National High School Finals Rodeo

When faced with the possibility of not being able to defend her 2002 National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR) championship, South Dakota cowgirl Jessica Painter's faith kept her hopes up as she left the fate of her injured champion pole bending horse, "Blue," up to God. Following seven days and six evenings of rodeo action July 21-27, champions were crowned in 12 events following the NHSFR's short-round competition, held Sunday afternoon, July 27, in Farmington, N.M. A total of 1,516 contestants competed throughout the week, with 1,893 total recorded entries.

The two states again battled it to the end during the National Queen contest, with the two girls representing the "Beehive" and "Lone Star" states tying for the Miss Natonal High School Rodeo Queen title. A tie-breaker judge gave the nod to Lynette Nelson of North Logan, Utah, with Courtney Elizabeth Scott, Raymondville, Texas, to serve as the first alternate to the new Miss NHSRA. Consistency paves the road to Paradise for Utah cowgirl
Consistency (performance and soundness-wise) would have to be the biggest key to the high school rodeo success of Jackie Dannelly, Enterprise, Utah, and her 17-year-old barrel racing partner, Toby, registered as Paradise Elite. Jackie and Toby, by Paradise Bay and out of Chantilly Twist by Barjo Twist, have won two NHSFR barrel racing championships (2001 and 2003) and one reserve championship (2000) during Jackie's four-year high school career. In addition to the two championship and reserve titles, the pair also placed third in the 2002 NHSFR, and have won the Utah High School Rodeo Association State Finals four times.

Having graduated this spring, Jackie will attend Southern Utah State University in Cedar City, Utah, where she has been offered a rodeo scholarship. She and Toby will continue their successful partnership as they begin their college rodeo career. Another key to Toby's barrel racing success has been the gelding's consistent soundness. "He's a good, sound and healthy horse and he's big and strong, which I think is a lot of it," said Jackie.

Just as a number of other NHSFR contestants do, Jackie comes from a rodeo background. Her mother, Shauna, is a barrel racer and currently runs Toby in the WPRA Wilderness Circuit, and Jackie's father, Dwight, is a former bull and saddle bronc rider and also team roped. Jackie's older sister, Kristy, 24, is a four-time NHSFR qualifier, and her brother, Kelby, 22, is a former Utah High School Rodeo State Finals calf roping and team roping qualifier. Aside from running barrels, Jackie also competes in the goat tying and breakaway roping, and looks forward to competing in the team roping event.

Jessica Painter sealed her pole bending average victory by running the fastest short-go time of 19.759.

Jessica Painter, Buffalo, S.D., accomplished just that riding her 15-year-old blue roan Quarter Horse gelding, Driftwood Mort, by Bluechip Driftwood out of Minnie Black by Eddie 40, better recognized in rodeo circles as "Blue." The pair successfully defended their 2002 Pole Bending Championship, as well as repeating a second-place finish in the Girls All-Around race. Blue was chosen as the runner-up Girl's AQHA Horse of the Year, an honor the gelding took home in 2002. Just three weeks before the 2003 South Dakota High School Rodeo State Finals, Blue pulled a stifle while competing in a high school region rodeo. The veterinarians who examined Blue predicted that Jessica wouldn't be able to run the gelding for at least a couple of months. Disappointed, Jessica did the only thing she could do.

"I left it all up to God," she said.

After having been turned out to pasture for a week and a half of rest, Blue became sound enough that Jessica was able to go back to running him.

"He's got lots of heart," Jessica said.

As one of a handful of returning NHSFR champions, Jessica didn't feel the usual pressure in having to defend a title.

"I think I should have felt more pressure, but I just thought it was fun," she said. Although she turned 18 last January, Jessica decided to high school rodeo and compete in open competitions before she goes pro. With the Rookie-of-the-Year title in mind, Jessica will wait until the new season begins to buy her WPRA permit.

Jessica is the oldest child of Joe (a College National Finals Champion team roper) and Cindy Painter. She has a 16-year-old brother, P.J., who won the South Dakota High School Steer Wrestling State Championship in 2003, and a sister, Joey, 12, who is currently traveling to a number of barrel racing events with her big sister.

"She wins more than I do," Jessica proudly stated.

Mississippi cowgirl takes All-Around Championship back east
Cassie Stockstill, 17, was proud to take the NHSFR Girl's All-Around Championship back east across the Mississippi to her home in Mendenhall, Miss. The 2003 NHSFR marked Cassie's second time to qualify for the elite competition. However, this year's competition marked Cassie's horse, Docs Bit Of A Legend's fifth trip to the NHSFR. "Hawk," as the 12-year-old son of Prescription Bee out of Girlish Vision by Vester Vision is nicknamed, carried Cassie to two NHSFR qualifications and Cassie's older sister, Lacie, to three. In addition to multiple NHSFR qualifications, Hawk was also an AQHA Youth World Show qualifier with Cassie's older sister astride, and he and Cassie qualified for their first National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA) Youth World Show this year, which was held in August in Jackson, Miss. The pair placed 21st in the Teen 1D finals. Hawk is also special in that he's a diversified athlete. Qualified for Nationals in both the barrel racing and pole bending events, Hawk and Cassie placed second in the pole bending average and fourth in the barrels. At their state competition, Cassie and Hawk won the barrel racing championship and placed second in the poles.

Cassie considers pole bending to be Hawk's best event. Although she was pleased with their second-place finish in the average, Cassie said the pair's 20.16-second short-go run wasn't "as good as I wanted it to be."

"I kind of saftied up a bit. I knew that we had to have a clean run," said Cassie. Hawk possesses the same personality characteristics as many of the other champion riders' mounts have - a lot of curiosity and a real craving for attention.

"He'll do anything to get it (your attention)," said Cassie. Maintaining locks on all the gates are mandatory with these inquisitive creatures, who have a real talent at "escaping" through an unlocked stall or gate.

Cassie's role model has been Angie Barnard, who taught Cassie to ride and with whom she's been riding with since she was 5. Cassie and her sister purchased Hawk from Angie when the gelding was just 3.

Cassie and Lacie are the daughters of David, an engineer for Ducks Unlimited, and Dee Stockstill.