It all came down to the final performance at the Music City Rodeo where Makenzie Mayes put on a show, making an electric 12.94 second run in the barrel racing to leave Nashville the champion.
This win allowed Mayes to pocket over $8,000, bumping her to the number one spot in the Resistol Rookie race with $29,944 in overall earnings.
Winning the coveted title of Rookie of the Year is something all rodeo athletes strive for, but few obtain and for Mayes, it would be pretty special.
“It’d mean everything,” Mayes shared. “You know I’ve waited a couple years till I had the right horses to go out and try to win Rookie, and I’m just very thankful that I have the horses now to do that and that I’m doing as well as I am.”
Now knowing that she is a top contender for the title, Mayes is planning to hit the road hard this summer with her great equine partner Rousey and make every run count.