Washington County Enterprise-Leader
FORMING LIFE-LONG FRIENDSHIPS IS A RODEO HABIT
LINCOLN — A trio of junior cowgirls are vying for the 2015 Lincoln Riding Club princess crown and all three are rodeo veterans already at 8-years-old each.
Kayden Loftin
Kayden Loftin is the 8-year-old daughter of Ray and Brittany Huffaker, Keith and Katrina Loftin, and the late Lewis Workman. She is in the first grade at Lincoln Elementary School. Kayden has received numerous Math awards throughout the school year and also several Big Helper Awards. Kayden loves to draw and do art projects. She likes to play basketball with her older sister. Kayden enjoys showing animals at the county fair and enjoys participating in 4H projects. Kayden loves going to church functions.
Kayden has been riding horses since she was 2 years old. She has Gracie also known as Jack’s Amazing Grace that she uses for queening, trick riding, barrel racing, pole bending and goat tying. Gracie is a past Washington County reining horse of the year. Kayden also has Porky that she uses for breakaway roping and to head steers.
Kayden enjoys showing her horses at horse shows. She is a trick rider for Arkansas Fillies horse drill team. Kayden is the 2015 CWRA Champion 14 & under steer breakaway saddle and buckle winner and 2015 CWRA Finals 14 & under Steer Breakaway average winner. Kayden also won the 2013 CTEC 6 & under pole bending champion saddle. Kayden was the 2014 Scott County Little Miss Rodeo, 2013 Lincoln Riding Club Rodeo Little Miss, and the 2013 Rodeo of the Mid- South Sweetheart.
Rodeo is a huge part of Kayden’s life. Her entire family rodeos. Her mom, step- dad, brother, and sister are active in the sport. Rodeo and horses are her passion.
“My late dad, Lewis [Workman], got me started in the sport of rodeo at age two. He was killed in a car accident so it’s important to me to carry on the legacy,” Kayden said.
Savannah Perkins
Savannah Perkins is the 8- year- old daughter of Charlie and Christy Perkins, of Farmington. She is in the second grade at Bob Folsom Elementary. Savannah was a recipient of the Act of Kindness award at school. She was also chosen as Student of the Month. Savannah is on the CoolHeat softball team. She loves playing basketball and cheerleading. She loves hunting and fishing with her brothers and dad. She is a member of the Cove Creek Clever Clovers 4-H club and Kids for Christ.
Savannah has been riding since before she could walk. She loves horses and especially loves her barrel horse, Rowdy. She has been riding Rowdy for two years now, and he is her best friend. Savannah is a member of the NBHA, CWRA, OJRA, and is a member of the Arkansas Fillies Drill Team. She has qualified to run barrels at the NBHA Youth World in July. She has won many buckles and saddles through rodeo, and is the reining 2014 IPRA Westville Rodeo Sweetheart. She is a trick rider for the Arkansas Fillies. This year she is joining the Northwest Arkansas Show Horse Association.
Rodeo has always been a part of Savannah’s life and is her family’s lifestyle with multi-generational involvement. Everyone from her grandparents including grandpa, retired rodeo clown, Woody Porter; her parents, to her siblings participate. She hopes to pursue rodeo in the future.
Kalleigh Jo Shreve
Kalleigh Jo Shreve is the 8- year- old daughter of Bobby and Maegan Shreve, of Farmington. She is in the second grade at Bob Folsom Elementary. Kalleigh hopes to one day become a judge. Kalleigh Jo received the Principal’s Act of Kindness Award and was Student of the Month at her school. Her favorite subject in school is Art. She loves playing softball on the CoolHeat 8& under team. Kalleigh Jo is a member of Cove Creek Clever Clovers 4H group. Kalleigh Jo loves showing pigs on a county, state and national level.
Kalleigh Jo has been riding since she was old enough to sit in a saddle. She started riding at the LRC playdays in 2009. She is currently competing on her horse “Dan the Man,” a 16-year-old paint pony in barrels, poles, and goats at OJRA, CWRA, open rodeos, and LRC playdays. She is a member of the Arkansas Fillies Drill Team where she is proud to carry the team flag. Kalleigh Jo eats, breathes, and sleeps rodeo. She is at a rodeo or barrel race at least every other weekend if not every weekend. The friends she has made through rodeo have become a great second family.
Kalleigh Jo won her first saddle CWRA 6 & under poles last year. She was the 2014 6& under champion at the LRC playdays. She has won many buckles and awards for riding. Kalleigh Jo was the 2014 OJRA Sweetheart.
Kalleigh would love to be able to represent Lincoln Riding Club as their princess. If she wins the crown, her plans are to represent thoughout the year at rodeos and other events. She would be proud to carry the LRC flag. She hopes this experience will help her grow in knowledge of rodeo and royalty pageants. She hopes to continue friendships, make new friends, and acquaintances that she will keep for life.