There’s no let down for even the best high school cowgirl in Kansas.
“Beau’s out riding horses; it’ll be probably be noon or so before she gets back in.”
Mom Dustin Peterson answered the phone mid-Monday morning verifying her daughter was already on horseback.
That was after just the afternoon before being named the all-around cowgirl in the Kansas High School Rodeo Association.
“Oh yeah, there’s always plenty to do. When one rodeo is over, it’s time to get ready for the next. Every day is different,” Beau Peterson, 17, said.
Awards were presented as climax of the KHSRA Finals in June at Star Arena near Mulvane.
Despite obvious work ethic and love for her sport, the champion admitted, “I was pretty excited to see hard work pay off with my final placings.”
Not only did the recent Council Grove High School honor graduate claim the all-around title, she won three yearend event titles.
Ranking first in breakaway roping, goat tying and pole bending, Beau was especially pleased to be fourth in barrel racing.
“I had a good cushion in the three events, but there’ve been some issues with my barrel horse this year. So, I’m really happy to qualify for nationals in that event, too,” she admitted.
The National High School Finals Rodeo is July 15 to 21, at Sweet Water Event Center in Rock Springs, Wyoming.
“I’m making plans getting my horses ready for that big rodeo. This will be my last opportunity there so I sure want to finish high in the standings, in every event,” Beau stated.
There were 20 high school rodeos in Kansas during the past 2017-18 season. Contestants’ highest placing scores in 13 rodeos were tallied to qualify for the recent state finals.
Admitting that year-end rodeo may not have been as strong as hoped, Beau placed in certain go-rounds of each event.
Rodeo has been the life for the teenage cowgirl.
“I’ve been competing ever since I can remember in all different levels, and done pretty well,” Beau said. Actually, top titles have been collected throughout her young arena career.
It’s not been an easy trail as might initially seem. “My family has been a great part of all this. I really appreciate everything my dad Matt, my mom and my sister Michaela have always done for me,” Beau acknowledged.
“Dad especially helps me with my horses, riding and roping,” Beau said. “Mom is important for the positive mental side of competing and making sure everything is ready for a rodeo. Michaela is always anxious to help in any way.”
Horsepower is a main ingredient to such arena successes. “I’m fortunate to have four outstanding horses that I take to every rodeo, one for each event,” Beau said.
Not wanting to be prejudice, her favorite might be the 23-year-old chestnut gelding called Zanny. “He’s an all-around family horse we’ve had since he was two,” Beau credited. “I learned to rope on him, he can really do anything. But, now as he’s older, I just use him in goat tying.”
For breakaway roping, Beau rides the 11-year-old bay gelding called Hustler. “I’ve had him five years, he’s really good in the box and puts me right there every time,” she credited.
“Both my pole and barrel horses are leased from a couple in Oklahoma,” Beau said. “I really appreciate the opportunity to ride their great horses.”
Annie is the 19-year-old bay mare Beau competes on in pole bending. “She’s a phenomenal barrel horse, too, but I only want to ride her in one event,” the cowgirl credited.
Faith is the seven-year-old bay mare Beau rides in barrel racing.
“I spend time daily exercising and conditioning my own horses as well as the ones I ride from Marc and Kim Harland,” Beau explained.
Practice makes perfect in the roping pen and tying goats. “I rope the dummy daily and we rope our calves in the Council Grove arena once a week,” Beau said.
“I’ve been trying to get Dad to build us our own arena, but that’s not happened yet,” she added.
Throwing and tying a goat is a daily training regimen as well.
Busy enough maybe, Beau is also called into action working in cattle operations of the family’s Hinchman Ranch. “I really enjoy doing that, too,” she said. “I team rope sometimes, but not really that much.”
A leader in school and youth agriculture groups, Beau also stars on the basketball court earning conference first team honors. “Basketball fits well into my winter schedule when I’m not going to as many rodeos,” she noted.
Arena accomplishments have earned Beau a rodeo scholarship to attend Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Oklahoma.
“They really have a great rodeo team with outstanding coaches,” she said. “I think it’ll be a perfect fit for me with the smaller classes giving me time to rodeo and still keep up my grades.”
She’ll be majoring in nursing. “I’ve always wanted to help others,” Beau said.
However, the champion contended, “Rodeo is still what I want to do. It just excites me. I love competing and intend to keep participating in rodeos whatever road my life takes.”
CUTLINES
Beau Peterson, Council Grove, dismounts from Zanny in the goat tying competition at a Kansas High School Rodeo in Hill City, Kansas. (Courtesy photo by Jeff Frazell.)
Championship form is apparent as Beau Peterson, Council Grove, Kansas, competes in barrel racing on Faith at Hutchinson, Kansas. (Courtesy photo by Fessler.)
Hustler takes Beau Peterson, Council Grove, Kansas, to an award winning run in breakaway roping at a Kansas High School Rodeo in Lakin, Kansas. (Courtesy photo by Jeff Frazell.)
The 19-year-old bay mare called Annie took Beau Peterson, Council Grove, Kansas, through the pole bending class to collect points at the Kansas High School Rodeo in Hill City, Kansas. (Courtesy photo by Jeff Frazell.)
