UHRSA member, Katie Thomas – Russ Isabella Photography
stories by Magie Downare-Nevius
A member for only a couple months, Katie Thomas, took to the UHSRA as a quadruple event contender and made her way to the state finals as a pole bending qualifier. “At the very last [regular season] rodeo, I was able to qualify for state. There, I had two clean runs and just felt so blessed to be able to compete,” she said. Her additional events included the goat tying, barrel racing and breakaway roping, and Katie astonishingly worked the battlefield on one horse. “It was all done on the same horse, who helped me to compete to the best of my ability and none of it would have happened without the help of the Christiansen family, who took me to all of the rodeos and allowed me to ride their horse,” Katie said.
Through her dad (Todd), a former calf roper in the Rocky Mountain Professional Rodeo Association and additional semi-pro organizations in Utah, Katie was introduced to the sport as a youngster. However, her attentions moved in other directions, such as: softball and basketball. “I always wanted to be able to rodeo and finally got the opportunity when the Christiansen family took me under their wing and made my dream come true. I’d like to find some way of expressing me gratitude for all that they did,” Katie said. The family ties to rodeo extend to Katie’s older sister (Shyanne, 24), who competed at local events with close friend Amberley Snyder. “Amberley is my true inspiration and I got the chance to speak with her during the UJHSRA state finals, where she gave me advice and told me to just have fun and be thankful for what I was doing,” Katie said. Although, her mom (Charlotte) and older brother (Tyler) are not rodeo competitors, Katie says that her family have helped her a lot and are huge supporters of her quest. “Rodeo has taught me that it is all about focusing on your own goals, and only competing against you and your own times. I started out as a new rodeo member and just went for it, there was nothing to lose. I was always seeking for new advice, so that I could become better. I made a huge improvement from my first runs in the arena to my last. Seeing how much I grew was always so fun, but I also had to put in the practice and cooperation to want to become better. I am definitely not a pro, but I am happy with how far I came. I knew that each time I entered the arena, I just had to do my best. It was fun to do good, and to make clean runs. I knew none of that would happen without the time and dedication. Rodeo taught me so much, and I am excited to take those lessons farther. I am so glad I got to live me dream, and I can’t wait for what is in store ahead. Rodeo is definitely something I have learned most from out of all the things I have been involved in. I hope those who want to rodeo one day, get the experience like I did. It is definitely one you won’t take for granted,” Katie said.
The 18-year-old cowgirl broadened her horizons showing livestock (sheep and pigs) for 10 years in 4H and holds a remarkable resume that includes the Spanish Fork FFA Vice President, was a high honors high school student and a member of National Honor Society. Currently a pharmacy technician, Katie plans on continuing in the field, but is undecided on her future location of higher education. “I’d like to go where I can continue rodeoing,” she said.
Torri Mackelprang is an old-time hand when it comes to arena competition. “I’ve been at it since I was big enough to ride a horse,” she said. The 17-year-old cowgirl started her quest in the Utah 5th and Under Junior Rodeo and maintained a steady pace as a three-time UJHSRA state qualifier with a finishing result as a National qualifier her eighth grade year. “It is so much fun. I get to do what I love, hang out with friends and meet in people, too,” she said. Taking to her fourth season with the UHSRA, Torri has already racked up three-state qualifications, but is ready to take the next step. “I want to make the National team, hopefully, in breakaway and goats, and be successful there,” she said. Perfecting her skills in the goat tying, barrel racing, breakaway roping and occasionally, the team roping, Torri says that goat tying is more than likely her favorite event. “It gets my adrenaline going and I just find it to be so much fun,” she explained.
Introduced through her mom (Josie), who is a former high school competitor, and later, through her older sister (Kylee, 21), a former high school and college competitor and current RMPRA contestant, Torri’s decision to rodeo seemed an easy one. “I saw how much fun Kylee had and I wanted to see how much fun I would have doing it,” she said. “I have had tons and tons of fun…there is nothing more fun than rodeo.” This fall, Torri will be joined by her little sister (Cortney, 12), who will begin in the UJHSRA in the barrel racing, pole bending and queen competition. While their mother no longer rodeos, Torri describes her as: “…being all there. She works long hours, yet, takes us to all of the rodeos and supports us in every which way,” Torri said. At the same time, her dad (Jason) also lends his support. “He didn’t rodeo and is a high school wrestling coach, but helps in our practices and comes watches us as much as possible,” Torri said.
