story by Lily Weinacht
“Rodeo is very rewarding, and it’s so much fun to be with friends I’ve grown up with since we could walk,” says Kambria McDougal. “We watch each other grow more competitive, and it’s so rewarding to go out there and win, or sometimes not win, but still knowing we’re doing the best we can if we practice as hard as we can.”
The 18-year-old from Brock, Texas, started rodeoing at an early age, and presently competes in the AJRA in barrel racing, pole bending, breakaway roping, and ribbon roping. She’s sitting in the top five of both pole bending and breakaway roping, and sixth in the ribbon roping. Kambria also competes in THSRA, qualifying for the NHSFR her freshman and sophomore year, and UPRA rodeos. She is going to the IFYR for the fourth time, this year on the Bloomer Trailers High School Rodeo Team. She won the pole bending and the all-around there in 2014. “I like breakaway or barrels best depending on the day. In barrels, we trained our own horses, and it’s a great feeling being one with a horse like that. In breakaway, I like how fast everything comes across.
“I’ve been really blessed to have great role models throughout my life,” Kambria adds. “My parents, Jamie and DeeCee McDougal, have been amazing – they both rodeoed and really worked to teach me right and take me to great people like Tuf Cooper, Jerry Jetton, Ed and Martha Wright, and quite a few others. The Bloomer family have been amazing to me – I’m so very thankful for all they have done between the interview training and the amazing role models they are, and the speakers they bring in for us! The Bruner family, who own Durhams Trailers, have really supported me throughout the years, as well as the Teskey family, who own Teskey’s Saddle Shop. OE Nuetraceuticals keep my boys feeling great, and I want to thank the Tatum family, who own Tres Rios Silver. This family has been behind me through it all, and they’re not only great sponsors, but I know if I ever needed anything, one of them would be there as quick as they could be!”
Kambria’s horses include Ace, a younger horse she’s seasoning at several AJRA rodeos, Rolo, her rope horse, and Mini Me, her main horse trained by her parents until Kambria started riding him in sixth grade. “It’s really neat seeing a horse progress that we’ve trained. He’s an amazing horse – I’ve won so much on him – and if the ground is bad, he takes care of me. He’s a once-in-a-lifetime horse and his attitude is amazing.” Tuf Cooper, who lives near the McDougals, rode Kambria’s horses one year when he was preparing for the WNFR. “It was a great experience to watch and learn,” she says.
Kambria graduated from Brock High School, where she took dual credits and was the varsity captain of her cheerleading team. She was also involved in FFA, and plans to major in Agribusiness at Tarleton State University. “I plan on getting my master’s in business – I can really do anything with that,” says Kambria, who will be barrel racing and breakaway roping on TSU’s rodeo team. She also hopes to compete in several AJRA rodeos during her summer break next year. “It’s been a great association to grow up in and super competitive, and there’s always really great people. I like the AJRA Eden rodeo. It’s a different set up to come through a side gate, and it’s fun to be able to experience new things like that.
“I’d like to get my young horse rolling as good and consistent as my other horses, and one of my big goals is to win the College Nationals Finals Rodeo at least once,” Kambria finishes. “I try to set my goals high, and freshman year seems to be my thing, so I’m hoping to start out strong my freshman year and keep it going.”
