Teens thrive in competition on rodeo circuit

Two local teens have won more belt buckles and leather saddles “than you can shake a stick at,” as the saying goes, and the girls are still going strong.

Shaeley Jenkins, 19, and her sister, Shanley, 14, are part of the rodeo circuit that takes them across the United States to make their mark in the sport they love most. 

The girls’ competed at the National Little Britches Rodeo Association finals in July.

Shaeley was named the national finals average champion and the 2023 Senior Division Barrel Racing World Champion this summer, while her younger sister, Shanley, had her own share of success being named 12th overall in the world standings in barrel racing. 

The event was held at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma, where thousands of people ages 19 and younger showed up to compete. The national finals champion and the highest overall point winner earns the World Champion title.

John and Becky Jenkins of Palatka are proud of their girls and the hard work they put in to compete.

“This is really a family affair,” John Jenkins said. “It’s not really a sport anymore; it’s a lifestyle.”

That lifestyle for the Jenkins crew includes multiple hours spent every day taking care of their horses as well as practice, practice and more practice before they load up the family truck and horse trailer to head to another event.

“In the last two years, I’ve put at least 75,000 miles on that truck going from rodeo to rodeo,” John Jenkins said.

The girls’ mom agreed.

“It’s a lot of hard work and preparation,” she said. “It’s kind of just what we do. We all work together as a family and get the things done that we need to do.”

Becky Jenkins believes traveling the rodeo circuit has brought her family closer together.

“We are always together taking care of each other,” she said. “Our daughters made this a priority after expressing to us this is what they wanted to do. Just like any sport, we try to provide the things they need to be able to do the things they love to do.”

As part of the National Little Britches Rodeo Association, contestants can enter any rodeo across the U.S. but must qualify for the national finals by competing and placing in at least six rodeos throughout the year.

Shaeley said it was a good feeling for her to accomplish a long-term goal of winning the world title.

“It took lots of preparation and hours in the arena,” she said. “In the past, I have struggled with the mental game of keeping myself together and being consistent, especially when competing in a high level of competition.”

Shanley said rodeo competitions have taught her a lot.

“I love every aspect of it,” she said. “The thing I enjoy the most is making new friends and building lifelong relationships.”

Shanley plans to keep competing in rodeos and said she would love to attend a rodeo college after high school. 

She has won several state championship titles in numerous events throughout the past several years. She competes in barrel racing, breakaway calf roping and team roping. 

She has also earned the All Around Cowgirl title for the past five years in three associations and has competed in multiple events in Oklahoma, where she placed several times in competition rounds, taking eighth place. Her events included breakaway, barrel racing, team roping, ribbon roping and goat tying.

Shaeley graduated from Peniel Academy in 2023, while her younger sister, Shanley, is a ninth grader at the school.

Shaeley is currently taking online college courses. This year, she and a business partner joined forces to create The National League of Legends, Sports & Rodeo, a rodeo event production company that produces barrel races, roping and other rodeo events across the Southeast. 

The organization is planning a breast cancer 4D barrel racing fundraiser Oct. 1 at the Bob Holmes Arena in Live Oak. For details, visit the company’s Facebook page or email nationalleagueoflegends@gmail.com.

When not rodeoing, Shanley loves keeping up with her school sports, including volleyball and softball, and enjoys hunting and fishing. 

Both girls enjoy being on the water, going to the beach and spending time together. Shaeley and Shanley admit having a sister is like having a built-in best friend.

“Even though we may disagree sometimes, at the end of the day, we always have each other’s backs,” Shaeley said.

“That’s how I feel,” Shanley added.

They started riding horses when Shaeley was 10 and Shanley, was 5. At one time, their dad was a team roper who competed in rodeos from Florida to Las Vegas at different levels and won a few times.  

“I remember it was 2013 and I said to Becky, ‘I don’t think the girls are ever going to have an interest in horses,’” John Jenkins said.

But soon after that, things changed when the girls started riding horses and joined the Southern Junior Rodeo Association in 2016.

“It has been nonstop ever since,” John Jenkins said.

With both girls competing in several youth rodeo associations for years, the Jenkins family decided to take it to the next level and joined the National Little Britches Rodeo Association in 2018.

Becky Jenkins is proud of her daughters and their dedication and efforts as they prepare to travel from rodeo to rodeo. She loves the family atmosphere the rodeo circuit brings.

“I support the girls’ love for rodeo in every way possible,” she said. “I am their biggest fan and cheerleader. I have enjoyed all the great friendships and memories we have made as a family.”