story by Lily Weinacht
This is only Sierra Fearno’s second year roping, and even after an injury set her back during the fall season, the 18-year-old finished third at state finals in breakaway roping, and she competed at the NHSFR for the first time. “I’m so happy I got the chance to experience the National High School Finals!” says Sierra, who hails from Lakin, Kansas. “After the high school state finals last year, I had surgery on my leg, so I didn’t rope at all last summer. I definitely had a lot of ground to make up when this season started. I had to practice harder because I felt like I was behind all the other girls, but I still had a really good year.”
Sierra also competed in team roping with heeler Wacey Dorenkamp, and her sophomore year, she ran barrels and poles. She competed in trail course when she was a member of the NLBRA, but found a love for roping as a junior in high school. “I’ve found that if you want to be a competitive barrel racer or pole bender, you have to have a pretty nice horse,” she explains. “Since my dad is a cowboy, we’ve always had rope horses, and it’s something he can help me do. I found when I started roping that I liked it, so that’s all I do now.”
Sierra loves how competitive rodeo is, and her competitive side drives her to practice every day. “I love going out to rope calves every night – that’s not practice to me. I think it’s fun,” she says. “It’s fun to grow and see how my roping has improved. Even just going out twenty minutes a night makes a huge difference. I definitely look up to my dad. He works all day long and gets home at six o’clock and still wants to saddle up horses and rope with me, or go to those late night rodeos. He definitely gives me a confidence boost before I go, and my parents, Kevin and Kristi, are really good about getting me to rodeos no matter what.” Sierra has also gone to several clinics put on by Mid-Plains college rodeo coach, Garrett Nokes. “I’ve gotten to know him really well, and he’s helped my roping a lot.”
Her breakaway horse, Cody, is a 10-year-old red roan. “He’s pretty cool, and he likes to buck me off on occasion,” Sierra says with a laugh. “If you don’t get him warmed up really good, he’ll definitely buck you off, but when he’s warmed up, he works super good for me. He didn’t know how to track a calf either when we started roping, so we learned together, and he’s turned into a super nice horse.” She team ropes on another red roan, Tango, who is 12. “Dad rode him for years, so he’s super cowy, and we learned how to team roper together too for the most part.” Sierra helps ride her family’s other horses, while her blue heeler, Punch, travels to all her rodeos. Punch was a gift from her boyfriend last year after Sierra had her surgery.
When she’s not headed to the next rodeo, Sierra prefers to be outside playing fetch with her dog, and she goes to watch her sister, Bailey, 14, play volleyball and basketball. “She comes to most of my rodeos, and we try to make it a family thing,” says Sierra. She is rodeoing for Jim Boy Hash at Garden City Community College this fall while majoring in accounting.
She then plans to transfer to Oklahoma Panhandle State University to get her bachelor’s degree. “I’m sad my high school career is over,” she finishes, “but I’m definitely looking forward to being at the CNFR one day!”
