By Deb Kroon
Review Staff Writer
Three and one half miles to the east of Ellsworth you can find the Steve and Bridgett Hinrichs farm. Along with raising three children, Paige (17), Tanner (14) and Kiana (7), Steve and Bridgett care for fifteen horses. They have a love for rodeos that they have passed on to the three younger Hinrichs. Both parents participated in rodeos in past years and they keep in practice by working with their kids.
Out of the fifteen horses found on the farm, thirteen are ridden, although not every day, confessed Bridgett. They have their favorites. For 7 year old Kiana the horse she claims as her own is a fifteen year old mare named Henny Penny. Paige claims Big Joe while Tanner rides Rebel, both geldings. The Hinrichs take four horses to rodeos with them. The fourth horse is a gelding named Armani. Both Paige and Tanner ride him, depending on the event.
Paige and Tanner have been entering rodeos since they were thirteen and ten respectively, and this is Kiana’s first year. The two older Hinrichs tried the High School Rodeo Association for a year, but they didn’t really care for the format, so they joined the Little Britches Rodeo Association. “This Association is more feasible,” Bridgett explained. “We told the kids if they put their whole heart into it, they’d get back something more.” That’s exactly what they have done.
Founded in 1952, the National Little Britches Rodeo Association (NLBRA) is a youth rodeo organization for kids 5 – 18 year of age. Over 500 sanctioned rodeos are held in 33 states, which provides NLBRA members plenty of opportunities to earn points and qualify for the National Finals Rodeo. More than 2,600 kids compete in NLBRA rodeos each year. In 2018, the Lazy E Ranch located in Guthrie, OK hosted the Nationals. In 2017 alone, 1,167 contestants competed for awards and college scholarships that were available during the week long competition, making it the largest youth rodeo under one roof in the world.
In July, the Hinrichs loaded their four horses and headed to the Lazy E Ranch, where they attended the Little Britches Rodeo Finals. “We checked in on Monday, July 9th, and had to attend a group meeting and took state pictures,” explained Bridgett. Then the competitions began.
In order to qualify for Nationals, a competitor has to place five times in the top seven places in each event they enter. Paige, who participates in the Senior Girls Division (14 – 18 years old), qualified for Cloverleaf Barrel racing, Pole Bending, Goat Tying, Breakaway Roping, Team Roping and Dally Ribbon Roping. She rides Big Joe for the barrel, pole and roping events. Tanner, who competed in the Junior Boys Division, qualified in Flag Roping, Goat Tying, Breakaway Roping, Team Roping and Dally Ribbon Roping. He rides Rebel for Breakaway and Team Roping. Both of them ride Armani for Goat Tying and Flag Racing. Kiana, competed in the Little Wrangler events (ages 5-8). She qualified in Cloverleaf Barrel Racing, Pole Bending, Flag Racing and Goat Untying. In the older groups, in the Goat Tying race, the contestants have to chase down the goat and tie it up. In the younger group, the goat is already tied, they are timed untying the goat, it’s somewhat easier.
Points are awarded in each event according to what place you earn during the competition. You are allowed two go rounds (chances) to better your times. The top ten of your points from throughout the year are added to your national points and the top ten competitors return on Sunday for the “short-go”. Also included in the short-go are the top ten competitors from the past week (just national points), so there are twenty competitors in the short-go competition.
Since it was Kiana’s first year in Little Wranglers, she wasn’t eligible to move on to short-go. She had a great year and will be looking forward to next year.
Paige placed 7th in Breakaway Roping in the first go round and she made it in to the short-go in Breakaway. She received a buckle in the first go round, but didn’t have enough points to earn one in the short-go. At the end of the competition she had enough points to take 4th in All Around in the finals and received a buckle for her performance. She also took home 5th place in the World Buckle Breakaway Roping.
Tanner placed 3rd in Team Roping in the second go round, and along with his partner received a buckle. He received a buckle for his 6th place finish in the Goat Tying and came home with a pair of spurs. To end the week, Tanner ended up 4th in All Around in the finals in Goat Tying and received a buckle. He also got 4th in the World Buckle Goat Tying.
All in all it was a great week for the Hinrichs kids. If they had gained nothing else, during Nationals, they had the chance to compete in a tough rodeo. It was a great experience for them and they had the opportunity to meet kids from all over the United States. They are all looking forward to the chance to return to Nationals next year. Things will be a little different for Tanner as he will move up to the Senior Boys Division. Paige has one more year in the senior division and Kiana will have one more year in Little Wranglers.
If you have any interest in competing in a rodeo, be sure to check out the NLBRA’s website.
