Kayen, a junior at St. Labre, has spent his entire high school career at the school. And while St. Labre doesn’t offer rodeo as an extracurricular activity, Kayen has little trouble finding rodeos during the spring, summer and early fall. In fact, he just returned from the Indian National Finals Rodeo with an extra $500 in his pocket for placing in the breakaway roping event.

“I like roping, but I’m looking at other events that I might eventually try,” he says. In the meantime, he enjoys his time at St. Labre. When asked what subject he enjoys the most, he doesn’t pause a moment. “Math. I like math problems. They make me think.”

And he doesn’t neglect the sports program at the school. He plays basketball and is working on trying to dunk the ball. “I’m getting closer. By the end of the season, I think I’ll be able to do it,” he says with a grin.

“There are so many opportunities here. I really like the staff and my classes and every Friday we get to go to Mass.”

His overall opinion of St. Labre is positive. “There are so many opportunities here,” he says. “I really like the staff and my classes and every Friday we get to go to Mass.”

As for future plans after high school, he isn’t too sure what he will be doing, but rodeo will play a big part. He loves traveling to the various rodeos and participating in team roping and breakaway roping. At school, he really enjoys his welding classes with Mr. Earl.

At home he has two younger sisters and a younger brother. And his advice for success in school is simple: “Stay on top of everything.” That just might mean his rodeo horse, too.

Zoey, a junior at St. Labre, loves the rodeo scene. She’s an accomplished breakaway roper and credits her step-father for teaching her the techniques when she was ten years old. She just returned from the Indian National Finals Rodeo in Arizona. “I had a great time,” she says. “I think I’m getting better each year.”

“I’m getting a very good education here. And I like the atmosphere of the school.”

As for St. Labre, she came her freshman year and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of education here. “I like world history. I enjoy reading about people in other parts of the world—their language, cultural values and lifeways. It’s all very interesting.”

Although rodeo is a large part of her summer and fall, she also plays volleyball and basketball for the Lady Braves but notes that she’s partial to volleyball.

As for the education she is receiving, she says, “I’m getting a very good education here. And I like the atmosphere of the school.”

Zoey’s future plans include college, quite possibly Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana. “I’m thinking about getting a business degree,” she says. “And, of course,” she says with a smile, “MSU has a very good rodeo team.”

So far, traveling the rodeo circuit during the summer delights her. And she hopes that pretty soon her younger sister, who is a barrel racer will be joining her. At school, Zoey also likes her beading class because it keeps her mindful of her culture.

As for advice to underclassmen at St. Labre, she notes: “Stay up with your work, and don’t fall behind. When you fall behind your grades slip and then you have to make up what you missed.” Great advice from a rodeo champion and a young woman headed for a great college career.