Kinlie Brennise
story by Rachel Hummel
Thirteen-year-old Kinlie Brennise from Craig, Colo., is a girl who expects a lot of herself in the rodeo arena and makes sure she does everything she can to achieve her goals. At the end of her second year as a member of the CJHRA, Kinlie qualified for nationals in four events, and took the 2014 State Champion Breakaway Roper, Barrel Racer, and Reserve All Around Champion. Kinlie actually competes in six events however: the breakaway, goat tying, barrels, poles, dally ribbon roping, and the team roping.
In addition to CJHRA, Kinlie also competes in the National Little Britches Rodeo Association, the National Barrel Horse Association, and the United States Team Roping Championships. She has won multiple titles, several of them world championships, through these associations, but says that winning at the junior high finals would be her greatest accomplishment yet.
Outside of rodeo, Kinlie also enjoys playing basketball for Moffat County, where she is in the seventh grade, as well as going snowboarding. “I like to spend most of my downtime watching movies or TV. Right now, my favorite movie is Just Go With It, with Adam Sandler. My dad likes to come watch TV with me and we spend a lot of time surfing through the sports channels.”
Kinlie appreciates her family for more than just entertainment though. “My dad, Scott, is pretty much my coach and has taught almost everything I know and my mom, Sheila, really helps me get prepared for the rodeos and is my biggest fan. I also travel with my brother, Kasen who also competes in the CJHRA, and he is always there to cheer me on and give me advice. We are all pretty close and being able to go to the rodeos together is so much fun.”
Kinlie loves rodeo for other reasons as well. “Going to the rodeos and being around rodeo families has taught me so much. Being able to rodeo, when not that many kids get to, is a great opportunity and I really try to not take it for granted. Rodeo has also taught me sportsmanship, which I have brought into other areas of life. And the best part is that it has basically given me a second family.”
Goals that Kinlie has outside of rodeo and a little further down the line include going to college, although she does not know where yet, and eventually becoming an elementary teacher. “I really like working with kids and being a teacher sounds like one of the most rewarding jobs a person could have. Also, it would allow me to run barrels and rope in the summer,” she says with a laugh.
Kinlie would like to say thank you to several people for all that they have done for her. “I am really thankful to Josh Peek for letting me come to his house and helping me with my roping, as well as Julie Haskens for all of her advice with barrels. I really look up to both of them. Wendy McKee has been invaluable with her support and use of her indoor arena when the weather has discouraged use of our outdoor arena.
I would also like to say thank you to my sponsor, Formula 707 for helping me to compete in the sport that I love.”
