Youth will make their mark at junior rodeo

It is rodeo season, and for many local youths it is time to showcase their talent at the Junior Rodeo to be held at the Weston County Fairgrounds Saturday and Sunday. It’s an event that allows up-and-coming cowboys and cowgirls to showcase their talent, improve their skills, and hopefully walk away with some awards in hand to show for their hard work and dedication to their craft at the fair and throughout the year.

Canyon Farnsworth, a senior at Newcastle High School, will be competing in barrels, poles, and goat tying this year. Canyon prepares for the rodeos by traveling with her friends to nearby rodeos, in Sundance and Upton, and of course Newcastle’s rodeo events. She also practices tying goats with friends almost daily, as well as making a trip to the fairgrounds to work on perfecting patterns. Canyon also expressed the importance of preparing her horse by keeping the horse’s feet and teeth as clean as possible to make sure he is always comfortable.

Canyon’s sidekick in all these events is her 18-year-old horse, Sabre. He is a red roan registered quarter horse. They have been working as a team for three years now. Canyon says that she has created an amazing bond with her horse over these years of training, practicing, and just being around him.

Canyon and Sabre’s favorite event would have to be the barrel race — it keeps both of them on their toes, so to speak, as well as keeping them interested to see what will happen when the run is complete.

Practice makes perfect, right? For the Liggett twins, this is very true! Ainsley and Tavern Liggett have been dedicated to putting in the work to be successful. The twins have been participating in Weston County gymkhanas for the summer this year.

All this work has been in preparation for the Junior Rodeo coming up this weekend. The Junior Rodeo will showcase all the dedication Ainsley and Tavern have been working for throughout the summer.

However, practice is not the only reason the twins have been taking part in the gymkhanas. Ainsley states that she wanted to participate because she loves to ride her horse and she loves running on her horse.

For Tavern, though, it meant being able to rodeo at a young age and participate in events such as poles and barrels — and of course he says they are, “really, really fun!”

The twins have worked hard to compete at the gymkhanas, but they could not do it without the help of their mom, Alaina Liggett, and their cousins, Tell, Pate, Coen, and Emeree Tavegie, who are all well versed in rodeo events. They practice for events such as barrels and poles, and occasionally will compete in a flag race or other fun event selected for the gymkhana that week.

One cannot forget about their partners in crime. For Ainsley, this is her horse Maybelle, her very favorite horse. Ainsley says that Maybelle is super sweet, can be naughty sometimes, but without a doubt Maybelle takes care of Ainsley.

For Tavern, this is his horse Darlin. Tavern loves this horse because she is really nice to him and is super fun to rodeo with.

These youngsters are just a few of the contestants who will participate in the Weston County Junior Rodeo, which starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Be sure to join them and show your support.