LIHUE — For four graduating high school senior rodeo competitors — Kahanu Blackstad, Taylor Langtad, Kiana Mertz and Meleana Tancayo — March 15 was their final rodeo for the Kauai District of Hawaii High School Rodeo Association.
“Rodeo isn’t about riding horses, or winning the fastest time,” said Mertz, who will be walking with the Kapaa High School Class of 2025. “Rodeo is about the work you put into seeing any results. It’s about having to learn how to ride difficult horses in order to get through your event, learning how to fail to succeed, and most importantly, being humble throughout the entire experience.”
March 15 may have been the final KHSRA rodeo where the seniors could rack up points, but it is not the end of the rodeo trail.
Langtad, who has been riding since she was 4 years old, will be a graduating Red Raider from Kauai High School. She quoted Ralph Waldo Emerson as her advice for rodeo underclassmen: “What lies behind us, and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.”
“The kids have a big fundraiser golf tournament scheduled for Saturday at the Puakea Golf Course,” said Tammy Puu, a former KHSRA officer and team parent. “They could use the communities’ financial support. All monies raised during the golf tournament will be used to help in expenses for travel to state and national competitions.”
Kauai will host its district awards in April, and the junior high cowboys and cowgirls will travel to Oahu in May for the state rodeo.
“The high school state finals will be held for the very first time at the CJM Country Stables in June,” Puu said.”All of the contestants who qualify will then compete on the state rodeo teams. The juniors will head to Des Moines, Iowa, in June. The high schoolers will head over to Rock Springs, Wyoming, in July.”
For more information on sponsor opportunities, or to contribute and help the aspiring rodeo participants, visit the website www.hhsrakauaidistrict.com.