The upcoming senior is more than dedicated to her craft and takes rodeo very seriously. Having played basketball for two years, Torri put the hobby aside for her concentrated effort. “Rodeo is my main thing. I decided that basketball wasn’t going to take my anywhere, so put all of my attention toward rodeo,” she said.
A love for horses and the desire to compete has set Jackie Kennedy on the rodeo path since she was 4 years old. “My dad says that putting me on the back of a horse was the only way to get me to stop crying when I was little,” Jackie said. Starting out running barrels, Jackie’s passion continued to grow and she says that she kept adding events from there. “Neither of my parents or my older brother and sister rodeoed, but it was something that I always wanted to do, so have stuck with it,” she said. By her middle school years, Jackie had trained her own barrel horse and ended up winning the Wyoming State Fair. “Soon after, my dad got me a roping horse, so I put in more events,” Jackie said.
The progression found the Bear River, Wyo., resident qualifying for the UJHSRA state finals her eighth grade year and proceeded with state qualifications within the UHSRA for the past three years and additional success with a spot to go to the Silver State International Rodeo her sophomore year in breakaway. “I used to play basketball, but gave it up to focus on rodeo. I would use basketball to stay in-shape for the rodeo season, but decided that my time could be used more wisely,” Jackie said. Usually, working the pole bending, which was put on hold due to a horse injury, Jackie pushed through in the breakaway roping, team roping, barrel racing and goat tying. “This was not my best year, but I qualified for state in all of my events, except for team roping, and just went out and did my best,” she said. Nonetheless, the 17-year-old cowgirl has developed her own style within the goat tying. “I kept eating dirt with the typical step-off, so now, I just hang off the side of my horse. People tell me that it’s my signature get-off,” she described.
Tying goats three times per week and roping every night, Jackie has put the past behind her and has set her sights on the upcoming season. She will take to the UHSRA in her senior year with the goal of doing well in the breakaway roping, goat tying and barrels. “I would like to make Nationals in at least two of those events,” she said. “I am working hard to turn my dream into a reality.”
A love for horses and the desire to compete has set Jackie Kennedy on the rodeo path since she was 4 years old. “My dad says that putting me on the back of a horse was the only way to get me to stop crying when I was little,” Jackie said. Starting out running barrels, Jackie’s passion continued to grow and she says that she kept adding events from there. “Neither of my parents or my older brother and sister rodeoed, but it was something that I always wanted to do, so have stuck with it,” she said. By her middle school years, Jackie had trained her own barrel horse and ended up winning the Wyoming State Fair. “Soon after, my dad got me a roping horse, so I put in more events,” Jackie said.
The progression found the Bear River, Wyo., resident qualifying for the UJHSRA state finals her eighth grade year and proceeded with state qualifications within the UHSRA for the past three years and additional success with a spot to go to the Silver State International Rodeo her sophomore year in breakaway. “I used to play basketball, but gave it up to focus on rodeo. I would use basketball to stay in-shape for the rodeo season, but decided that my time could be used more wisely,” Jackie said. Usually, working the pole bending, which was put on hold due to a horse injury, Jackie pushed through in the breakaway roping, team roping, barrel racing and goat tying. “This was not my best year, but I qualified for state in all of my events, except for team roping, and just went out and did my best,” she said. Nonetheless, the 17-year-old cowgirl has developed her own style within the goat tying. “I kept eating dirt with the typical step-off, so now, I just hang off the side of my horse. People tell me that it’s my signature get-off,” she described.
Tying goats three times per week and roping every night, Jackie has put the past behind her and has set her sights on the upcoming season. She will take to the UHSRA in her senior year with the goal of doing well in the breakaway roping, goat tying and barrels. “I would like to make Nationals in at least two of those events,” she said. “I am working hard to turn my dream into a reality.”
