At just 11 years old and heading into sixth grade, Brielle Stoltenberg of Bayard already feels right at home in the rodeo arena.With her horse Turbo by her side, she’s quickly becoming one of the rising talents in Nebraska junior high rodeo.
This past May, during the Nebraska Junior High State Rodeo Association Finals, Brielle turned in some of her best performances yet. She earned Reserve Champion honors in pole bending, finishing second with a combined time of 43.046 seconds. Abbi Cole of Norfolk took first, but Brielle’s steady runs showed just how far she’s come. She also placed ninth in barrel racing and competed in goat tying, proving she’s not afraid to take on multiple events.
Those strong showings earned her a spot at the 2026 National Junior High Finals Rodeo in Guthrie, Oklahoma. There, in pole bending, she delivered some of her fastest times yet — including a 20.996-second run — and advanced all the way to the short go. In the end, she finished 15th overall in the nation, a huge achievement for someone her age.
