Now, Kristin Shoppa can be added to the elite list. She won the Texas High School Rodeo Association barrel racing title at the state finals in June. The Decatur cowgirl won the coveted buckle in Abilene and will now compete at the 61st annual National High School Rodeo Association's finals July 19-25 in Farmington, N.M.
The 16-year-old took the lead at state in the first around and ended the state finals with a total time of 49.51 seconds. The title did not come easy as she competed against 100 other barrel racers representing 10 different regions throughout Texas.
Along with barrel racing, the THSRA finals also included bareback riding, boys cutting, bull riding, calf roping, breakaway roping, girls' cutting, goat tying, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling and team roping.
Shoppa is a student at Laurel Springs, a college preparatory private school.
