story by Lily Weinacht
Kelsey Cadwell went into her second year at the Junior World Finals determined to make clean, smooth runs, and came away the 2018 Junior NFR Senior Girl World Barrel Racing Champion. “I was kind of nervous, but I was more excited,” says the 18-year-old from Oakdale, California, who won her first horse trailer alongside her first world title. “I was a lot more confident on my horse this year.” Kelsey and Shine On A Dime “Jackson” ran a 14.3 in the first round, a 13.6 to win the second round, and a 14.1 in the short round. Second rounds have also been good to Kelsey’s dad, Travis Cadwell, who steer wrestled in the PRCA and won the second round of the WNFR in 2000.
This year, the family was all together to attend the 10th round of the WNFR after the Junior World Finals concluded. “It’s fun to watch all the girls compete there, and have myself compete there too,” says Kelsey, who also entered the Vegas Stars Breakaway Roping. She ran at KK Run for Vegas qualifiers in Oklahoma and Arizona before punching her ticket to Las Vegas at the qualifier in Red Bluff, California. “I knew it would be my last shot, and I qualified in the third spot. I think it’s really cool how they have qualifiers all over the United States so girls from all over can qualify. And it’s really cool to have a junior version of the NFR because it gives us a chance to compete for high stakes too. To be in those high-pressure situations I think is a really great experience for us.”
Kelsey has also competed on the large stage of the IFYR and the Best of the Best Timed Event Rodeo, as well as The American Semi-Finals when she qualified for the event in 2018. This year she’s headed to Fort Worth, Texas, for the JR American Rodeo in breakaway roping. She competed in other events like pole bending and goat tying when she high school rodeoed for California, but plans to rodeo on her WPRA permit now that she’s 18. She also competed in the WRCA finals in January. “I have a lot of fun with rodeo, and my parents, Tiffany and Travis Cadwell, are awesome and do a lot for me. My horses make it fun for me too,” says Kelsey. “Erin Ricotti is the reason I run barrels and she got me on my first barrel horse. Lyndalee Whipple and Marilyn Camarillo both ran barrels, and I bought Pleaser from Lyndalee. They’ve helped me a lot with the knowledge I have for my horses, and my grandparents, Clark and Caroline Hunt and Suzanne Cadwell, do so much for me too. Premier Equine Center swims my horses and keeps them in the best shape possible, and I’m really grateful for them.”
Kelsey’s barrel horse Pleaser qualified her for her first Junior NFR in 2017, but when he had to have surgery before that finals, she came across another gelding, Jackson, and bought him just before leaving for Las Vegas. “Patty Davis broke and trained him on the barrels, and he has a lot of character. I also have a horse named Homey, and he’s my little project horse. He’s racehorse bred and coming along really nicely.”
In between her rodeos, Kelsey works hard to keep her grades up at Oakdale High School, where she is a senior. “I really like history and math, and I just applied to the colleges I want to go to, Cal Poly and Texas A&M.” She’s also a member of FFA and enjoys speaking competitions, but when Kelsey finds the spare time, she’s off to the beach with her family, or to spend time with her 15-year-old brother, TC. “I’d love to be able to make the (WNFR) Finals and get a gold buckle,” she finishes. “I think it’s everybody’s dream and a lot of work, but I’m ready to do the work.”
