By Lily Weinacht
Beau Peterson of Council Grove, Kan., returned home from the 2014 NJHFR as the National Girls Breakaway Roping Champion. This was the 14-year-old’s first national championship, and an honor she has been working toward for many years. “It was an amazing feeling of accomplishment for me, because that is something I’ve worked so hard for!” says Beau, who now competes in the KHSRA and is sitting third in the both the breakaway roping and goat tying.
Starting her rodeo journey when she was five, Beau was inspired to compete by watching her dad team rope and her mom compete in ranch rodeos. “Rodeo is something I love to do, and it excites me. I love competing! I was practically born rodeoing, and I want to keep on doing it.” In addition to breakaway roping, Beau competes in goat tying and ribbon roping as the runner. Breakaway roping has long been her favorite event, and the one she has worked the hardest in. She was the Kansas state breakaway roping champion in 2012, placed first this year in the JR Lewis Memorial Calf Roping’s 19 and Under Girls Breakaway, and also won second at the Joe Beaver Easter Roping in the 15 and Under Girls Breakaway. Furthermore, Beau competed in the Barry Burke Calf Roping and Chris Neal’s Future Stars Calf Roping on Memorial Day weekend.
Beau names her parents, Matt and Dustin Peterson, as two of the people she looks up to most. “My parents have been a big part of my roping career,” she says. “My mom helps me with the mental side of things and is always there to make sure everything is ready before a rodeo. My dad has helped me learn how to rope and fix any roping problems that I’ve had. My sister (Michaela) is also there for me whenever I need her. My whole family has been there to help me learn!”
Horses are another major part of Beau’s rodeo career. Hustler is her nine-year-old breakaway roping horse, and P.W. is her 12-year-old mount for goat tying. An animal lover, Beau has an Australian Shepherd named Roxie, as well as the family dog, Sis, who is a Blue Heeler. The Petersons live about ten miles outside of Council Grove, and their ranch, Hinchman Ranch, is located only a mile from their house. They work together, shipping cattle in the morning and caring for their feedlot steers and heifers. In addition to helping on her family’s ranch, Beau tries to ride her horses every day and practice roping. She goes down to her neighbor’s roping arena with Michaela several times a week, hauling their roping livestock with them.
Beau recently finished her freshman year of high school at Council Grove High School, where she played varsity basketball, the only freshman to letter. Michaela, 18, also finished her freshman year at Garden City Community College, where she is attending on a rodeo scholarship. Michaela qualified for the NHSFR in Rock Springs, Wyo. in 2013 and 2014, finishing tenth in the national standings in goat tying last year. Between rodeos, Beau enjoys spending time with her friends, playing basketball, and working at her dad’s side on the ranch.
Beau’s first year of high school rodeo is off to a promising start, and with state finals only a few days away she says, “My goal is to rodeo through high school and college, and make it to the NHSFR this year – and every year after that. That would be a big accomplishment with all the competition in high school rodeo. It’s going to be a big step for me, and I’m excited and a little nervous, but I’ll just have to see what it’s like!”
