from the area, Shelby Thompson from Eagle Butte, SD, earned second place in the second round and won a performance at Nationals.
“It really meant a lot to me to go to Nationals,” says Thompson. “I made it on the same horse my sister, Kristin, went on like 10 years ago.” Shelby went on to say that the horse is close to 20 years old. “They can last a long time if you take good care of ’em,” she said.
“My grandfather set a great example for us kids and my mom has helped me a lot,” Thompson continued. “I plan to continue riding horses to get ready for next year and go to some SDRA rodeos the rest of the summer.”
The South Dakota team also proved they have what it takes to be top notch competitors outside the rodeo arena. Among the many activities throughout the 10-day rodeo were basketball and volleyball tournaments.
“We ended up in third place in the tournaments and the winners of the whole thing were the teams that beat us,” said SDHRA National Director Carol Hollers. “We also had a really great picnic this year. We switched it to a different day hoping for a better turn out and had it catered by a local place who made great Mexican food. We all want to thank the Western South Dakota Buckaroos and Farm Credit Services of America for their support. They sponsored our picnic and the food.”
Young rodeo athletes from the Tri-State area did us all proud in Farmington, NM by showing their abilities both in and out of the arena during the last week of July. High school competitors from all over the nation converged in New Mexico for over a week of fun, competition and camaraderie. Entire families from the region packed up and headed to the southwest to embark on an exciting and once in a lifetime adventure.
“This was the first year I made it to Nationals and I was pretty excited about it,” said Taylor Jo Voelsch of Watertown, SD. “I just think getting there and having the chance to compete at that level was incredible.”
Voelsch ended up 14th in the nation in the highly competitive pole bending event. She will be a senior this fall and looks forward to finishing the summer vying for titles in both 4-H and Little Britches rodeo.
“It was so great to meet new people,” she said of her time in Farmington. “There was so much to do down there and I’m really thankful I got to be part of it all.”
Another top pole bender from the area, Shelby Thompson from Eagle Butte, SD, earned second place in the second round and won a performance at Nationals.
“It really meant a lot to me to go to Nationals,” says Thompson. “I made it on the same horse my sister, Kristin, went on like 10 years ago.” Shelby went on to say that the horse is close to 20 years old. “They can last a long time if you take good care of ’em,” she said.
“My grandfather set a great example for us kids and my mom has helped me a lot,” Thompson continued. “I plan to continue riding horses to get ready for next year and go to some SDRA rodeos the rest of the summer.”
The South Dakota team also proved they have what it takes to be top notch competitors outside the rodeo arena. Among the many activities throughout the 10-day rodeo were basketball and volleyball tournaments.
“We ended up in third place in the tournaments and the winners of the whole thing were the teams that beat us,” said SDHRA National Director Carol Hollers. “We also had a really great picnic this year. We switched it to a different day hoping for a better turn out and had it catered by a local place who made great Mexican food. We all want to thank the Western South Dakota Buckaroos and Farm Credit Services of America for their support. They sponsored our picnic and the food.”
Young rodeo athletes from the Tri-State area did us all proud in Farmington, NM by showing their abilities both in and out of the arena during the last week of July. High school competitors from all over the nation converged in New Mexico for over a week of fun, competition and camaraderie. Entire families from the region packed up and headed to the southwest to embark on an exciting and once in a lifetime adventure.
“This was the first year I made it to Nationals and I was pretty excited about it,” said Taylor Jo Voelsch of Watertown, SD. “I just think getting there and having the chance to compete at that level was incredible.”
Voelsch ended up 14th in the nation in the highly competitive pole bending event. She will be a senior this fall and looks forward to finishing the summer vying for titles in both 4-H and Little Britches rodeo.
“It was so great to meet new people,” she said of her time in Farmington. “There was so much to do down there and I’m really thankful I got to be part of it all.”
Another top pole bender from the area, Shelby Thompson from Eagle Butte, SD, earned second place in the second round and won a performance at Nationals.
“It really meant a lot to me to go to Nationals,” says Thompson. “I made it on the same horse my sister, Kristin, went on like 10 years ago.” Shelby went on to say that the horse is close to 20 years old. “They can last a long time if you take good care of ’em,” she said.
“My grandfather set a great example for us kids and my mom has helped me a lot,” Thompson continued. “I plan to continue riding horses to get ready for next year and go to some SDRA rodeos the rest of the summer.”
The South Dakota team also proved they have what it takes to be top notch competitors outside the rodeo arena. Among the many activities throughout the 10-day rodeo were basketball and volleyball tournaments.
“We ended up in third place in the tournaments and the winners of the whole thing were the teams that beat us,” said SDHRA National Director Carol Hollers. “We also had a really great picnic this year. We switched it to a different day hoping for a better turn out and had it catered by a local place who made great Mexican food. We all want to thank the Western South Dakota Buckaroos and Farm Credit Services of America for their support. They sponsored our picnic and the food.”
Young rodeo athletes from the Tri-State area did us all proud in Farmington, NM by showing their abilities both in and out of the arena during the last week of July. High school competitors from all over the nation converged in New Mexico for over a week of fun, competition and camaraderie. Entire families from the region packed up and headed to the southwest to embark on an exciting and once in a lifetime adventure.
“This was the first year I made it to Nationals and I was pretty excited about it,” said Taylor Jo Voelsch of Watertown, SD. “I just think getting there and having the chance to compete at that level was incredible.”
Voelsch ended up 14th in the nation in the highly competitive pole bending event. She will be a senior this fall and looks forward to finishing the summer vying for titles in both 4-H and Little Britches rodeo.
“It was so great to meet new people,” she said of her time in Farmington. “There was so much to do down there and I’m really thankful I got to be part of it all.”
Another top pole bender from the area, Shelby Thompson from Eagle Butte, SD, earned second place in the second round and won a performance at Nationals.
“It really meant a lot to me to go to Nationals,” says Thompson. “I made it on the same horse my sister, Kristin, went on like 10 years ago.” Shelby went on to say that the horse is close to 20 years old. “They can last a long time if you take good care of ’em,” she said.
“My grandfather set a great example for us kids and my mom has helped me a lot,” Thompson continued. “I plan to continue riding horses to get ready for next year and go to some SDRA rodeos the rest of the summer.”
The South Dakota team also proved they have what it takes to be top notch competitors outside the rodeo arena. Among the many activities throughout the 10-day rodeo were basketball and volleyball tournaments.
“We ended up in third place in the tournaments and the winners of the whole thing were the teams that beat us,” said SDHRA National Director Carol Hollers. “We also had a really great picnic this year. We switched it to a different day hoping for a better turn out and had it catered by a local place who made great Mexican food. We all want to thank the Western South Dakota Buckaroos and Farm Credit Services of America for their support. They sponsored our picnic and the food.”
