May 12, 2004
Birdsey shows tremendous horse sense
CHS sophomore competes in state high school rodeo at Ranch Rudolph
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Riding her first horse at six months old with Grandpa's help, started Jessica Birdsey on a rodeo odyssey that is salting away money for college.
A sophomore at Central High School, Birdsey will compete on Sunday, May 23 in a Michigan High School Rodeo Association rodeo at Ranch Rudolph in Traverse City. Her events are pole bending, goat tying, break away, barrel racing and cutting as she and her horse demonstrate the tenacity, quickness and teamwork built over hours of practice.
Birdsey is serious about her sport and practices at least two hours a day as well as cares for her rodeo-trained horses. She and her family travel to rodeos all summer, roughing it with their horses in a special trailer as they move from event to event. Determined to earn enough scholarship money to finance her liberal arts studies at a college in Colorado, Birdsey revels in the lifestyle.
"I like rodeo, pretty much it's my passion," said Birdsey, whose calm demeanor covers her fierce competitive nature. "I've done English showing before but rodeo is more of a thrill."
The uniqueness of rodeo and the close family feeling among serious competitors on the high school circuit keeps her coming back.
"Rodeo is a very competitive sport but high school rodeo is a big family, everyone's willing to help you with everything," noted Birdsey, who serves as state director for the cutting event for the Michigan High School Rodeo Association.
Competing since a young age, Birdsey eventually burned out. She took a few years off to play soccer, ready for a break from the intense competition and training. But eventually she was back in the ring with renewed spirit, her eyes fixed on her scholarship goals as well as this year's national competition.
"Rodeo is different from any other sport," Birdsey noted. "If you want to be good, you have to put your all into it. This year I took soccer off because if you want to get into the national rodeo, you have to focus."
The sport has strict eligibility requirements for high school students, mandating a higher grade point average than most sports. In addition, behavior at rodeos is strictly regulated and a rider can get disqualified for improper dress, an attitude or poor sportsmanship.
"They really expect a lot out of those kids," said Beth Barrett, Birdsey's mom. "That's what makes it such a great program for the kids."
Birdsey lives on her mother's 20-acre farm in Blair Township, Eagle's Ridge Ranch and Cattle Company. There Barrett oversees nine rodeo cows of the Corriente breed, eight heifers and one bull. The calves are used in rodeo calf-roping events and Barrett, who has a vet practitioner's license, is also involved in breeding and animal husbandry.
Two years ago, the family built a large, indoor arena for winter practice next to their barn. The farm also boasts a regulation-size rodeo ring outdoors, complete with cattle gates, poles and barrels.
Barrett's farm also includes 16 horses, four of which are boarders. Birdsey uses different horses for different rodeo events, training them and caring for them herself.
"All the horses are agile cutting horse, they have cow sense," Barrett noted.
Barrett showed saddle seat Arab horses in competitions for years starting at the age of 18. She recalled how after her daughter was born, she simply took her along to events.
"I would have a stroller in one hand and a horse in another," she said. "She used to take her naps in tack rooms and I have pictures of her on a horse when she was six months old."
Barrett said that Birdsey has matured as a both a competitor and rider.
"She has really blossomed over the past few years," Barrett noted.