story by Lily Weinacht
Jackie White is entering her second season in the KJHSRA, competing in barrel racing, goat tying, breakaway roping, and ribbon roping as the runner for Wyatt Scales. The 14 year old from Girard, Kansas, is the second generation of her family to rodeo. Her dad competed in high school and college rodeo in team roping and tie-down roping, and Jackie’s own favorite event is the breakaway. She loves the speed as she leaves the box, while her quick hands also have her sitting sixth in the KJHSRA goat tying.
“The competition is what’s really fun about rodeo, and I like that everybody helps each other. My parents help me a lot in the practice pen, and Mikki Sawyer has helped me in the barrels since we don’t have barrel racers in my family,” Jackie explains. “I try to practice every night if the weather allows it, and if we can’t go outside, then I rope the dummy in the barn or tie my goat dummy.” Both Jackie’s parents, Ron and Linda White, help coach her and run the roping chutes, while Jackie and her dad have dummy roping competitions. “It’s usually pretty even with who wins,” she says. Jackie recently won the 2017 Lucky J Timed Event Series all-around buckle, and in 2016, she won the all-around saddle for the Fort Scott Summer Series. Ron continues to rope in the practice pen and jackpots, and Linda enjoys riding with Jackie.
Jackie’s horses, Doodles and Roanie Pony, were both raised and trained by her family. “Mikki has helped us with training Doodles, who is seven, and my dad and I did the training on Roanie, who is eight,” says Jackie. “I ride Roanie when I’m helping work cattle to get her mind off the practice pen. I also ride one of our older horses, Doc.” The Whites run a cow/calf operation from their ranch outside of Girard, and they have several dogs and Jackie’s goat for practicing. She shows her Jack Russell Terrier, Sandy, in 4-H in both showmanship and agility, and she’s also competed in the rodeo events with the Lucky Riders 4-H Club since she was seven.
An eighth grader at Girard Middle School, Jackie especially enjoys English. “We’ve been working on argumentative paragraphs in essays. We get to pick our topics, and I like to write about rodeos and my horses and friends.” Once home from school, Jackie heads out her back door for the arena, then helps with animal chores after practice. “Watering is probably my least favorite chore, just because it takes a little while to do,” she explains. Jackie also spends time with her friends, who occasionally come to ride with her.
Her main plans for the summer include rodeoing and qualifying in the NJHFR. Jackie never leaves home without her piggin’ string and her lucky shirt, a leopard print western shirt she frequently competes in. “I want to thank OE Neutraceuticals for sponsoring me, and my parents,” she finishes. “I’m hoping to rodeo full time when I get older, and one day, I would like to compete in the WNFR and The American.”
