Riding On

Paige Johnston has been doing rodeo ever since she can remember. Her whole family is involved in rodeo, and she competes in all the events she can. Johnston competes with the NRA (Northern Rodeo Association) and also competes with Brash (a local rodeo group), but mostly competes for herself. NRA is where colleges see most competitors, which is where Johnston plans to spend her time this summer.

Johnston tends to compete at the same rodeos every year, but recently she competed in a rodeo in Utah. She explained, “It was all high school kids like the rodeos around here, but way bigger because there is people from all over the country.” It’s one of her favorite memories because of all of the people she met. 

When headed to rodeos, Johnston usually drives herself with a trailer of about five horses, and her dad will often take another truck with eight of his horses because he is a pick-up man, the guy that helps make sure the bronc riders safely dismount. Johnston’s dad has always been there for her. She says, “He’s my number one. He has always pushed me to be better and better.” He has taken her to clinics for the last several years and pushed her to improve.

Johnston has nine horses of her own, along with the 50 that her family owns. One thing she looks for when buying a horse is the ability to turn fast. 

Johnston competes in many rodeo events, including barrel racing, poles, breakaway, and team roping. Barrel racing is when you go around three barrels on a horse. Poles are where you turn between six poles on a horse. Breakaway is where you ride on a horse and try to catch a calf around the neck. And for team roping, one person ropes the feet and the other ropes the head of a calf. All of the events are timed to see who can do it the fastest. 

Johnston has an outdoor training facility at her house and uses an indoor facility in Jette during the winter. She also does physical training outside of rodeo, such as lifts and runs, because of how wild barrel racing can be. 

Johnson has signed to compete on the Miles City rodeo team at Miles City Community College. Miles City competes all over the state in rodeos. She signed in Arlee with just family because she wanted it to be a special moment with them. After college, Johnston wants to go pro, competing in rodeos all over.