story by Siri Stevens
Beau Peterson is the 2019 All Around Women’s Rookie of the Year in the KPRA. “It’s exciting – it’s my first year being able to win that title.” Being 19, Beau didn’t get the chance to amateur rodeo much until she graduated from high school. She made it to Nationals each year, making the top ten in breakaway and goats her senior year. She took her talents to Panhandle State University last year and won the CNFR in the goat tying, sharing the title with Mia Manzanares. “It was pretty exciting – it was one of my goals, so I felt accomplished. I won it with Mia and I really looked up to her. That was exciting for me as a freshman to come in there and tie it with her.”
Beau started competing early in life. “I couldn’t tell you an age – as soon as I could sit on a horse I was competing – both my parents rodeoed so I grew up around it.” Matt and Dustin run a ranch now, so they no longer compete, but they still come and watch Beau whenever they can. “I have a college rodeo the same weekend as the KPRA finals, so they will come with me and help get back and forth – the two and a half hour drive between the two.”
Beau lives in northeastern Kansas, but stayed in Oklahoma this summer so she could go to rodeos. She is riding a younger horse for both barrels and breakaway. She is riding a barrel horse that is only six and this summer Beau helped season her on the road. “Barbie has taken it like a champ.” Beau has been fortunate to have Marc and Kim Harland as part of her family – they asked her to ride their horses in high school and it’s just gone on from there. “They say I’m part of the family and they let me ride her.” Her goat tying horse is 23. “He’s done it all – my dad team roped on him and passed him down to my sister (Michaela) and I and it’s his turn to retire, so I’m riding a young horse that I bought and started in breakaway and goat tying.”
Beau loves all her events, but breakaway is her favorite. “It’s busted wide open this year and its exciting. It feels more challenging to me and a lot has to go right and a lot depends on me as the rider and roper. As breakaway ropers, we’ve never had the chance at the kind of money that WCRA and other events have set up and it’s pretty exciting.”
She is going to school to be a CRNA, with the hopes to make enough money to support her hobby. She will get her prerequisites out of the way at Panhandle and rodeo her way through school. “Rodeo has opened so many doors for me and has allowed me to meet so many great people and families along the way! It’s so cool to watch this sport grow and I can’t wait to be a part of the growth,” she said. “Work hard and trust Gods plan! Everything happens for a reason.”
