Scott County teen to compete in national rodeo

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Kelly High School junior Mallory Cowger is honing her skills to compete for the second time in the largest rodeo in the world.

The upcoming National High School Rodeo will be held in Farmington, N.M. More than 1,500 high schoolers from the U.S., Australia and Canada will compete at the event.

Cowger, daughter of Jim and Jeanne Cowger, competed in the National High School Rodeo Queen competition in 2007. This year she will compete in both the queen contest and barrel racing.

"I have rodeo blood in me," Cowger said.

Last year she missed going to nationals for barrel racing at the state competition by one point, pushing her to work even harder to make it this year.

Cowger has received overwhelming support from the community, something that is very important to her.

"That's what makes the trip," she said.

"And with diesel the price that it is, you have to have your community behind you."

Besides receiving help from 15 sponsors and other silent partners, Cowger recently held a fundraiser at Pizza Inn and had an "amazing" showing of more than 170 people. The fundraiser was her first time working as a waitress.

"It got really hectic," she said. "But it was fun, and I met a lot of new people."

The rodeo circuit, however, isn't something new to Cowger. Her older siblings, Kyleigh and Andrew, both competed at nationals as well.

"I had big shoes to fill," she said. "They have accomplished so much."

Cowger also added that the support of her family is what keeps her going, especially that of her mother. She said her mom is always reminding her to practice and study.

"If it wasn't for my mom, I wouldn't be going to Farmington at all," she said.