Young riders show their skill at Mid-State Classic Rodeo
Sarah Nance and LaRae Luis, first place winners for the cutting class. Photos by Jackie Iddings.
–Fine riding and fast horses filled the Paso Robles Event Center last weekend. The 25th Annual Mid-State Classic Rodeo, part of the California High School Rodeo Association circuit ran from Friday, Nov. 20, through Sunday, Nov. 22. The 243 riders came from CHSRA districts four, six, seven, eight and nine with 50 riders representing District Seven. Also known as the “Magnificent District Seven,” the district includes San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties and parts of Monterey County.
North County competitors were Riley Gajdos from San Miguel, Ryan Jennings, LaRae Luis and Aubree Scobie from Paso Robles. Templeton was represented by Hayley Wilson and Atascadero by Jennie Lee, Casey Natura and Emily Patterson. Katie Smith from Bradley also attends Templeton High School. Zachary Varian from Parkfield attends Paso Robles Independent High School and Kathryn Varian and Rhett Varian, also of Parkfield, attend Paso Robles High School. A total of 13 local riders competed in this year’s rodeo. Zachary Varian is the District Seven Team Roping Champion along with team mate Cayden Cox from Arroyo Grande.
Casey Nauta and her horse Dink.
Events included cutting, reined cow horse, roping, pole bending, barrel racing, bull riding and steer wrestling. District Seven riders, LaRae Luis of Paso Robles and Sarah Nance of Santa Ynez tied for first place in the cutting class. Luis, 14 years old, has been riding since she was two. Her horse Forrest, was given to her when she was born. Luis stated her favorite event is barrels but she “enjoys it all.” Nance, riding since seven years old and now 17, enjoys break away roping and cutting the best. Nance finished in first place for breakaway roping and is the District Seven Breakaway Champion for the 2014/2015 season.
Horses and riding have been a big part of these young people’s lives from and early age. Some like Jennie Lee might be new to the rodeo but have been in the saddle since a very young age. Lee, 17 years old, has been riding all of her life but only started high school rodeo a year ago. Rileigh Wulbrandt from Solvang, the District Seven Queen, began competing in junior high rodeo in the sixth grade and is now a high school junior. One of Wulbrandt’s activities as Queen of the hosting District Seven was carrying the US flag during the grand entry. Wuhlbrandt said she likes that rodeo is a year around activity. “Other sports have seasons, but we ride all the time. We get to practice then go see how the practice pays off.”
Joe Martines, supporting his daughter Jennie Lee, also rides for pleasure and to keep Lee company. “Horses take a lot of hard work and dedication from these kids,” stated Martines. “Jennie got a summer job to buy herself a younger horse and has been training and bringing that horse along. She has help from the experienced adults who support this group, but she has to do the bulk of riding and training by herself.” Another parent, Lisa Nauta, has been riding with her daughter, Casey, since “before Casey was born.” Casey Nauta and her horse Dink have been members of District Seven for five years.
Rileigh Wulbrandt, District 7 Queen.
Tyree Cochran from San Luis Obispo is the District Seven president and has been riding “as long as I can remember. I’ve been doing this for four years, since the eight grade.” Cochran has been riding rodeo for the past four years, since eight grade, and said her favorite events are breakaway roping and goat tying.
Special recognition was given this year in honor of the memory of Kenny White who as president of District Seven started the Mid-State Classic Rodeo. The event is the largest multi district high school rodeo in California. District Seven also extended a special thank you to Paso Robles Event Center CEO Vivian Robertson who is retiring after 30 years.
The CHSRA was formed in the mid-1970s with the vision of teaching leadership, promoting education and encouraging family values for California youth. California is one of the original charter members of the National High School Rodeo Association. A junior high division for grades six through eight was added 10 years ago.
California is the home to nine districts, each district competing in eight rodeos throughout the year. Accumulated points determine the top five state qualifiers in each event the high school rodeo offers. State finals are held in June in Bishop, California. Winners at Bishop represent California in the National Finals held in Gillette, Wyoming.
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