Senior Samantha Besinger competes in one of the least known sports in Indiana — rodeo. She rode horses when she was younger, but took a break after her trainer moved. In her freshman year of high school, she got back into it after about eight years. In her junior year of high school, Samantha began competing within the Indiana High School Rodeo Association (INHSRA). Now she is a part of INHSRA, Midwest Youth Rodeo Association, Little Britches Rodeo Association, and Mid States Rodeo Association. Samantha competes in many different events from barrel racing and pole bending to breakaway roping and goat tying.
Benny was Samantha’s first horse and she did 4-H with him. He is a very sweet boy and always appreciates attention. Dale is the horse she used for barrels, poles, and the Queen’s horsemanship last year. Now she just uses him for breakaway. Dale is very opinionated, loves being in your personal space, but is also one of the sweetest horses. Whiskey is the newest addition and Samantha uses him for barrels, poles and goat tying. Whiskey is not fond of attention and doesn’t like to be caught, but he is also the most reliable horse she has and he will always put in the work for her.
As with any other sport, rodeo has its ups and downs. For Samantha, rodeo started off rough. Samantha struggled to get her performance up to the standard it needed to be, to truly compete. Her junior season, 2024-2025, was full of these ups and downs. Towards the end of her junior season Samantha was struggling to decide what to do. Then the idea of running for rodeo queen was presented to her, and she was very intrigued. At this point Samantha had no idea what a rodeo queen’s job entailed, but she saw it as an opportunity to be involved in the association.
Becoming rodeo queen is not something that just happened overnight for Samantha. After she decided to run for queen, the work began. The queen competition has many parts to it — speech, modeling, impromptu question, horsemanship pattern, and a written test. For the speech, each contestant had to write about western heritage, and what it means to them. Samantha wrote about her first horse, Benny, who started it all for rodeo. Modeling, not something most people expect in rodeo, was something completely new to Samantha. With the help of family and friends she practiced her walk, maintaining eye contact with the judges, and the best way to use the full stage.
The impromptu question is one of the most nerve wracking parts of the queen competition. Each contestant is asked the same question, one that they do not know until they are on stage in front of everyone. They then have to answer this question on the spot. Samantha’s answer truly showed her character and leadership skills. A Rodeo Queen is very different from your average pageant winner. Rodeo Queens are tested on their horsemanship abilities, they must be able to ride a horse and present themselves to a crowd. Each contestant completed the same pattern that combined many components of riding. Samantha and Dale spent a large amount of time practicing this pattern, and excelled in the competition.
Lastly, but definitely not least, each contestant had to take a written test. This test was designed to test the contestants’ knowledge of everything related to rodeo. It covered anything from basic animal health to specific information about the NHSRA. Anything from the specific size of calves based on event to what side the brand being on means could be expected. For Samantha, this part of the competition was one that needed the most preparation.She did not grow up in rodeo, there were many things for her to learn. Samantha read through the rulebook, researched, and studied to ensure a grade that would benefit her overall score.
When it was time for crowning, everyone was excited to see who the winner would be. And then it was announced, Samantha Besinger is the new Miss Indiana High School Rodeo. Samantha describes how she was in complete shock at being named a Rodeo Queen. Her escort for the crowning had to shove her forward to go claim her crown. “It was a whirlwind of emotions but I was so incredibly excited to have the honor of carrying the American flag and leading a grand entry. While I was very nervous to take on the role of Miss Indiana High School Rodeo, I have been lucky enough to be rodeoing in the best state with the best support system.”
Being rodeo queen is no easy task. Right away Samantha had to begin preparing to go to Wyoming to represent all of Indiana at the National High School Rodeo Finals. There were outfits to be planned, speeches to practice, and tons of small things to be packed. Samantha represented Indiana with elegance and confidence in Wyoming. Her speech gained compliments from many people and her state showcase outfit did the same. Samantha even went on to win the impromptu question category, against over 40 other contestants.
The thing that sets rodeo apart from any other sport is how each person, even when competing, wants everyone to succeed. This sport is the only one in which each person works to ensure everyone does the best. The support in rodeo is unmatched from anything else. Samantha explains that, “I have had so much support throughout this entire process. My family was such a huge support when deciding if this was something I wanted to do. My best friend, Allison, was my backbone through this process as we tried to figure out everything we needed for the Indiana State Finals and the National Finals. The entire Indiana Rodeo Association supported me through my journey at Nationals and this season as Queen.”
For Samantha Besinger, rodeo started as a sport to compete in and see if she liked it. Now it has become so much more. Rodeo is everything to Samantha. She has made friendships that will last a lifetime, and learned lessons that nothing else could teach her. Rodeo is often described as one big family, no matter where you go. And that is what it truly is. And now, Samantha is a part of that family, with no want to leave.
