MINOT – Carnival rides, corn dogs, and funnel cakes weren’t the only things that were hot at the North Dakota State Fair this past weekend, July 30-31.

The High Stakes Barrel Race hosted some smoking runs. The event took place in All Season’s Arena on Saturday, June 31 with Tylie Johnson, 14, taking home first place and a $2,100 pay day against one hundred of the best barrel racers around.

Aboard her Dash for Cash, 16-year-old gelding named Jose, the team smoked the cloverleaf pattern in 13.500 seconds. The duo was a little nervous with a good run ahead of them. “I just tried to focus on doing what I had to do, stayed out of my horse’s way during the run, and it just happened,” explained Johnson.

“We didn’t really have any great runs together until Junior High State finals in Bowman. This summer has been challenging adjusting to the big outdoor arenas, but when we ran inside, it just clicked,” added Johnson.

Jose was brought into the Johnson family by way of Canada last February. He was hauled in a trailer with some other horses, next to a Clydesdale. The Clydesdale stepped on Jose, resulting in an injury that Johnson has been doctoring since then, which finally cleared up in July.

Johnson is an incoming freshman at Stanley Public School where she also plays basketball and volleyball. “I think sports really help with my rodeo as far as the mental game part of it. I am looking forward to this fall as a freshman in high school rodeo and will be entered in the barrels, poles, breakaway, goat tying, and hopefully team roping events,” added Johnson.

Currently the 14-year-old cowgirl has a 2-year-old horse she is working on, her breakaway horse, and Jose all on her daily riding schedule.

“I don’t know where I would be without my horses. Most of my friendships have come through a horse,” humbly stated the cowgirl.

Tylie is the daughter of Kyle and Bobbie Joe Johnson. For more information on the upcoming high school rodeo season and events, visit ndsra.org.