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Having a grandfather who was a stock contractor and three uncles who were bullriders led barrel racer Megan Gay, 17, Terrell, Texas, to enter into the world of rodeo herself.
“I’ve been doing this ever since I can remember,” Gay said. “But this is my first year at the International Finals Youth Rodeo.”
Gay said she learned a lesson about competing in rodeo a long time ago from her grandfather and uncles, including uncle Donnie Gay, who was an eight-time world champion bullrider.
“You have to enter to be able to win,” she said, adding she pays for “a lot” of her entry fees herself.
Gay, who didn’t make it to the top 15 after her second go Friday morning, said she had a rough start this year due to heavy rainfall Monday.
“I had an OK first run but I ran Monday when the ground was still wet,” she said. “It makes it slower, heavier, but it’s just the luck of the draw.”
Gay traveled to Oklahoma with her mother at the urging of her friend Shelby Surls, Athens, Texas. Surls’ competed in the IFYR for her second year this year, after taking off last year.
Gay said her father wanted to come with her to watch her compete but was unable to attend.
“But my sister usually comes with us when we go to rodeos,” she said.
The soon-to-be high school senior said she attended a private Christian school until her freshman year and has been homeschooled since that time. She also has been taking summer college courses through a community college near her hometown.
“I am trying to get all my basics in right now because I haven’t decided where I’m going to go to college because I haven’t decided what I want to do,” she said.
In her spare time, aside from “hanging out with friends,” such as Surls, she said she likes to “practice, keep the horses in shape and exercise.”
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Having a grandfather who was a stock contractor and three uncles who were bullriders led barrel racer Megan Gay, 17, Terrell, Texas, to enter into the world of rodeo herself.
“I’ve been doing this ever since I can remember,” Gay said. “But this is my first year at the International Finals Youth Rodeo.”
Gay said she learned a lesson about competing in rodeo a long time ago from her grandfather and uncles, including uncle Donnie Gay, who was an eight-time world champion bullrider.
“You have to enter to be able to win,” she said, adding she pays for “a lot” of her entry fees herself.
Gay, who didn’t make it to the top 15 after her second go Friday morning, said she had a rough start this year due to heavy rainfall Monday.
“I had an OK first run but I ran Monday when the ground was still wet,” she said. “It makes it slower, heavier, but it’s just the luck of the draw.”
Gay traveled to Oklahoma with her mother at the urging of her friend Shelby Surls, Athens, Texas. Surls’ competed in the IFYR for her second year this year, after taking off last year.
Gay said her father wanted to come with her to watch her compete but was unable to attend.
“But my sister usually comes with us when we go to rodeos,” she said.
The soon-to-be high school senior said she attended a private Christian school until her freshman year and has been homeschooled since that time. She also has been taking summer college courses through a community college near her hometown.
“I am trying to get all my basics in right now because I haven’t decided where I’m going to go to college because I haven’t decided what I want to do,” she said.
In her spare time, aside from “hanging out with friends,” such as Surls, she said she likes to “practice, keep the horses in shape and exercise.”
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