New Mexico High School Rodeo Association (NMHSRA) Archives

Associations

New Mexico High School Rodeo Association (NMHSRA)

Members

Meet the Member Dalli Cain

story by Lindsay Humphrey If you’ve been at the last few NHSRA finals, then you’ve likely either seen or heard the talent of Dalli Cain from Mountainair, New Mexico. She’s helped start the rodeo by playing the National Anthem on her fiddle. More than just talented with a fiddle, Dalli is also deadly accurate with a rifle. She took fourth in the nation in the light rifle at the 2021 NHSRA finals. “I blew my…

Meet the Member Gabriella Pargas

story by Lindsay Humphrey Very few people get the opportunity to compete on their childhood unicorn through high school rodeo. But that’s exactly the case for Gabriella Pargas of Grants, New Mexico, and her mare, Popcorn. “We bought Popcorn when she was a 3-year-old and I was also three at the time,” said the now 18-year-old. “We’ve pretty much taught each other everything we know. I still compete on her in the poles and she’s…

Meet the Member Tekota Lumpkin

story by Lindsay Humphrey Long-time baseball veteran, Tekota Lumpkin is a senior at Los Lunas High School and a rookie in the NMHSRA. He traded in his mitt for a different kind of glove, one that slides into a suitcase handle on the back of a bronc. “I never got as much adrenaline from playing baseball as I do in rodeo,” said the 18-year-old. “The moment I got on my first wild bronc, that feeling…

Meet the Member Clate Harwell

story by Lindsay Humphrey “I’m an action guy. I like a good adrenaline rush and having fun,” said 18-year-old Clate Harwell. “The first time I jumped a steer, I was hooked.” Partial to the skills and technique required of a good dismount, calf roping is also a favorite event for Clate. “Calves were the first thing I learned to rope, so I grew up doing that. I enjoy the timing and technique of the event.…

Meet the Member Dorien Henio

story by Lindsay Humphrey The moment Dorien Henio steps foot on rodeo ground, the world and all its chaos melts away. Dorien’s at his best when he’s loaded in a chute or mounted on a horse. Even though the 18-year-old is in his rookie season with the NMHSRA, he was born with strong ties to rodeo. He’s now a fourth-generation bull rider. “Riding bulls is in my bloodline. Everyone around me has or is riding…

Meet the Member Dakota Johnson

story by Lindsay Humphrey Although the COVID-19 pandemic is devastating, it has brought about some good. For Dakota Johnson of Veguita, New Mexico, it was the idea of homeschooling. “My parents (Richard and Rebekha) finally let me stay home and do school. It’s saved us a lot of heartache and time. I put my time in at school and then I practice as much as I want to. I love it because I get to…

Meet the Member Lindsay Tibbs

story by Lindsay Humphrey As the heat turns up on the sport of breakaway roping nationwide, so does Lindsay Tibbs’ consistency in the event in the NMHSRA. She’s starting to get her skills honed it and really enjoying her time in the booming calf roping event. “I really love roping, but I also love my other events (barrels and poles) too, but breakaway is my favorite,” said the 16-year-old. “All the other events rely heavily…

Meet the Member Payton McNiel

story by Lindsay Humphrey “I’ve tried other events, but I really like barrel racing. It’s where my heart is,” said 17-year-old Payton McNiel. “I’d rather work barrels on young horses all the time than breakaway rope for an hour.” Three barrels equals three chances for success in Payton’s mind. The only variables she focuses on in her favorite event have minds of their own but synch up perfectly when they barrel down the alley together.…

Meet the Member Sterlin Mitchell

story by Lindsay Humphrey When Sterlin Mitchell heard his named called as the Rookie All-Around Cowboy at the 2020 National High School Finals Rodeo, he was more than surprised. “I was just standing down with the other kids at the awards and I didn’t think anything of it when they started announcing the all-around awards. When they announced my name, I had no idea it was coming,” said the 15-year-old. The first time Sterlin was…

Meet the Member Shacie Marr

story by Lindsay Humphrey Coming out of the fall rodeo season, Shacie Marr was leading the barrel racing. However, she wasn’t doing quite as well in her other events: poles, goat tying, team roping and breakaway. “I was planning to come back from the fall and do better. My breakaway horse got hurt last semester, so I was using my sister’s horse,” said the Tularosa, New Mexico, cowgirl. As the reigning state champion barrel racer,…

Meet the Member Sage Bennett

story by Lindsay Humphrey “We didn’t realize the last rodeo of the fall season in Artesia would be my very last high school rodeo ever,” said Sage Bennett from Capitan, New Mexico. Sage managed to leave it all out in Artesia’s arena by not only catching her calf both days in the breakaway and winning both rounds, but she also won the average. “I usually do well in the first round and then freak myself…

Meet the Member Makayla Henson

story by Lindsay King No matter the number of steps propelling her backward, Makayla Henson knows the step forward will always be bigger. It’s this sage advice that has gotten the 16-year-old from Belen, New Mexico, through the highs and lows of both life and rodeo. “My parents (Abe and Christine) competed in rodeo when they were younger, so it was in my blood. They took a break from it for a bit and when…