New Mexico High School Rodeo Association (NMHSRA) Archives

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New Mexico High School Rodeo Association (NMHSRA)

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Members

Meet the Member Grady Kirkes

story by Lindsay King Though rodeo is in Grady Kirkes’ blood, he recognizes the blessing he’s been given to travel all over New Mexico, and the U.S., to rope calves. The 18-year-old is the youngest of Ross and Creta Kirkes after his two older sisters Jessie, 26, and Shelby, 24. “My dad is my coach. He helped my sister win an all-around title at high school nationals so I guess his tactics are proven,” said…

Meet the Member Carson Mills

story by Lindsay King Ten years separates Carson Mills from her oldest sibling, her best friend. Tegan, 27, and Carson, 17, were inseparable from the start. “I was basically her live baby doll when I was little, so we have always been close. She taught me a lot and helped me in any way she could,” said the Loving, New Mexico, header and breakaway roper. “My sister is my biggest influence in just about everything…

Meet the Member Charleigh Davis

story by Lindsay King A big hug and a mile-wide smile await Charleigh Davis back at the trailer after each run from her grandpa Chuck Sullivan. “My grandpa and grandma Sullivan have always been my number one fans and been there to support me. They keep me going. No matter if it is a good or bad run, my papa is always the first one to tell me what I did wrong or did well,”…

Meet the Member Joseph Chavez

story by Lindsay King “My little brother (Lucas, 13) has saved my butt a few times, he is a bull fighter,” said Joseph Chavez a bull rider from Moriarty, New Mexico. The 15-year-old followed in his cousin’s footsteps when it comes to strapping his hand to a 1,400-pound bull. Skye Chavez put a three-year-old Joseph in the mutton busting and the rest is history. “My cousin was always putting me on calves or sheep or…

Meet the Member Blade Wilson

story by Lindsay King Becoming one of the greats, something Blade Wilson from Capitan, New Mexico, aspires to be one day. The team roper and reined cow horse high school competitor is no stranger to hard work. “The hardest part about rodeo for me is the difference between my two events. The riding specifically. The two horses have completely different buttons and you are thinking about two different things on both of them, so that…

Meet the Member Kayden Little

story by Lindsay King A state title in team roping quickly escalated into a reserve national championship for Kayden Little from Tatum, New Mexico, this past July. The Tatum High School senior and his partner Maddy Deerman placed in the top ten in the first two rounds and took third in the short go to earn the reserve national title. “Nationals was a completely different experience, there were people from not only different states but…

Meet the Member Jayde Wamel

story by Lindsay King After the first round of nationals in the barrel racing, Jayde Wamel, from Las Cruces, New Mexico, sat in the 36th spot. “I never ever lose my stirrups, that’s why I don’t wear rubber bands. Going into the first barrel of the first round, both feet fly out of the stirrups. I am trying to hang on, get my stirrups back, keep pushing and still have a clean run,” said the…

Meet the Member Hayden Powell

story by Lindsay King “It’s old school, it separates the men from the boys. There is no scoring, you get out and it’s a race to see who is fast enough to get down there and get it done,” said Hayden Powell from Rogers, New Mexico, about the Pendleton Roundup. Though he dreams of catching two heels at the Thomas and Mack, Hayden appreciates a good challenge and sees that in the turf in Oregon.…

Meet the Member Roberto Galaz

story by Lindsay King Breaking records is an annual occurrence for Roberto Galaz from Los Lunas, New Mexico, who holds four national titles in the light rifle shooting. The 17-year-old is also a competitor in the trap shooting. “We started rodeo in the roping pen and then realized there were shooting events. My dad brought us up in a shooting and hunting environment, so it made sense to start the shooting sports,” said the high…

Meet the Member Haley Kiehne

story by Lindsay King Behind every perfect loop is the competitor who worked so hard for it, but most importantly the person who pushed them towards it. For Haley Kiehne from Magdalena, New Mexico, that person was and is her dad Travis. “He taught me how to read a barrier, how to get out clean, all my roping skills have come from him, now doubt about it,” said the 19-year-old, graduate of Magdalena High School.…

Meet the Member Dylan Reed

story by Lindsay King The first in his family to rodeo, Dylan Reed from Melrose, New Mexico, wouldn’t trade his saddle bronc rides for anything. “My family found junior high rodeo and we decided it would be a good thing to try. Rodeo was kind of out of the blue for my family, it is mostly my thing really,” said the 16-year-old. His brother Tristen, 19, gave rodeo a try but it did not stick…

Meet the Member Trent Wood

story by Lindsay King Trent Wood from Portales, New Mexico, is both a header in the team roping and a tie-down roper, but is partial to team roping. “I started heading when I was probably 7, I have been doing it a lot longer than calf roping. I am probably better as a header and that is what my family spends more time on since my dad team ropes also.” The 15-year-old is the son…