WINONA – Winona sisters raced their way into the top 20 finalists at the Junior National Final Rodeo’s KK Run for Vegas last month.
Taylor Shurden, 11, and Reagan Shurden, 9, of Winona, daughters of Jim and Sheri Shurden, placed in the top 20 out of 59 competitors in their 11-and-under age division in barrel racing at the prestigious event held in Las Vegas.
“Over the course of the year, they finished in the top 20 out of 5,000 kids and the 59 that went to Vegas in their age group,” said Sheri Shurden.
Reagan Shurden finished 12th in time averaged from three rides (aggregrate) during the event, and Taylor Shurden placed 19th.
According to Sheri Shurden, the girls competed in an area on the second floor of the Las Vegas Convention Center. She explained that dirt was brought in especially for the event, which was organized and timed perfectly. For all three of the girls’ rides, their horses were driven up to the second floor, unloaded, and reloaded quickly and efficiently following each ride.
“We had to do a dry run to unload the horses,” Sheri Shurden said. “It is very fast-paced and organized.
Friends Charlotte and Jack Williams traveled to Las Vegas as well, and Sheri Shurden said thanks to their help, her husband was able to watch the girls ride instead of waiting with the horse trailer to reload the horses following the rides.
However, participating in KK Run for Vegas was only part of the fun for the girls during their two-week adventure in Las Vegas. The girls were interviewed twice as competitors, with one of those interviews aired on Rodeo Recess, a program focused on rodeo athletes.
“They got a lot of attention because they are sisters,” Sheri Shurden said.
The girls also were able to meet their favorite professional barrel racers, Fallon Taylor, Sheri Cervi, and Charmayne James, and they attended the National Finals Rodeo twice during their visit to see their rodeo heroes in the arena.
With the National Finals Rodeo in town, Sheri Shurden said, “Las Vegas turns cowboy for sure.”
Along with “Cowboy Santa” available for photographs, thousands of rodeo vendors set up at the various casinos and at the convention center.
“It was one of those deals – you can’t top it,” Sheri Shurden said. “For rodeo kids, they had a blast.”
Sheri Shurden said the experience was a “trip of a lifetime.”
“I think they will remember it,” she said.
“Well, duh,” Reagan Shurden laughed.
Sheri Shurden said her family was overwhelmed by all of the support her girls received from the community.
“The response of the town was amazing,” She said. “Everyone was watching and cheering for us. It was amazing. It was very appreciated.”
Currently, the Shurden sisters are working to earn an invitation to next year’s KK Run for Vegas. Recently, the girls, who have been training in barrel racing since they were aged two and three, competed in their first horse show of the season, and this month, they plan to travel to Oklahoma for another show.
Students at Winona Elementary School, the girls also take dance classes at the Susan Allen School of Dance and are active in Montgomery County 4-H, with plans to show lambs in the Dixie National Rodeo next week.
