Arndt, Laird and Traul To Compete In U.S. National High School Rodeo

Loretta George

3 years ago

Cowboys and cowgirls will compete at the national high school rodeo finals in Lincoln, Nebraska on July 18.

Miranda Arndt, Kelsey Laird, and Jaci Traul are the local cowgirls competing.

“These kids all compete in the Missouri High School Rodeo Association,” said Kasey Laird, Kelsey’s mother. “There might be more, as there are several families from southeast Kansas that attend MHSRA. These kids have worked hard for the chance to go to the national finals and compete against other states for the number one spot.”

Miranda Arndt, 18, is a 2021 Fort Scott High School graduate, the daughter of Trina and Jason Arndt.

“I am going to compete in goat tying at nationals,” Miranda said. “I went last year in goat tying also.”

“I’m looking forward to being more prepared and hopefully winning a national title,” she said.

Arndt will be attending Northeast Oklahoma A & M this fall.

Kelsey Laird, 15, is the daughter of Kasey and John Laird and is a sophomore at Fort Scott High School.

“Kelsey competes in barrel racing, poles, and goat tying, however, she is competing at national finals as a rodeo queen,” Kasey said. “She will compete against the other states in horsemanship, modeling, written testing, and personal interviews. This will determine the national high school rodeo queen.”

Jaci Traul, Fort Scott, is the daughter of John and Nicki Traul, and granddaughter of Frank and Debbie Madison.

She is a 2021 graduate of Manhattan Virtual Academy.

“Jaci has qualified for nationals seven times., three times in junior high and four in high school,” her mother, Nicki said. “She was the Missouri High School Rodeo State Champion Breakaway Roper this year. She also qualified for nationals in the poles and was the Reserve Champion All-around Cowgirl.”

She will attend Northeast Oklahoma A&M in Miami, OK on a rodeo scholarship.