Cowgirls get ‘er done

Competing in the National Junior High Finals Rodeo is the stuff that young cowgirls’ dreams are made of, and three Weston County girls got to realize that dream this year when Joslyn Pischke, Kaylee Lambert and Emeree Tavegie rode in the event in Des Moines, Iowa on June 23-29.

Pischke and Lambert competed as members of the South Dakota National Junior High rodeo team, and Tavegie was on the Wyoming team. Pischke and Lambert took state titles at the South Dakota rodeo in goat tying and barrel racing, respectively, and Tavegie took fourth at the Wyoming rodeo in both poles and breakaway roping. For the NJHFR, Pischke competed in goat tying, Lambert in barrel racing and Tavegie in both poles and breakaway roping.

“It meant a lot to me because this is one of the smaller steps to my larger goal of winning a world title in goat tying. … After I made my run, I felt pretty confident,” Pischke said of her win at State.

Before heading off to the national finals, Pischke said she was “super excited to go down there and show everyone what I can do,” and she came in 22nd in goat tying overall. Her horse was also 22nd for American Quarter Horse Association Girls Horse of the Year. Joslyn loves the bonding with her rodeo team and her horse.

“I love being out there with my horse and competing in the events,” Pischke said.

The opportunity to go to the nationals is a pretty big deal, but Pischke’s rodeo career began when she was very young. She always rode horses and competed in gymkhanas, but said she began taking it more seriously when she was 9 or 10.

Jill, Pischke’s mom, said that watching her daughter’s passion for rodeo has been amazing.

“It’s exciting to see all the hard work, the hours, years …, her dedication to that process, to see it pay off for her has been pretty exciting to watch,” Jill said.

Tavegie expressed similar sentiments, and said being named a qualifier for nationals was a “lifelong goal.”

“There are really no words to describe how I feel. When I heard my name being called out for the qualifying contestants, I felt many things and had accomplished a lifelong goal,” Tavegie said. “I am honored and proud to represent Wyoming. It just makes me happy to be able to keep rodeoing, and it is so neat to be able to do it as a part of our state team.”

Tavegie placed fifth overall in pole bending, and it was a fitting reward for a rodeo career that began when she was about 5 years old and won her first buckle in mutton busting.

“I love rodeo so much because of the people and community that you are getting to spend time with. The energy at the rodeos is like nothing you can imagine,” Tavegie said. “I also know, though, that I would not have been able to do any of this without my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

“I’m very excited for her and all the kids. They work hard and make a huge commitment when they do rodeo,” said Kelli, Tavegie’s mom.

Lambert also took satisfaction in being rewarded for a lifetime of effort, and said that her state title was one of her biggest accomplishments so far. She also expressed her excitement to perform at the national level and said she was grateful for the opportunity to compete in the NJHFR.

Growing up on a ranch, Lambert naturally rode horses, and her mom, Kerri, said that Lambert would just keep riding until she made her stop.

Kerri laughed.

“We had to decide when it was time to stop,” she said.

Lambert says she loves the sport of rodeo, and the support she receives from family and friends, but she also appreciates setting goals and the personal growth she is attaining.

“It helps me in the long run to become a better person. It just teaches you to be a fair winner, a fair loser, and be good to your friends, also while you are competing against them,” Lambert  said.

“All the Weston County girls did great,” Kelli Tavegie said.