story by Riata Cummings
Leeds, Utah, is the home of 17-year-old rodeo cowgirl Clara Anderson. She is the daughter of Chad and Margaret Anderson and the younger sister of Austin and Macy. Clara enjoys living in the small town on her family’s little farm. Most of their time spent together is on the farm, with their horses or boating on a lake somewhere.
Clara is a senior at Desert Hills High School. She enjoys her plant and soil science class, as well as her medical anatomy class. Clara is the president of the Desert Hills FFA Chapter. “I like the FFA people. They are all good kids that are fun to be around and work with.” Clara competes in the horse judging career development event through the FFA, and enjoys the leadership experience the organization has given her. Clara is currently doing an internship at a physical therapy clinic, and after graduation she would like to attend Southern Utah University to study to become a physical therapist.
Clara got her first horse when she was in fourth grade. Her sister soon began competing in high school rodeo, and Clara “joined in the fun and did it with her.” Clara competes in the goat tying, breakaway roping, team roping and reined cow horse through the Utah High School Rodeo Association. Her favorite event is the reined cow horse. “There is always something to work on and try to be good at. You have to be good at lots of things to win, and there is nothing like going down the fence with a cow.”
Clara’s rodeo horses are an integral part of her life and success. Leroy is a dun gelding that Clara has been goat tying on since she started the event. Tater is a somewhat lazy sorrel gelding, but he always manages to get Clara to the calf in the breakaway roping. Her head horse is a brown gelding named Moose with a sweet personality. Clara’s favorite horse, Clyde, is a 14-year-old bay gelding, with a bit of a crazy streak, that she uses in the reined cow horse.
A few years ago, Clara was the Silver State International Rodeo Jr. High Goat Tying Champion. She has qualified for the UHSRA state finals rodeo all four years of high school, and last year Clara and Clyde finished 5th in the reined cow horse. This year she has made a goal to qualify for nationals in the reined cow horse, finish in the top 15 in the goat tying and breakaway, and to qualify for state finals in the team roping with her partner Jessie Vigoren.
One of Clara’s greatest strengths is her dedication. “I am committed to all that I do. In rodeo you go through a lot of rough spots, but you have to stick with it. Eventually, you see your dreams become reality.”
Clara’s hero is her father, Chad. “He always works so hard and has been such a good example to me. One day I want to emulate his work ethic and be good to people like he is.” Clara hopes that people will know her as a “funny, caring person who treats everyone with kindness.”
Clara would like to thank her parents and family for supporting her rodeo career. She would like to thank her friends for cheering her on, in and out of the arena. “Thank you for being there for me, no matter what, and for making me who I am.”
