Three girls in three different high schools in three different towns havebecome best friends through their common interest - the Texas HIgh School Rodeo Association. They have a common goal - to make the National Finals.

They are Brittany Ellis of Troy, a sophomore in Troy High School, Cassie Harmon, a senior in Gatesville High School and Ellie Dabney a junior in Georgetown High School.

They are rodeo barrel racers and break-away goat ropers.

They compete against each other "and if I can't win, I root for my friends, hoping one of them does win" is a common comment.

Brittany Ellis made her second straight trip to state finals and qualified in three events. She advanced as champion and saddle winner  in barrel racing,  reserve champion in pole bending and ninth place in goat tying.

As a freshman, she advanced all the way to National High School Rodeo Finals in Springfield, Ill. after finishing as state champion runner-up in pole bending in Texas.  Ellis is Youth Director for Pole Bending in Region X and also is Region X Youth Secretary.

According to Brittany "there isn't  much spare time when you compete in multiple events. My parents have always helped me and backed me. It's expensive and takes a lot of time."

Cassie Harmon won the goat tying state championship and advanced to High School National Finals Rodeo in Farmington, N.M. last year. She is a veteran state finalist, Region X champion and saddle winner in goat tying, fifth place finisher in pole bending, and has competed in Region X for four years. She is the Youth Director for goat trying and has been a member of the Wrangler All-Star Team for four years.

Both the younger girls of the trio stress how much she has helped them, given them pointers and encouragement, as well as other girls on the circuit. Ellie Dabney made her third straight trip to THSRA finals and advanced to reserve champion in girls cutting, ninth in pole bending and fourth in barrel racing, tenth in goat tying. She was ten years old when she met her two friends "and it has been really cool running against them all these years. I am very blessed to have such a supportive family and some really great horses."