New Mexico High School Rodeo Association (NMHSRA) Archives

Associations

New Mexico High School Rodeo Association (NMHSRA)

Members

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…

Meet the Member Natalie Larabee

story by Lindsay King At 16 years old, Natalie Larabee is the youngest of four – Emily, 25, Morgan, 20, and Lindsey, 21. She’s also the only one of her siblings who got serious about rodeo. “When I was little I can remember always going to small rodeos with my family. My dad has always owned horses and roped a little, but nobody in my family has ever competed at the level that I do.…

Meet the Member Hadlee Oder

story by Lindsay King Hadlee Oder was born with a rope in his hands and he still hasn’t put it down. That’s no matter for this NMHSRA swap-end team roper with a side hustle in the calf roping, he wouldn’t want it any other way. Team roping is his favorite event, hands down. “It’s just always something I’ve enjoyed a little more. I think the heeling part is the most fun. I’ve always done it…

Meet the Member Gage Bruhn

story by Lindsay King Shooting rifles and roping steers: two things Gage Bruhn has done his entire life. Both are events he competes in with the NMHSRA. This Logan, New Mexico, native grew up on a ranch riding, roping and shooting rifles. “Ever since I first started competing in the sixth grade, I don’t think I have missed a rodeo since then,” said the high school senior. “We run a cattle ranch with black Angus…

Meet the Member Siera Bradford-Green

story by Lindsay King A helicopter touched down in the center of a roping pen near Quemado, New Mexico, on Sept. 19, 2019. It’s passenger? 18-year-old Siera Bradford-Green. The roper was awake and alert, but she was strapped to a stretcher and flown to a hospital in Albuquerque. “I don’t remember what happened, but my family said I was uncinching my horse in the box when something spooked him,” said the high school senior. A…