Lake Hamilton honor graduate Jessica Rowland earned the top spot in the Senior Girls division in the national radio competition this summer in Pueblo, Colo.
Rowland, a 2014 honor graduate from Lake Hamilton High School, is the daughter of Keith and Nancy Rowland.
Rowland took first place in the All-Around standings and won the Goat Tying competition at the 2014 National Little Britches Rodeo Association Finals held in Pueblo July 21-26. Each award included a championship saddle.
Along with the championships, Rowland earned 12 trophy belt buckles, three pair of trophy spurs and five college scholarships. She competed in speed and roping events using one horse, Strubo, at the Little Britches Rodeo.
Strubo was born and raised at the family's farm in Bonnerdale. She helped train him to perform in a wide variety of events. Strubo was named the Purina Super Horse at the 2012 National Little Britches Rodeo.
Rowland began her career with local horse shows in the area, and as her techniques and experiences increased, she began to venture further to compete and increase her skills. She began by competing in barrel racing, pole bending, barrel pick-up and flags. She later developed an interest in roping.
Her father and uncle were team roping on their farms, Since they both liked being the heeler, Jessica was called upon to join them as their header. She practiced her roping skills and began to compete in break away roping and goat tying events.
Rowland joined the Little Britches Association in 2007 and has competed in their national competition rodeo for several years. She joined the High School Rodeo Association three years ago. She has qualified once in pole bending and twice in goat tying the past two years for the National High School Finals Rodeo.
The Rowland family left on July 5 to compete at three championship rodeos. The first competition was the International Final Youth Rodeo in Shawnee, Oklah. The next stop was Rock Springs, Wyo., for the National High School Rodeo Finals. They left Wyoming and traveled to Pueblo the National Little Britches Rodeo.
Colleges from Oklahoma, Texas and Missouri offered her scholarships and incentives to attend and participate on their rodeo teams, but she has chosen to attend the University of Arkansas at Monticello to be a member of their rodeo team.
School on 08/31/2014