MAY 2000 BACK ISSUE

Part of Horse Previews Magazine website. Posted on 05/05/2000; 2:00:00PM.

Youth of the Month - Craig Stritzke

Craig Stritzke, currently seventeen and a junior at Jenkins High School in Chewelah, began riding horses at the age of two. Since then he's spent countless hours in the saddle; riding, training and competing. He rides just about every day, rain or shine, summer or winter.

All that time in the saddle paid off last fall as he capped his 1999 barrel racing season with a stellar performance at the Omak Barrel O Rama and Northwest Junior and Youth Championships. That event, put together by Jerry and Diane Kendrick, brought top young riders from all over the Northwest to Kendrick's Arena in early October. With a three run time of 47.985 he won the Northwest Youth Championship saddle sponsored by Pateros Super Stop. He also took home some cash for that event and for winning Sunday's American West 4D with a time of 15.752. Despite clipping a barrel on his last run, he still finished fifth in the Rawson's Futurity, adding to his winnings.

Craig has high hopes for the upcoming year. He's brought two young horses to Merlin Farms to train in their indoor arena and will start his 2000 season at Albany, Oregon in early March. He's aiming at the Martha Josey Junior World Championships at the Josey Ranch in Texas this May.

Craig comes by his love for horses and riding naturally, with a family that's always been horsing around. Many of the horses he's ridden over the years have been home-raised and trained. His sister, Cara, competes on the Spokane Community College Rodeo team, has earned her PRCA card as a barrel racer, and was last years Colville Rodeo Queen. His mom, Noretta, barrel races and raises and trains horses. His dad, Stan, is a horseshoer and competes in cow penning.

With the goal of learning some different approaches to training, he spent part of last summer working at Dan and Jacki Rosser's ranch in Marsing, Idaho. He learned a lot about cutting and reining horses there. Craig's start in competition was in the Eastern Washington Junior Rodeo Association where he competed in goat tying and breakaway roping as well as barrels. He enters as many 4H events as he can fit into his schedule, and qualified for the state championships last year. Although he was not able to compete, he has done so several times in the past.

Craig's dedication extends to his school work. He is on the Honor Roll at Jenkins, where he's taking a college-bound curriculum. He participates in early release so he has more time to work with his horses. He'd like a career training horses, but is keeping his options open.

A fine young man with a winning smile, Craig is sure to meet much success in the future. His experience training and competing have left him with a good work ethic and a great attitude, both of which will serve him well in any endeavor.