Sherry Cervi is not just a successful barrel racer but also a remarkable role model for young riders. Her annual youth championships barrel race has been inspiring and supporting young athletes for over a decade.
Barrel racing, like any other sport, has its own heroes and idols. One of the most talented women in this sport is Sherry Cervi. She was born into a rodeo family, with both her parents being National Finals Rodeo (NFR) qualifiers. Her parents' Potter Ranch breeding program was responsible for bringing the bloodlines of PC Frenchamans Hayday, Lone Drifter and many more to the spotlight.
Cervi has been to the NFR 19 times and has won four world titles in her career. She has earned over $3.3 million throughout her career. Her husband, Cory Petska, has also qualified for the NFR 15 times.
Sherry Cervi's impact on the sport extends far beyond her accomplishments. Every year since 2008, she has held the Sherry Cervi Youth Championships Barrel Race across different states. During these races, Cervi gives away thousands of dollars in scholarships, Martin saddles and many other prizes to the young riders who participate.
Recently, the Sherry Cervi Youth Championships Barrel Race was held in Tucson, Ariz., and many talented young riders and their horses competed. In the junior division, 11-year-old Rori Fenner won both the champion and reserve champion titles. She was the only rider to clock two sub-15-second times in this division. Fenner and her horse, Mr. Star Boogie, also known as "Bucky," have won the reserve championship four times.
In the senior division, Ceeli Pinkston and her gray stallion, Hes So Epic, also known as "Icey," topped the leaderboard. Pinkston has competed in the youth championships for many years on different horses, but her partnership with "Icey" is particularly remarkable.
At the awards ceremony, Cervi congratulated young Pinkston and said, "This is two years in a row this stud has won the 1D. A lot of these girls love watching you and how you handle yourself in and out of the arena. Congratulations."
Cervi's efforts to support and encourage young riders highlight the importance of investing time, money, and effort into today's youth. After all, they are the future of the rodeo sport, and many young athletes in all the events are looking up to heroes and idols like Sherry Cervi.
For the full results of the Sherry Cervi Youth Championships Barrel Race, please visit sherrycervi.com.