Clovis youth among winners at High Plains Junior Rodeo

The High Plains Junior Rodeo Association finals wrapped up Saturday at Curry County Event Center with a couple of Clovis natives taking the top spots in some events. Seaver Tate, of Clovis, took first place in the short go of Calf Roping.

Tate said this was his second time in the Curry County Event Center. He competed in chute dogging, calf roping and team roping.

“I won the calf roping, and I think I won the chute dogging a while ago,” Seaver said.

Zack Kirkpatrick won the 9-12-year-old calf touch with an unofficial time of 4.83. Kenzie McNeil won the 9-12 girls breakaway with a time of 3.48, and Kellie Collier won the average of the event.

Shelby Mayfield, 10, of Clovis, has enjoyed her time competing in the 9-12 age division at the rodeo.

“We are learning how to be competitive and learning new things,” Mayfield said. “We had a lot of fun and made some friends.”

She said she hopes to go on to compete in high school, college and Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeos.

JoEllen Mayfield, Shelby’s mom, said that PRCA only has barrel racing for women to compete in.

Shelby Mayfield competed in barrels, poles, goat tying and breakaway. Last year, she was the average champion in barrels, poles and calf roping. She won barrels and poles, and finished third in calf roping.

Payson Moore won the steer breakaway, with a time of 3.27 in the short go. In the 13-15 girls breakaway, rookie Teryn Tate earned her money with a 3.35 in the short go to win the average and event.

In 13-15 boys breakaway, Ty Baker had the fastest time with at 3.47 seconds. Tate won 13-15 girls ribbon roping because she was the only one to post a time.

Shelby’s brother, 8-year-old Shad Mayfield, has been competing in the event for two years. He competed in the 8-and-under field in barrels, poles, goat tying, breakaway and calf roping.

In 2008, he won the breakaway and finished second in calf riding.

JoEllen Mayfield said she hopes her children will be able to get scholarships to help pay for college.