Members of the Decatur rodeo team competed in high school rodeos the past two weekends.

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Kristin shoppa. Get used to that name because she is quickly make some waves on the national rodeo curcuit, and she is back at it this week. The Dcatur girl finished sixth in barrel racing in the
first go at the national high school finals rodeo in farmington new mexico this week. There are 165 high school barrel racers from as far away as australia and canada. Shoppa runs her second go friday morning.
Earlier this month, Shoppa won the Texas High School Rodeo Association barrel racing title at the state finals in June. The cowgirl won the coveted buckle in Abilene to earn the right to compete at the 61st annual National High School Rodeo Association’s finals which run through July 25.

Local Paint Horse youth competitor Tanner Baker of Alvord captured a World Championship title recently at the 2009 Summer World Championship Paint Horse Show. The show, held in Fort Worth June 24 through July 4, is one of the American Paint Horse Association’s (APHA) premier events.
Baker captured the Championship in Youth Goat Tying 13 & Under showing Watch Me Paint, a 20-year-old gelding owned by his rider. In the class, contestants are timed on their ability to tie three legs of a goat, which is tied to a stake in the center of the arena. Baker bested a field of five for the win.
Youth are classified as competitors aged 18 and under who are required to show a self- or family-owned horse.

Stevi Jay Roubion of Paradise captured two World Championship titles at the 2009 Summer World Championship Paint Horse Show.
Roubion claimed the Championships in Amateur Goat Tying and Amateur Heading showing Little Joe Black, a 10-year-old gelding owned by Steve and Sondra Roubion. The pair bested fields of seven and 24, respectively.
Amateurs are competitors age 19 and over. They are required to show a self- or family-owned horse and cannot show, ride, judge or train horses for payment.

Jack Waggoner of Bridgeport captured the Championship in Amateur Cutting showing Cats Illusion, a 6-year-old stallion owned by Jack and Susan Waggoner. In the class, horses must calmly enter a herd of cattle, drive and separate a single cow then keep it from re-entering the herd. This is repeated until time runs out. Jack bested a field of 19 for the win.

Here’s an update on Kristin Shoppa’s results from the state rodeo finals we received today:

Kristin Shoppa, a 16-year-old high school sophomore of Decatur, Texas won the State Championship title for the Barrel Racing event. The Texas High School Rodeo Association state finals were held in Abilene on June 21, 2009 including events for bareback, boys cutting, bull riding, calf roping, barrel racing, breakaway, girls cutting, goat tying, saddle bronc, steer wrestling and team roping.
Kristin took the lead with 1st Place on the 1st Go and ended the competition with a total time of 49.51 and 60 points. Kristin represented Region 3 before taking the State title. There were 100 girls in the Barrel Race with 10 young ladies representing 10 different regions around the State.
In addition to the title, Kristin won a saddle and a buckle. She will now be competing in the 61st Annual National High School Rodeo Association and the world’s largest national finals to be held in Farmington, New Mexico July 19th–25th. Currently she attends Laurel Springs, a college prepratory private school.

Here’s an update we received from Janie Shoppa regarding the Texas High School Rodeo Finals:
Texas High School Rodeo Association finals in Abilene, Tx. Kristin Shoppa won the 1st go in barrel racing and Clayton Shaw won the 1st go in calf roping. The 2nd go begins Thursday morning and finals are Saturday.