PAFRA member, Shelbie Parrish – courtesy of the family
story by Angelia Kerkhoff
Shelbie Parrish is the daughter of retired Sergeant First Class Carroll Parrish, also known as Bubba. Bubba served ten and a half years in the infantry and then was reclassified to an armor tank commander for nine and a half years. After retirement, he continued dealing with the Army as a civilian contractor. He deployed numerous of times to Iraq and Afghanistan supporting his unit dealing with the Blue Force Tracker. Unfortunately, Bubba is always traveling due to his civilian contractor job now that he misses out on a lot of Shelbie’s success in the rodeo world.
Shelbie is a 21-year-old WPRA barrel racer. She is the jockey of Honky Tonk Kid, also known as Biscuit. In 2012, Shelbie lost her good rodeo horse “Cuatro.” It was her senior year and Biscuit is all they had left in the barn that was somewhat ready to haul. That very moment the two became a team and grew a bond like no other. Shelbie and Biscuit didn’t get along at first when her mom “Christa” was training him, but with the loss of Cuatro, Biscuit had to grow up fast and fill some big shoes for Shelbie. With that in 2013 Biscuit qualified Shelbie for state in High School rodeo finishing eighth in Texas. Shelbie and Biscuit went on to rodeo for Tarleton State University.
While off at college Shelbie purchased her WPRA permit and attented the WPRA World Finals in 2013. They placed in both the first and the second go rounds qualifying them for the short round. Shelbie placed second in the short round and took third in the average filling her permit.
In 2014 Shelbie and Biscuit went on to continue their pro rodeo career as it was her rookie year. The awesome duo went on to win Bridgeport, TX PRCA Rodeo, Sonora, TX PRCA Rodeo, took second at Sinton, TX PRCA Rodeo, also placing at Helotes, TX and Laramie, WY. She went on to live the rodeo dream hitting rodeos up north in Colorado, Wyoming, and Kansas. When Shelbie hit the rodeo road she was sitting tenth in the WPRA rookie standings. Unfortunately, they took a fall in Cheyenne, Wyoming in their second go round run sending the duo back home early. Biscuit had to undergo surgery, but that is not stopping the two talented athletes.
They have been working on a strong comeback and are getting ready to hit the road again for more rodeos. Shelbie and Biscuit are very excited to be a part of the Professional Armed Forces Rodeo Association. It gives her the opportunity to keep doing what she loves with others who have served or are serving. Shelbie gives thanks to her dad for his service as well as the other men and women who have served and are currently serving this country to keep us all free.
