Native Youth 

This is a brand new page added to Indian Rodeo News.  Our goal here is to recognize all Indian children and teenagers who ride horses, rodeo, ranch, and kids who participate in taking pictures at events.

Each month starting with December 2002 we will try to feature a Indian Youth who is active in riding horses, rodeo, ranching, and photography.   

To Read about the featured Native Youth from the previous months click on their names below to check out their stories and pictures.

December 2002: Nicole Tsosie
January 2003:  Kayonnie Badonie





This Month we are recognizing Whitney O'Rourke who is from Pine Ridge South Dakota and a member of the Oglala tribe.   

                                      
  

Whitney O'Rourke age fifteen is a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. 
She lives on a ranch with her parents, Tom and Lori O'Rourke, and her little 
sister Sadie on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation which is located in the 
badlands of South Dakota.


 Picture below is Whitney's first saddle that she won



Whitney started riding horses to help her family on the ranch when 
she was only five years old.   Whitney's first barrel horse was a paint horse named "Pete".  Her dad  had him bought from a family friend named Buster Berry. Pete has never seen  barrels but was real good at working cattle. With the help of neighbor Jackie Whitcher, Whitney shaped him into a decent barrel and pole horse.   Whitney and Pete won a lot of buckles in 4-H and Little Britches Rodeos.








When Whitney was twelve years old, we bought a mare from Sharon Small 
named "Jenny".   Whitney won the barrels on her at the Oglala Nation Fair and Rodeo.   She also won the barrels at Cannon Ball, ND, at the Ft. Yates Rodeo, and she placed on her at the State 4-H finals in Fort Pierre, South Dakota. 

Whitney and Jenny also won or placed in several 1-D NBHA barrel racings. 
They also placed at or won several amateur rodeos, SDRA (South Dakota Rodeo Association) rodeo's and NRCA (Northwest Ranch Rodeo Cowboys Association) Rodeo's.






Whitney's mare Jenny age 11, died unexpectedly at a rodeo in Faith, 
SD, this past summer in July.

Whitney started breakaway roping when she was twelve years old. Her 
Uncle Brian Fulton, was a three time NFR qualifier; and she is fortunate 
that he helps her with her roping. Our neighbor and friend Dondee 
Amiotte-Krowlikowski, also goes over and ropes with Whitney. Dondee is a 
former INFR breakaway champion!   Whitney is learning from the best!

When Whitney was an eighth grader , she qualified for the year end 
finals in breakaway roping for two different associations. They were the SDRA  and NRCA Associations.   Whitney was the youngest contestant at both of these 
rodeo finals.

Some of Whitney's other accomplishments are the following: 2001 
Junior Girls All Around, SD State 4-H Finals, 2001 Junior Girls All Around 
for the South Dakota Youth Rodeo Association.

Whitney is also very active in her high school and in her community. 
She is very outgoing and is not afraid of hard work. She has a very positive 
attitude and is a great role model for her younger sister, Sadie.


Indian Rodeo News is very proud to feature Whitney, she is a role model for our Native Youth.