Hattie Haynes, a senior at Hydro-Eakly High School, said rodeo has been a part of her family for a few generations.
“My dad was a professional bareback rider, and my mom team roped and barrel raced,” Haynes said. “My older sister, Melissa, competed in barrel racing, pole bending, breakaway roping and goat tying. Many of my aunts, uncles and cousins rodeoed as well.”
Before Haynes was old enough to compete, she was at a rodeo every weekend watching her sister compete. By the time she was 3 years old, she could ride a horse on her own.
When she was 5 years old, her parents entered her in her first rodeo, and she competed in barrel racing, pole bending and goat undercoating.
Haynes now competes in goat tying and breakaway roping. However, she used to compete in barrel racing and pole bending as well. She has won thousands of dollars rodeoing.
Haynes’s favorite event is goat tying. She said she loves the thrill and adrenaline rush it brings.
Haynes said she has many memories that she will forever cherish, but her most memorable rodeo was the 2017 National Junior High Finals Rodeo in Lebanon, Tennessee. Nationals is a huge rodeo where 49 states, six Canadian provinces and Australia battle it out for National individual and team titles.
“A tropical storm from a hurricane came through and flooded the place,” Haynes said. “We had to compete in about 3 feet of mud, but I sure got some cool pictures out of it though. They take the Top 20 in each event to the short round. I ended up qualifying in 19th place. I won fourth in the short round, which helped me climb up to finish eighth place in the nation. It was such a fun week, despite the weather, and I met so many amazing people I am still friends with to this day.”
Haynes said rodeo has taught her many lessons that she can use inside and outside the arena.
“Rodeo has taught me how to win humbly and lose graciously,” she said. “It has taught me the importance of sportsmanship, lending a helping hand, and working hard. It has taught me discipline, perseverance and how to get back up no matter how hard I have been knocked down. It has taught me how to be responsible and the importance of taking care of what takes care of me.”
After graduating from Hydro-Eakly High School in May, Haynes will compete with Vernon College Rodeo in Vernon, Texas, and when she finishes college, she plans on professionally rodeoing.
Haynes will compete in Weatherford Saturday and Sunday at the the Oklahoma High School Rodeo. She will be competing in breakaway and roping.
Haynes said she is excited to be rodeoing in her hometown. She has been practicing every day and making sure she and her horses are all healthy and in good shape.