Two International Finals Youth Rodeo contestants from Kansas got their start in rodeo life when their grandpas gave them horses at a young age. Now the two friends hopes years of practice will serve them well in the IFYR competition.
Courtenay DeHoff, 18, Tonganoxie, Kan., and Ceri McCaffery, 15, Lake City, Kan., made their first trip to Shawnee for this week’s competition.
DeHoff is competing in barrel racing and goat tying, while McCaffery will be in barrel racing and breakaway roping.
By chance, both got their start and found a love for rodeo when their grandfathers gave them horses.
McCaffery said she practices every day and loves to ride. Before competing, they each have their own way of getting prepared.
“I try to take each run and concentrate on it,” McCaffery said.
“I try to stay relaxed and focused,” DeHoff said.
DeHoff, who just graduated from high school, has been in participating in high school rodeos for four years and travels every weekend to high school and open rodeos; she has made the National Finals the past two years.
Her travels will slow somewhat when she begins attending college at Oklahoma State University next month, where she’ll be on the rodeo team. She is pursuing a degree in agricultural communications and hopes to go into broadcasting.
McCaffery will be a high school sophomore this fall, but she’s already planning a future in professional rodeo and wants to become a chiropractor someday.
DeHoff is the daughter of Tim and Cindy DeHoff; McCaffery is the daughter of Kay Jones.
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Kim Morava may be reached at 214-3962 or kimberly.morava@news-star.com.
SHAWNEE, Okla. —
