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Fifteen-year-old Sierra Beauford of Shawnee is ready to barrel race in her first International Finals Youth Rodeo this week, but participating in the annual rodeo has been a family event.
Just like they did last year, Sierra, along with her sister, Mariah Beauford, 18, are helping contestants check-in and stall their horses. And just like last year, they and their family are making the rodeo a family event this week and are camping on grounds.
Last year, while Sierra was too young to compete in barrel racing, she rode her horse and carried a flag during the grand entry.
This year, she’ll do that again, but it’s her timed barrel racing rides she’s looking forward to, she said, and hopes her horse, Frisco’s Money Man, can help her win.
“Now that I’m competing, I feel more involved,” Sierra said.
And while both said this week is a time to visit with friends and meet others, it’s also about competition, and Sierra has been practicing.
She’s been riding her horse every day for conditioning and has competed in several other rodeos, she said.
“I really want to make the short go,” Sierra said.
Sierra does several things to prepare, such as putting in the time to practice.
“And usually before I run, I try to pray,” she said, adding she also warms up her horse well.
For Mariah, who participated in rodeos until her freshman year of high school, this year is about doing her volunteer work with stalling and cheering on her little sister, who “rides good,” she said.
Mariah said rodeo teaches discipline and those involved in rodeo have good manners, which is evident in Sierra as well. Sierra said she wants her parents, Matt and Carla Beauford, to know she thanks them for all of their support in her endeavors.
Sierra will be a sophomore at Shawnee High School this fall, while her sister, who just graduated SHS, is off to college. Mariah will attend The University of Central Oklahoma, where she plans to major in journalism and literature.
Sierra has been playing volleyball at SHS, but a recent shoulder injury has that in question, at least for now, which could leave her more time for rodeos.
Sierra hopes to get into pole bending and breakaway roping in the future, so spectators will likely see more of her in the next few years at the IFYR.
Fifteen-year-old Sierra Beauford of Shawnee is ready to barrel race in her first International Finals Youth Rodeo this week, but participating in the annual rodeo has been a family event.
Just like they did last year, Sierra, along with her sister, Mariah Beauford, 18, are helping contestants check-in and stall their horses. And just like last year, they and their family are making the rodeo a family event this week and are camping on grounds.
Last year, while Sierra was too young to compete in barrel racing, she rode her horse and carried a flag during the grand entry.
This year, she’ll do that again, but it’s her timed barrel racing rides she’s looking forward to, she said, and hopes her horse, Frisco’s Money Man, can help her win.
“Now that I’m competing, I feel more involved,” Sierra said.
And while both said this week is a time to visit with friends and meet others, it’s also about competition, and Sierra has been practicing.
She’s been riding her horse every day for conditioning and has competed in several other rodeos, she said.
“I really want to make the short go,” Sierra said.
Sierra does several things to prepare, such as putting in the time to practice.
“And usually before I run, I try to pray,” she said, adding she also warms up her horse well.
For Mariah, who participated in rodeos until her freshman year of high school, this year is about doing her volunteer work with stalling and cheering on her little sister, who “rides good,” she said.
Mariah said rodeo teaches discipline and those involved in rodeo have good manners, which is evident in Sierra as well. Sierra said she wants her parents, Matt and Carla Beauford, to know she thanks them for all of their support in her endeavors.
Sierra will be a sophomore at Shawnee High School this fall, while her sister, who just graduated SHS, is off to college. Mariah will attend The University of Central Oklahoma, where she plans to major in journalism and literature.
Sierra has been playing volleyball at SHS, but a recent shoulder injury has that in question, at least for now, which could leave her more time for rodeos.
Sierra hopes to get into pole bending and breakaway roping in the future, so spectators will likely see more of her in the next few years at the IFYR.
