In spite of wind and rain, a large group of young people from different high schools and junior high schools, got together to compete in a sport that they all love. They had gathered for a Junior Rodeo in San Luis Obispo at the Madonna Inn Arena.
The kids and their devoted parents had hauled horses and tack from long distances, so that they could earn points toward year-end prizes and honors. Junior Rodeo is a big thing in their lives, and these events are also held at the Santa Ynez Valley Equestrian Center. The SYV Equestrian Center also has gymkhanas and hunter-jumper shows for kids to participate it.
These activities are possible because families have chosen country living over existence in a city. In addition to riding and roping skills, the kids learn the responsibilities of feeding and caring for their horses. They are best friends with their horses and often ride and practice most every day. They are also experts at cleaning stalls. The results of District 7 High School and Junior Rodeo in January at the Madonna Inn Arena are as follows:
High school winners
Barrels
1st Round: Sage Massey, Paso Robles High
2nd Round: Samantha Hand, SYVUHS
Overall Winner: Samantha Hand, SYVUHS
Team Roping
1st Round: Cody Snow, Olive Grove Charter School &Taylor Santos-Karney, Templeton High
2nd Round: Ali Bilkey, Family Partnership Charter School & Tyler Forsberg, Fillmore High School
Overall Winner: Triston Ruffoni, Arroyo Grande High School & Wyatt Cox, Arroyo Grande High School
Breakaway
1st Round: Samantha Hand, SYVUHS
2nd Round: Ali Bilkey, Family Partnership Charter School Overall Winner: Samantha Hand, SYVUHS
Tie-Down Roping
1st Round: Taylor Santos-Karney, Templeton High
2nd Round: Taylor Santos-Karney, Templeton High
Overall Winner: Taylor Santos-Karney, Templeton High
Goat Tying
1st Round: Taylor Prather, Desert Sands High
2nd Round: Taylor Prather, Desert Sands High
Overall winner: Taylor Prather, Desert Sands High
Pole Bending
1st Round: Cheyenne Rey, San Benito High
2nd Round: Cheyenne Rey, San Benito High
Overall winner: Cheyenne Rey, San Benito High
Steer Wrestling
1st Round: Dane Bass, Templeton Independent Study
2nd Round: Tyler Forsberg, Fillmore High School
Overall Winner: Tyler Forsberg, Fillmore High School
Girls Cutting
1st Round: Jenna Drammer, SYVUHS
2nd Round: Jenna Drammer, SYVUHS
Overall Winner: Jenna Drammer, SYVUHS
Boys Cutting
1st Round: Tyler Forsberg, Fillmore High School
2nd Round: Tyler Forsberg, Fillmore High School
Overall Winner: Tyler Forsberg, Fillmore High School
Junior high school winners
Barrels
Amber Stoltey, Los Olivos Academy
Team Roping
Cutter Machado, Pine Grove Elementary & Chance Ruffoni, Paulding Middle School
Ribbon Roping
Chance Machado, Orcutt Jr High & Darbie Pond, Benjamin Foxen Elementary
Girls Breakaway
Sadie Levine, Los Olivos Elementary
Boys Breakaway
Rhett Varian, Parkfield Elementary
Tie-Down Roping
Zack Varian, Parkfield
Girls Goat Tying
Makenna Kramer, Balboa Middle
Boys Goat Tying
Tatem Forsberg, Mesa Verde Middle School
Pole Bending
Kathryn Varian, Parkfield
Chute Dogging
Wacey Barrington, Bitterwater-Tully Elementary