MONROE - Gratiot's Klarissa Neff was born to ride horses and compete in rodeos.
Neff, 19, a 2016 Black Hawk High School graduate, got a chance to ride in the Green County Bulls and Barrels competition Wednesday at the Green County Fair before a thunderstorm hit the area and sent hundreds of spectators running for cover under the grandstand. The rest of the event eventually was cancelled due to the weather.
"It seems like every rodeo there is lightning or rain," Neff said.
Neff had been looking forward to displaying her talent in barrel racing. She's been competing in barrel racing competitions for seven years.
"It's really exciting," Neff said of barrel racing at the Green County event. "It's an adrenaline rush because it's my hometown fair. When I turn around the last barrel I can hear the crowd going wild."
She's been on the fast track on the rodeo scene. Neff received a rodeo scholarship to Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia, Mississippi. Her signature events are breakaway roping and team roping. Neff finished in the top 40 in the National High School Finals Rodeo last year in Gillette, Wyoming. She competed in the National High School Finals Rodeo all four years she was at Black Hawk.
Neff said her ultimate goal is to compete in the College National Finals Rodeo and the National Finals Rodeo.
Neff, who grew up on a farm, said her parents, Jon and Kathy, have been instrumental in her success.
"My parents have helped make sure I've always been mounted on good horses and made sure I got down the road every weekend," Neff said. "My dad works two jobs at nights and he's out there in the roping pen running the chute for me. My mom has taught me more about horses than anyone else has. I definitely would not be where I am without them."
Neff, 19, a 2016 Black Hawk High School graduate, got a chance to ride in the Green County Bulls and Barrels competition Wednesday at the Green County Fair before a thunderstorm hit the area and sent hundreds of spectators running for cover under the grandstand. The rest of the event eventually was cancelled due to the weather.
"It seems like every rodeo there is lightning or rain," Neff said.
Neff had been looking forward to displaying her talent in barrel racing. She's been competing in barrel racing competitions for seven years.
"It's really exciting," Neff said of barrel racing at the Green County event. "It's an adrenaline rush because it's my hometown fair. When I turn around the last barrel I can hear the crowd going wild."
She's been on the fast track on the rodeo scene. Neff received a rodeo scholarship to Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia, Mississippi. Her signature events are breakaway roping and team roping. Neff finished in the top 40 in the National High School Finals Rodeo last year in Gillette, Wyoming. She competed in the National High School Finals Rodeo all four years she was at Black Hawk.
Neff said her ultimate goal is to compete in the College National Finals Rodeo and the National Finals Rodeo.
Neff, who grew up on a farm, said her parents, Jon and Kathy, have been instrumental in her success.
"My parents have helped make sure I've always been mounted on good horses and made sure I got down the road every weekend," Neff said. "My dad works two jobs at nights and he's out there in the roping pen running the chute for me. My mom has taught me more about horses than anyone else has. I definitely would not be where I am without them."
