The Silver State International Rodeo was held in Winnemucca, Nevada June 28 – July 6, 2023. SSIR, as it is referred to, is an annual gathering of the top rodeo athletes from the US, Canada, Mexico, and Austraila, who qualified 5th through 20th in their state or providence finals. The qualifiers faceoff against fellow athletes in their respective events to determine who will walk away with saddles, buckles, awards, prizes, and the title of “champion”. The week is also filled with events such as mud volleyball, the 4th of July parade (arguably the biggest water fight you’ll find), scholarship opportunities, jackpot events, practices, dances, dog races, and much more shared fun. Of the White Pine athletes who qualified to attend SSIR, Lainey Barney, Hannah, Benjamin, and Brodey Hutchinson made the journey to compete.
Lainey Barney entered SSIR as the number 8 barrel racer in the state. She strided into the arena each go putting herself up against some of the toughest in the nation and holding her own with clean, solid runs. She finished a bit shy of qualifying for the short go, but still placed just outside the top third of the qualifying contestants who attended. Lainey also competed in the breakaway roping where she had a tough draw in the first go, but caught, giving her a chance at the short go. The second go didn’t go as planned and she received a no time, ending her breakaway runs. She still placed in the top half over all, based on one head. As Lainey enters her senior year and her final year of high school rodeo, we know she will draw from her years of prior experience and make this her best year yet.
Hannah Benjamin competed well for her first time to SSIR and a competition of that size. She toughed through a migraine the day of the shoot, but was still able to still receive her highest scores to date in trap and nearly matched that in the rifle shoot! That is determination. Hannah placed 9th overall in rifle and a bit longer in trap, but still in the top half of the qualifiers there, proving she deserves to be amongst the best. She has her senior year and this next season in her sights. We are excited to see what she can accomplish during her final year.
Brodey Hutchinson was the only junior high member to attend SSIR this year, but he represented the team very well. Although his team roping didn’t produce the results he had wished, he excelled in other events. He performed well enough in boys breakaway, chute dogging and boys goat tying to qualify for short go in all three. After three solid goat tying runs, Brodey finished as the number 7 boys goat tyer. He had a little tougher luck in the breakaway, but still walked away with the number 15 spot. Where he really shined was in the chute dogging. He hung tough through all three gos and emerged as the reserve champion chute dogger! Brodey moves on to 8th grade and his final junior high year in rodeo this upcoming season. It’s bound to be great.
We are proud of our talented rodeo athletes and their dedication to their craft. They represent the White Pine community so very well, not only in the arena, but outside as well. We can’t wait to see what their upcoming season has in store for them.
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