Freshmen off to national rodeo competition

DAVENPORT - Davenport High School will send two freshmen to the High School Rodeo National Competition in Gillette, Wyo., this Saturday, July 15.

Addie Schneider, 15, of Davenport, placed third at the state competition for cutting in March and will be accompanied by fellow ninth-grader Elly Bageant, who also qualified for the national competition.

The Top 4 in every event qualify for nationals.

"I am nervous, but I am also excited. I want to have a good time," Schneider said.

She rides with a good friend, "Scoot," her 14-year-old horse that placed second at the state event.

"We get along really well. There are some cute pictures of her staring down the calf," she said.

Schneider has competed with Scoot for approximately four months.

The first-place winner at the National Competition of 2023 will receive a saddle, and the Top 10 receive buckles.

Schneider competes in several rodeo events, including barrel racing, breakaway roping and pole bending.

While she qualified for nationals in cutting this year, she hopes to return to nationals next year in other categories.

"My day for the rodeo starts at 4:30-5 a.m. every morning," she said, noting she has been cutting for about a year. "Barrels are first, and the rodeo starts at 8 a.m."

"I used to do a little bit about it, and I got really into it this year and cut consistently. They have a herd of calves in an arena, and you cut one calf out of the crowd. As best as you can, you work that calf with your feet," Schneider said. "Basically, if you pick your hand up, you lose a point."

Schneider said anyone wanting to compete in a high school rodeo should try it.

"You have to have your own horse," she said. "Just don't put too much pressure on yourself and try to have fun."

Schneider previously competed at the Silver State competition in 2022 for the Top 25 in the state per event.

She says her biggest cheerleaders through every event are her mom, dad and brother.

"I also really want to thank Clear Cut Horsemanship for helping out," she said.