The Original Cowboy, An American Institution Series part 2

Teenager takes all round in The Bill Picket Invitational Rodeo

PARIS WILBURD

Busting on the scene at the 2022 Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo Championship in her debut appearance wearing a black english style helmet qualifying in the juniors barrel racing event. But in a years time at 14 she came into the 2023 championship leading in points the ladies barrel racing competition.

UPPER MARLBORO, MARYLAND: competitors in the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo Championships at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, MD. on Saturday, Septmber, 23, 2023, (Brian Branch-Price/thefotodesk)

But when I saw her last summer at the Roy Leblanc Invitational Rodeo in Okmulgee, OK she was sporting and styling very proudly a new red velvet cowgirl hat with prominence.  Paris Wilburd of Austin, AK took first place in her event there. “I felt really good to win because we also won last year.” She said in Okmulgee.

OKMULGEE, OKLAHOMA: LEFT, PARIS WILBURD, 14 of Austin, AK, MALIYAH PETE, 14 of Oklahoma City and KORTNEE SOLOMON, 14, of Hempstead, TX, walk in the alley way of the 68th annual Roy Leblanc invitational in Oklmulgee, OK on Saturday, August 12, 2023. The girls are competing in the Jrs. barrel racing event. Wilburd leads in the Bill Pickett Rodeo barrel racing even with 150 points.The annual rodeo featured events of barrel racing, ranch bronc, bull riding, ladies steer undecorating, calf roping.. and of corse the crowd favorite. “THE PONY EXPRESS” competition. (Brian Branch-Price/TheFotoDesk)

Wilburd is a rear and natural find in Rodeo. She is first generation cowgirl, while most competitors runs 3,4,5 deep generational.

Wilburd runs second oldest in the line of five siblings just behind older brother Jaylen, 16, who by the way looks after Paris and his three other sisters Reign, Zoey, Rylan. Jaylen does not compete in the rodeo. But  Reign, Zoey, Rylan do in the junior class. Parents Zanetta and her husband Rashaun tag teams support throughout the year.

During the 2023 championship Wilburd ran 14.9 in the barrel race she said “it was really really good. I knew once my horse turned the first barrel really good I knew in that second we were good.”

UPPER MARLBORO, MARYLAND: The Wilburd Family from Austin, AK during of the annual Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo Championships at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, MD on Saturday, September 23, 2023. (Brian Branch-Price/thefotodesk)

In the steer undecorating Wilburd snatched that tape of in 1.4 seconds. After she left the chute she said I had my eyes on it.” And was determine to reach for it.

UPPER MARLBORO, MARYLAND: PARIS WILBURD, 14 of Austin Arkansas reacts after competing in the final round of the ladies steer undectorating event during the finals of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo Championships at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, MD. on Saturday, September, 23, 2023. Azja Bryant took first in the event but Wilburd placed first in Ladies barrel racing event. (Brian Branch-Price/thefotodesk)

“Her mom took her to a pumpkin patch festival while at six years old and her mom took her back for one less and she was hooked ever since.” Rashaun said.

Not only does Paris, a 14 year old ninth grader,  rodeo but runs track and plays volley,  But now that the Bill Pickett is over Paris will continue to rodeo for the remainder of the including The Teenage Arkansas Rodeo Association  well as jackpot barrel runs

PARIS HOW DO YOU GET YOUR HOMEWORK DONE?

I typically get my hw done inc class. .. When I’m in school I focus on my school work because When I know ehe I;mout of School A lot of stuff to do.

TELL ME ABOUT TRACK SEASON

Outdoor season hasn’t;t start u=yet but I pretty much run all the events. “I run the 200, 400, all the relays, long jump, triple jump.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN TRACK

“I got started in track from my mom because  my mom use to run track when she was younger.”

HOW DID YOU GET INTO VOLLEY BALL

“I got into volley ball from my mom when she was younger also.  She played volley ball and we also have the same coach. We just kind of launched into that and have been doing that since the 7th grade

AT THE 2022 BPIR YOU HAD A HELMET ON TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

“I had this English fuzzy black helmet on and I kind of grew out of I When I got my red hat for Christmas and I never taken my red hat off after that.  “My hat is bright red velvet hat and I love it.”

*FILE FOTO*. UPPER MARLBORO, MARYLAND: IN THIS SEPTEMBER 24, 20202 FILE FOTOD PARIS WILBURD of Austin, Arkansas competes in the barrell racing event during the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo Championships at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, MD. Wilburd is the BPIR junior barrel race champ. (Brian Branch-Price/thefotodesk)

JUST EXPLAIN YOUR IMPROVEMENTS FROM 2022 BPIR TO 2023 BPIR

From last year to this year my imporvoemen I would definitely say in the Bill picket Rodeo the competition has gotten a little tougher.  Well I improved as a rider and trusted my horse more and me and my horse put in a lot of work in during the summer and I feel my horse and I did better than we did last year

CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW YOU TRUSTED YOUR HORSE MORE

My horses name ins Baby Blue Bugs I trust him when I practice.  I talk to him thought out my runs and give him treats after he has done good.  I just have to put buy trust into him.  Cause if I don’t have trust in my horse our run is not going to look the best.

HOW HAS YOUR TAINER LILLY HELP YOU ALNONG THE WAY

Illy helps me by keeping me on my horse throughout the summer.  I stay with her a lot though out the summer to ride. She wakes me up every morning to remind me to get on my horse and ride.  She gives me motivation to ride and to compete.  She keeps me up when I’m down. She just talks to me through out the whole rodeo season.

WHAT TIME TO DO YOU WAKE U IN THE MORNING

During the summer I typically wake up between for and five am.  During school I  have lessons right after volley ball practice

DO YOU FEED BLUE IN THE MORNING

Yes.  iahve two courses out of my I  house I typically feed them after I get dressed for for school ion the morning

AS FAR AS. THE LADIER BARREL RACING WHAT WAS YOUR STATUS COMING INTO THE BPIRC

Coming into the Bill Pickett I was sitting first place. I knew I had to have a lot of clean smart clean half runs to keep my portion.

YOU GOT ALL AROUND

I did because I compete in two events and in All-around you have to compete in two or more events and you have to be consistent

WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE TO HAVE THAT ALL AROUND CHAMPIONSHIP

To win All-Around if felt really good to me because I haven’t won all around at the the Bill Pickett Rodeo and so it felt really good and also I was in a new event.

DO YOU HAVE THE SAME EXPECTATIONS FOR NEXT YEAR’S BILL PICKETT

I do have the same expectations and hope to go out there and work hard in the Ladies barrel racing and the ladies steer undercorating and all around.

UPPER MARLBORO, MARYLAND: PARIS WILBURD, 14 of Austin Arkansas rounds the second barrel in the ladies barrel racing competition during the finals of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo Championships at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, MD. on Saturday, September, 23, 2023. Wilbur won first place in the event. (Brian Branch-Price/thefotodesk)

(REPORTAGE by Brian Branch-Price)