Scout lives in Clarkston, Wash., in the southeastern part of the state and close to Idaho. The 13-year-old competes in breakaway roping, goat tying, and barrel racing. She got her rodeo start through her family. “My mom (Jami) and aunt, Tracy, grew up rodeoing so I was born into it. My dad (Trever) rode bulls all through high school and into his 20s.” She is an only child. “I love it. I’m the center of my parent’s world and it’s great. Sometimes I wish I had a sibling to have company, but I like it for the most part.”
She was on a horse when she was three days old and started competing in lead line events when she was four. She started with a horse that her mom grew up on, Cowboy, who turned 31 this year. “I love this way of life. It’s great to be involved in and I’m glad that I’ve picked this. The people in it are awesome.” She plays basketball and last year did track, but rodeo is what she loves the most.
There is only one other girl in Lincoln Middle School (430 students) that competes in rodeo. She just happens to be one of Scout’s best friends, Julia Reeves. Scout likes school, claiming science as her favorite subject. “I like hands on,” said the eighth grader. This will be her last year in both middle school and the junior high division of National High School rodeo. It has been a great ride so far.
At the National Junior High Finals last year in Gallup, NM, Scout roped all three of her calves in three seconds or less each and ended up fifth in the nation overall. Her horse, Yellow (registered name Continental Sun Dust), also won the 2012 National Girls AQHA Horse of the Year for points they earned while in Gallup, competing just in the breakaway roping. They bought the Palomino three years ago as an 18-year-old. Scout has made two trips to the National Jr. High Finals, traveling the 23 hours to get to Gallup with her Aunt Tracy and Uncle Jason Hammond, as well as her mom and dad. “They have a really nice living quarter trailer and they love taking me,” she said. Scout loves going too. “It’s the people and the environment – there are so many people and the competition is so tough, but I love it.” The little getaway takes three days of travel, making stops at fairgrounds along the way. “One of the places we stay is where Mom competed during her state high school finals – the state fairgrounds in Filer, Idaho.”
She is currently tied for first in the breakaway roping with her friend, Julie, and fifth in barrel racing after the fall rodeos for the state of Washington. She will have three rodeos in the spring to try to make her third trip to Gallup. She is also planning on doing the rifle shooting at the Junior High Finals this year.
She and her dad, Trever, spend October and November hunting and she has shot four deer and although she keeps trying, has not yet gotten her first elk. Once hunting season is over, she and her dad switch to snowmobiling. She rides less in the winter, opting for indoor barns and arenas that are well drained. When March comes, it’s time to get back to the riding and practice. Scout rides every day in the summer.
Scout is grateful for everyone that has supported her with the expenses of getting to rodeos and especially to her Aunt Tracy and Uncle Jason for taking her to the National Finals. “The state of Washington doesn’t have districts so we travel all over the state to rodeo. Our first rodeo is close to the coast, 7 hours away. I’m blessed to be in this way of life – everyone has each other’s backs and it’s amazing what we can accomplish together.”
About the photographer:
Roni Holder Diefenbach is Omak, Washington, is a mom and the director of an economic development association for their county. She is also a small business owner with her husband, Kevin and the mother of two children (Cayle, 18, Cayden, 14) who are active in sports. “I took it up as a hobby,” she said. “I do all my kid’s sports; my son wrestled and my daughter plays basketball, so I shoot that too. My son graduated last year and my daughter is a freshman, so I have three more years. I take pictures of different events at my work too.” She shoots a Canon SD and has about five different lenses.
