
Two-time College National Finals Rodeo qualifier Meghan Johnson won the first and second rounds of barrel racing, and placed fourth in the final round, in front of a near-capacity crowd at the tough competition held in the Denver Coliseum.
The World Champion Barrel Racing website reported that Johnson was the first barrel racer at the stock show. The report said she jumped out to a big lead and never relented across 19 performances and 10 days.
Johnson, and her mare Nellie Laveaux, earned a total $12,662 for her time of 45.95 seconds for the three runs combined.
This year’s rodeo paid a grand total of $474,750.
Johnson was competing with rodeo stars from around the country.
Other winners were: Bobby Mote, from Stephenville, Texas in bareback riding… Beau Clark, from Belgrade, Montana, in steer wrestling… Riley and Brady Minor from Ellensburg, Washington, in team roping… Cody DeMoss from Heflin, Louisiana, in saddle bronc riding… Adam Gray from Seymour, Texas, in tie-down roping… and Zeb Lanham from Sweet, Idaho, in bull riding.
Johnson, a 2011 graduate of Deming High School, is majoring in agricultural business at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces.
She is sponsored by Hughes Farm and Ranch Supply, Hi Pro Feeds and BioCare Supplements.