MONTICELLO, AR — The University of Arkansas at Monticello’s Megan Hotard placed second in the barrel riding competition at the Annual University of West Alabama Rodeo Showdown, Sept 28-Oct 1. It was Hotard’s second rodeo as a UAM Boll Weevil. Hotard is a transfer student from the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM). ULM doesn’t have a collegiate rodeo program, so transferring to University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) allowed her to compete at the collegiate level. Hotard said she had not competed competitively since high school. Hotard competed against 118 girls in the West Alabama competition.
“It was nerve-wracking going down the alley. You know, you’re competing against some good girls from all across the country, and when you compete at that level, it can be a lot of pressure, but I felt like I had the horse to get me to the short round and I just knew I had to go in there and keep the barrels up and stay out of his way.
Hotard was on a borrowed horse from a friend. Her horse Ashes stayed at home; she had some injuries and vision problems, said Hotard. The UAM Junior adds she had only ridden the borrowed horse one time before this weekend’s competition. Besides barrels, Hotard competes in breakaway and team roping.
Hotard isn’t the only UAM Rodeo cowgirl to experience success in Alabama. Aubrey Lee, native of Mount Vernon, Arkansas, also took 2nd place in the average breakaway roping competition. Lee won the short round in breakaway against the other nine finalists. The competition started with 80 competitors. Lee said she was happy with her horse Zan’s performance. “I guess he just kind of he does his thing. He worked well, and he just helped me to where I needed so I could execute,” said Lee.
UAM Rodeo Coach Rusty Jones has a lot of optimism about this year’s 13-member team. “We’re fixing to get the ball rolling; we have some new kids. We’re trying to get over the new-kid-on–the block jitters. I’m pretty optimistic about going forward,” said Jones.
Jones said overall the women’s team placed fourth in Livingston. Before each rodeo, Jones selects four individuals to count towards the team scoring. Jones said with so many new people on the team, picking the four team members can be difficult. The Alabama venue was only the second event of the fall season. Jones is still assessing individuals on this year’s team.
Jones said the team doesn’t compete this weekend, and then it’s off to Sikeston, Missouri for the Three Rivers Championship Rodeo.
The Rodeo Team at UAM is a member of the Ozark Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. The University provides scholarships and support for competitions. Coach Rusty Jones is dedicated to helping rodeo athletes excel academically and athletically.
About the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Arkansas Forest Resources Center
The College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the Arkansas Forest Resources Center, a University of Arkansas System Center of Excellence, brings together interdisciplinary expertise through a partnership between the University of Arkansas at Monticello and the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. The College and Center are headquartered at the University of Arkansas at Monticello campus, but their programs range statewide with the mission of developing and delivering teaching, research, and extension programs that enhance and ensure the sustainability and productivity of forest-based natural resources and agricultural systems. Academic programs are delivered by the College of Forestry, Agriculture, and Natural Resources through the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Through the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, research is administered by the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, and extension and outreach activities are coordinated by the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.
The University of Arkansas at Monticello and the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offer all of their programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and are Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employers.
