Mid Plains Community College rodeo athlete Whitney Jennings had a stellar freshman season, punching her ticket to the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming this June. The Seneca, Nebraska native placed third in the Great Plains Region in the breakaway roping to secure her spot.
Though this will be her first trip to the CNFR, it is not her first time competing on a national stage. In high school, she qualified for the National High School Finals Rodeo three times in the cutting, and once in the breakaway.
When it came time for Jennings to decide where to continue her education and rodeo career, she ultimately decided to give MPCC a chance.
“My team is the best,” said Jennings. “Blue vests are everywhere and I love it. It is great to be surrounded by people who want to push you and see you do well.”
Her CNFR qualification comes after a picture-perfect fall college rodeo season where she went into the winter ranked first in the region. Despite facing challenges in the spring, her performance in the fall helped her maintain a spot in the top three.
Jennings qualified behind Black Hills State University’s Riley Donnelly in the second place slot, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Jaya Nelson in first place.
Going into her first CNFR, her goals are simple.
“My goal is to catch all three calves,” Jennings said.
Listen or watch to our full interview with Whitney here:
