story by Siri Stevens
Camryn Richard made it to the Louisiana Junior High state finals last year in four events; barrels, poles, breakaway, and ribbon roping. She ended her sixth grade rodeo season as Reserve Champion Barrel Racer. The 12 year old started competing when she was 4 years old. She joined National Little Britches Rodeo Association at 5 and uses three horses for her events. Airport is her pole bending horse, Cowboy is the barrel horse and Paycheck is trail and breakaway. “I really like Cowboy – he’s my favorite – he’s laid back and easy to ride,” she said. “Even though my mom was a state champion breakaway roper, I would have to say Barrel Racing and Pole Bending are my favorite events.”
Camryn is an only child and doesn’t mind it. “I don’t have any brothers and sisters bothering me. If I get lonely I call my friends,” she said. Her days are full with school, practice, and rodeo. “Whenever I get home on Monday and Wednesday I rope; Tuesday and Thursday I do barrels and poles and exercise my horses. I go to my grandparent’s house down the road. It’s about five minutes away, and my mom drives me there.” In school, she likes Math best. “I like figuring out the problems,” she said. English and grammar are two subjects she doesn’t like so well, but she loves reading. She has attended First Baptist Christian Academy in Moss Bluff Louisiana since she was 2 years old.
Weekends are spent rodeoing or hunting. She goes with her parents to Texas and Mississippi to hunt deer. Camryn lives on 25 acres with cows, horses, chickens, two dogs, and barn cats. “What I don’t like (about hunting) is getting up early and being really quiet.” When they travel to the rodeos, her mom (Casey) does the driving and her dad (Chad) does the cooking, sharing his talents with up to 60 people a night.
When she has time off, she spends time with her friends; swimming across the street, riding a golf cart or 4 wheeler around the property. She wants to be a doctor of some sort – maybe a dermatologist. “My daddy is a doctor – chiropractor – and he wants me to be successful like him.”
The most important person in her life is Jesus. “I can ask Him anything and He’ll answer it and He helps. He helps me with confidence and getting through bad days.” Her mom is next on that list. “She rides with me and helps me all the time.
She drives me to the rodeos. She makes sure my horses are tuned up and ready.” Her favorite part of rodeo is hanging out with friends, riding, and accomplishing her goals. “My goal this year is to make it to state finals in all my events and get to National Finals.”
