Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Bailey Bates, 19, a member of the Mesalands Community College rodeo team, was recently crowned the 2012 International Indian World Champion Breakaway Roper at the 8th Annual International Indian Finals Rodeo (IIFR).
The rodeo was part of the New Mexico State Fair and was held Sept. 14-16, in the Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque.
Bates is starting her second year on the Mesalands Rodeo Team and is majoring in liberal arts. In July, Bates competed at the 2012 CNFR in Casper, Wyo., and finished 13th in the nation in breakaway roping.
She also contributed to the Women's Team finishing fourth in the nation and second in the Grand Canyon Region. Bates was also a 2012 Academic All-American recipient.
"We are very proud to have Bailey at Mesalands," Dr. Mildred Lovato, president of Mesalands said. "She has not only performed well in rodeo, but she is also an exemplary student. Congratulations Bailey! We look forward to seeing what you achieve in the future."
C.J. Aragon, Mesalands Intercollegiate Rodeo Coach says he has enjoyed working with Bates and is very proud of her accomplishments.
"Bailey has an impressive resume. What she has done already in her rodeo career is pretty remarkable and she's not finished. She's going to add a lot more over the course of the next couple of years," Coach Aragon said.
The Mesalands Rodeo Team will kick-off their first rodeo competition of the season this weekend at Dine College in Tsaile, Ariz., Sept. 21-22.