Straughn’s Grace Schulz is prepped and ready to compete in the 2019 National Barrel Horse Association’s Youth World Championships next week in Perry, Ga.

“The youth world championship is held once a year,” Schulz said. “You compete all year and if you qualify in one of the districts you get to go to Perry at the end of the year.”

Schulz said that their are more than 700 cowgirls that compete in the event and they come from all over the world.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Schulz said. “There are girls from Australia, Canada and all over the place.”

Getting into barrel racing came naturally, Schulz said.

“I’ve been barrel racing for six years, but I’ve been riding ever since I could sit up,” Schulz said. “Growing up watching my grandmother and aunt made me want to get into it. Then it was the want for speed and I feel in love.”

Schulz said she loves being in the rodeo and that the people she meets through it is one of the reason she loves it so much.

“My favorite thing about the rodeo is my rodeo family,” Schulz said. “We will all get together this week, eat and have a talent show. It’s all a lot of fun. We are just one big family.”

Schulz well be a junior at Straughn this year and she hopes to continue her rodeo career after high school.

“I’ve thought about going to Texas A&M to join the rodeo team,” Schulz said. “My biggest dream is to one day go pro. I hope that one day I’m able to actually make that dream come true.”

Schulz will compete in the NBHA Youth World Championship from July 21-27.