Reigning Fifth District all-around girls' rodeo champion Haillie Taylor of Hailey will return to defend her title when the high school rodeo season opens April 16-17 at Glenns Ferry in the Snake River canyon.
The Wood River High School sophomore heads up a promising Wood River Rodeo Team that includes her team roping partner Latner Straley, a senior, along with newcomers Jared Anderson and Eli McNees, who are Hailey freshmen.
Also, the Carey Rodeo Team has two members, Taylor Castle and Danielle Hennefer, and Fairfield is sending Danielle Williams into the five-rodeo season leading up to state competition June 13 in Pocatello.
Other Fifth District rodeos are set for April 23-24 at Jerome, May 7-8 at Shoshone and May 14-15 for the Senior Home Rodeo at Blaine County Fairgrounds in Carey. District competition is May 28-29 at Gooding.
There are 65 competitors in the district, 28 boys and 37 girls. Since there are few seniors, just 10, organizers expect a competitive year in a district that ranges north of the Snake River, from Glenns Ferry and King Hill to Hailey and Ketchum.
Fifth District cow cuttings are scheduled for April 13 in Declo, plus April 27 and May 11 at the Shu-Fly.
Now a Wood River High sophomore, Taylor won last year's all-around buckle 245-229 over reserve champion Valene Lickley of Valley. Qualifying for state in five events, Taylor won Rookie of the Year, too.
Taylor, riding her new horse Kitty, is currently ranked second in girls' cow cutting after the March 30 event at Shane Prescott's. In that competition, Jerome's Katie Sparks nipped Taylor in both go-rounds, 70-69 and 71-68. Jessica Lancaster of Jerome came in third in each heat.
Besides his team roping assignment with Taylor, Wood River's Straley will compete in calf roping on his new horse Copper that he trained for his senior project this year. Both Taylor and Straley hope to return to the state competition in Pocatello.
Hot shots Anderson and McNees will be team roping together. They have competed in rodeos around the Wood River and Magic Valley area.
