story by Lily Weinacht
“I’ve competed in a lot of things, but nothing compares to rodeo,” says Savannah Krogman. “It’s a rollercoaster—you can be high and up on top, but next weekend you can be on the bottom again. It’s just the thrill of going out there every day and knowing it can go either way, but it’s up to you to be the best prepared for it. It really brings you back and shows you what life is about—even when things are not going well, you still work hard and put in practice.”
The 18-year-old breakaway roper, pole bender, and barrel racer from White River, South Dakota, started her rodeo career in the NLBRA when she was 5. Following in the bootprints of her older sisters, Mariah and Alyssa, Savannah worked her way through NLBRA and junior high rodeos before joining the SDHSRA. Qualifying for the NHSFR in breakaway roping last summer was a highlight of her career, and she was awarded a scholarship for $1,000 by the Black Hills Stock Show this winter. “That was really a good blessing for me. It’s the first scholarship I’ve been awarded,” says Savannah, who competed in the SDHSRA 20X Extreme Showcase during the stock show in breakaway roping. “Breakaway is my favorite, mostly because a good horse always helps you, but it comes down to you too, and how you compete on that day. It’s a lot of self-motivation.”
Savannah qualified for the 2017 SDHSRA finals in breakaway on Roanie. “He’s over 20 years old now and you wouldn’t even know—he’s a spitfire. I have a barrel horse, Queen, and you get those good runs you’re excited about and sometimes have those setbacks, but it’s all about moving forward and embracing the good ones. My pole horse is Brownie, and he’s quite special to me. We raised him from a colt and both my older sisters competed on him at the high school finals. I look up to my sisters for guidance in this because they’ve been through it all and they’re my best coaches. They try to make it to every rodeo, and when I made it to Nationals, I was pretty excited, but I think my family—my support who has really been there for me—was just as excited if not more than I was! I’m really thankful for my parents, Neil and Kathy Krogman, because rodeo wouldn’t be possible without their support.”
Raising horses for the family business, Louie Krogman Quarter Horses, also pulls the Krogmans together. Last September they held their 65th annual horse sale on Labor Day Weekend, originally started by Savannah’s grandpa, whom the business is named after. She plays a large role in halter breaking the colts, gathering them for sale day, and leading them in the sale arena. “I’m 18 now, so I can remember colts that are now older horses and broke to ride that I’ve competed on. It’s nice to see how well they develop from a tiny colt that maybe was difficult to break at first, and how far they come to be a great breakaway prospect or barrel horse. I’m truly lucky that I was able to grow up in the family lifestyle I did—I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” Their business website is www.kquarterhorse.com
Savannah, who recently finished her high school basketball season, is also involved in Student Council and the National Honor Society, jazz choir, and FFA as the student chapter president. Following her graduation from Jones County High School in May, where she’s working to be valedictorian of her class, Savannah plans to attend South Dakota State University and rodeo in the fall. “I plan on studying animal science and taking pre-vet classes, and hopefully after that, apply for vet school and study large animal. And I’m working to make it back to Nationals—that would be a great accomplishment for me this summer if the cards fall right.”
