Rodeo contestant sells clothing
RED BLUFF » Anyone who has been around youth rodeo knows the name of Red Bluff’s Kamish Wagner, but her name has gone beyond Tehama County with the launching of her own clothing line: Girl Kurl.
The Red Bluff High School student, daughter of Jerritt and Adrienne Wagner, was inspired to create the line after an experience in 2013 at the National Finals Rodeo World Championship Dummy Roping, where she clinched her fourth world title.
Each letter in the GIRL KURL acronym stands for something: Glory, Intrepid, Redemption, Loyalty, Keen, Unshakable, Revolutionary and Legacy.
“It’s all about the Girl Kurl Creed ( for the female ropers), which is glory is only achieved through hard work and determination,” Kamish Wagner said. “It’s an intrepid mindset that will remind you of the skills you possess in moments of redemption. Your loyalty and dedication to the sport and keen sense of integrity in and outside of the arena will make you unshakable. For it’s the daily commitment and passion that will make you the revolutionary female roper you aspire to be and a legacy to all.”
Prior to COVID- 19, Wagner was selling her merchandise at local youth rodeo events, but the brand, which was trademarked in 2019, has taken off. Girl Kurl has been sold in Hawaii, North Carolina and Montana, Adrienne Wagner said.
“It feels good to see people wearing Girl Kurl because it means they support females to be strong in the world of roping and rodeo,” Kamish Wagner said. “The Girl Kurl creed and the strength words behind the acronym of GIRL KURL are what drives me to work hard at roping and rodeo not only to achieve my goals but to also inspire females of all ages to believe in the power of their GIRL KURL.”
An avid rodeo athlete, Wagner has earned the CHSRA District 1 Reserve Rookie All Around Cowgirl and in 2019 qualified for the California High School Rodeo State Finals in the Team Roping, Breakaway Roping and Goat Tying.
Rodeo is comes natural to her, having been born into a rodeo and team roping family, Wagner said.
“My mom and dad made sure that I was swinging a rope and entered in my first dummy roping event at only 14 months old and I had started riding a horse even before I was born while my mom continued to rope and ride,” Wagner said. “As a little girl I was and still am shy, however, when I have a rope in my hand, I am able to overcome my shyness. It was at 4 years old when I started roping off of a horse and then turned steers for my dad at 5 years old and although I had a love for roping, my passion truly ignited when I won my first National Finals Rodeo Girls World Championship Dummy Roping Title as a 4- year- old cowgirl, where I finished seventh against the boys division. My hard work and dedication in developing the curl in my loop had paid forward and sparked my interest even more to continue working daily on my roping skills.”
The story of the clothing line began in 2013 with her fourth girls world title, something that had never been done in the history of the event, at the National Finals Rodeo World Championship Dummy Roping, Wagner said.
“This time something special happened,” Wagner said. “The announcer remembered me from the previous year and made an opportunity to shine light on a little girl’s hard work, skill and talent.”
The announcer took time to highlight Wagner and began talking about the ideal loop, which has a curl at the top to seal the delivery and make a snap sound when the rope pulls tight, she said.
“It was the definition that my mom and dad had shared with me throughout my practices by reminding me that anyone can throw a loop but those who rope tough throw curl,” Wagner said. “The announcer then shared that ‘ girl curl’ used to be something men would say when they threw a soft flat loop or missed. And then he told the boys that they’d better get a pen and paper out to take notes on my girl curl because it was something worth noting. As the music was turned up to pump up the crowd and my name was called to throw my girl curl and as I approached the dummy I delivered the loop I had practiced daily. My curl came around and cracked on the horns.”
On the road home her mother asked Wagner what girl curl meant. After that conversation, Wagner ended up asking her mother to put Girl Curl on a hat or shirt, but then spell it with K for her name and the rest was history, she said.
Blessed with many roping accomplishments over the years, Wagner has earned nine saddles, 96 buckles and many all around cowgirl titles along with other awards as of last count in 2019.
Community members who want to purchase Girl Kurl clothing can reach her at 530- 200- 1286, write to girlkurl1@ gmail. com or follow her on Instagram and Facebook.