story by Riata Cummings
Kinlie Jensen is the daughter of Blue and Cameron Jensen of small-town Elmo, Utah. Kinlie is an eighth grader at Canyon View Middle School where she enjoys her science class taught by Mrs. Horton. Her and her older sister Makayla have grown up riding, and the family spends a lot of time together on the rodeo trail. When she isn’t at a rodeo, Kinlie enjoys the ranching lifestyle and the many activities it encompasses. She has 20 head of her own cattle, and she enjoys helping her family take care of their sizable herd. The family also owns a pony, a couple of goats for tying, and seven dogs.
As a little tike, Kinlie competed in the local riding club. After her sister started to compete in rodeo Kinlie began to learn the trade. Now she competes in the breakaway roping, goat tying and ribbon roping. She uses two horses: a gray named Nevada for goat tying, and a bay named Doc for breakaway. Kinlie rides almost every night she can and spends the rest of her practice time roping or tying the dummy.
Rodeo has taught Kinlie that life isn’t about winning, it’s about the friends you make along the way and the experiences that build your character. Like many rodeo contestants, Kinlie has experienced some rough times. One of the most trying times for her was when she lost her first rope horse, Hootie. The determination to keep pushing and the knowledge that he was there with her helped her to move past the challenge. Rodeo has helped her develop a persistent attitude, doing what needs to be done despite tough circumstances. So far, her favorite rodeo was the warm St George junior high show. It was there that Kinlie tied a 9.22 second goat run, finishing second and qualifying for the state finals. Her goals for the rest of the season include winning a buckle and qualifying for the National Junior High School Finals Rodeo.
Kinlie’s heroes include Kaytlyn Miller (NHSRA 2015 All-Around Cowgirl), Amberley Snyder (professional barrel racer and motivational speaker), and her family that has taught her everything she knows and always supported her. Kinlie loves the John Wayne quote, “Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.” It reminds her that no matter how many times you get bucked off, the only way to get better is to get back on. Kinlie would like to thank her family and friends for their help and support in following her gold buckle dreams.
