Cowgirls rock Clovis Rodeo

CLOVIS, Calif. (KFSN) -- The rodeo may be known for its cowboys but a cowgirl is making a name for herself at the 102nd Annual Clovis Rodeo.

"Yeah, rodeos, not just for guys, it's a culture, it's a way of life," barrel racer Carly Twisselman explained. "It's how we grew up."

For Twisselman, competition runs through her veins and her horse's.

"So much passion and blood and sweat and tears go into it," she said. "So, when it all comes down to that moment your adrenaline's going but it's exciting because and everything depends on those couple of seconds."

The cowgirl hat isn't the only one Twisselman wears. As a spokesperson for the Oral Cancer Foundations, the "Be Smart Don't Start" campaign role model can be added to her resume.

"It's an opportunity to show them you can be an athlete you can be successful but you don't have to do drugs you don't have to chew tobacco," she said.

This is the NFR hopeful's rookie year, and she's not the only woman with her eyes on the prize. Dozens of riders took to the arena for girl's barrel event slack.

"The barrels are set up in a clover leaf pattern," racer Christina Richman explained. "You can either make one right and two lefts or one left and two rights and just try to be as fast as you can."

Richman has already been to NFR inspiring the new generation of girls who ride.

"It's ever little girls dream that's on a barrel horse to get to the "Thomas and Mack" so we're all here to complete the same dream," she said.