Name: Sammy Jo White

Age: 21

Marital Status: Single, but very committed to JW Boyd.

Family/Children: Edmond & Lilly White (parents); Yolanda Moreno, Cybil White, Bobbi Sells, & Heather Walswick (sisters); Bryan Moreno, Brad Moreno, & Cade Sells (nephews); Carly Jo Sells (neice); Effie Black (masani); Faye Singer (grandmother); Bobnson Sells, & Eric Walswick (brother-in-laws).

Hometown: Kayenta, Arizona

Native American Heritage: Navajo

Horses: Rocky, Dino, & Bugsy (barrel horses), Cash & Sunny (roping horses).

Pets that you own: Dog - Zhinii and billy goat - Julius.

Rodeo Events Worked: Barrel racing, breakaway roping, & sometimes team roping.

Association member of: Women's Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) & All Indian Rodeo Cowboys Association (AIRCA), Central Navajo Rodeo Association (CNRA), previous member of WJRA, IJRA, NHSRA, NNRCA, SWIRA, NIRA, & USTRC.

Rodeo Accomplishments: 2004 AIRCA Year End Barrel Racer, 2004 Navajo Nation Rodeo Cowboys Association (NNRCA) Year End Reserved All Around Champion & Barrel Racer, WPRA Turqouise Circuit Permit Top 10, AIRCA Summer Xtreme Tour Barrel Racing Champion, 58th Navajo Nation Fair Rodeo Final 4 showdown $1000 Barrel Racing Winner, 03/04 NIRA Grand Canyon Region Year End Top 5 Barrel Racer, 2003 NNRCA Year End Reserved Barrel Racing Champion, NNRCA Rookie of the Year Barrel Racer, NNRCA All Around Rookie of the Year, NNRCA Regional Finals All Around Champion, NNRCA Fast Barrel RacingTime Record Breaker, Central Navajo Rodeo Association (CNRA) Finals Barrel Racing Average Winner, CNRA Finals All Around Champion, CNRA Fastest Times Award, CNRA Year End Reserved Barrel Racing/ Breakaway Roping Champion, & 57th Navajo Nation Fair Rodeo All Around Champion.

When did you start an interest in rodeo? I started rodeoing at age 4, but it didn't become interesting until I started winning.

What other sports other than rodeo do you enjoy? Bowling, Four-wheeling, & Badminton (MVHS Girls PE badminton champion).

What is the funniest thing that you have seen or experienced at a rodeo? Watching "Whiplash" in action at the Payson Pro-Rodeo last year.

What advice would you give to Indian youth about rodeo or anything in general? Listen to your parents. They are right even though it is easy to think they aren't right. I learned that our parents’ goals are never to fail their children by advising us to make good decisions. All they want is the best for us by pushing us beyond our potentials, especially when we want to quit. I love you, mom and dad.

What advice would you give to Indian youth who wanted to participate in rodeo but didn’t have the resources or support to get involved? I've always had the support of my family, so I wouldn't know. I learned everything I know by asking questions, so don't be intimidated to ask for help.

Are there any songs that inspire or pump you up before you ride or rope? Eye of the Tiger, only because it's from the movie Rocky and that's my horse's name. I also like all the songs they usually play for the bull riders.

What would you like to see more of at Indian Rodeos? More money of course and for associations to become more like the PRCA/WPRA.

What are/is your favorite western movie(s)? Will Penny, Jubal, and Back in the Saddle. Just kidding, those are my dad's movies. I like, The Man From Snowy River and Hildalgo.

What is your favorite music? Mainly hip-hop, but I also started listening to country and the oldies.

What was your most memorable ride or run? When I fell off my horse during the 56th Annual Navajo Nation Fair on Saturday afternoon before a stadium packed crowd during the barrel racing event. For weeks after people kept coming up to me asking if I was the girl who fell off at the first barrel during the Navajo Nation Fair.

Who is your all time hero? Charmayne James, because she proved that it wasn't just because of her horse, Scamper, that she won all those world titles by winning one more off a different horse.

What Indian Cowboy or Cowgirl has influenced you to rodeo? My sisters, they taught me the foundations of the sport of rodeo. I am a first generation cowgirl, one day my sisters put me on a horse and I've been riding ever since.

Would you like to thank sponsors and or anyone for your success in rodeo? I would like to thank my family for their never-ending support, I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for them. I would also like to thank my boyfriend's family for their hospitality and letting me utilize their calf horses, Bailey, Tommy, and JR.