Name: Jaymie Leach
Age: 21
Hometown: Roseburg, Ore.
School: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Major: Elementary Education
CNFR Qualifications: 4 times—2007-2010 in barrel racing; 2008-2009 in breakaway roping.
Q: How does it feel to be at the CNFR?
A: It is a big accomplishment. It is what you work for all year, and to make it here all four years of college rodeo is a great feeling.
Q: How many horses did you bring to the CNFR?
A: Two. Meeka, which is my main horse that I ran in the first two rounds. I also brought a 6-year-old, Tizzy.
Q: What horse(s) are you riding at the CNFR?
A: Meeka, a 14-year-old mare, goes back to Dash for Cash. We got her when she was 3. We started and trained her for someone else, but then they never paid us, so we kept her. We tried to sell her, but we ended up just keeping her. She’s been my main horse and has gotten me through high school and college rodeo.
Q: Will you run the same horse in every round?
A: Yes. I didn’t bring her my sophomore year because she didn’t run very good when I was here my freshman year, but I decided to bring her back to Casper my junior year, and it paid off. I was reserve champion in the barrel racing here.
Q: What is your most memorable moment?
A: Being the reserve barrel racing champion at the CNFR in 2009 and winning the second round that year.
Q: What is your most embarrassing moment?
A: I can’t really think of one. I did feel really bad and was embarrassed when my traveling partner, Nelli Williams, fell off here in the barrels a few years back.
Q: Who do you look up to most?
A: My mom and grandma. They are both really accomplished barrel racers. They have started all our barrel horses themselves. There are three generations of rodeo and barrel racing in my family. My grandma still rodeos in the senior pro association.
Q: What is your favorite thing about barrel racing?
A: The connection with your horses, when you have a good horse with a good connection it is a good feeling to have because you know what to expect every run. It’s a great feeling to have when you’re a barrel racer.
