Brown County Fair Association Royalty will be on hand throughout the 57th Brown County Rodeo Thursday through Saturday, and the youngest member of the trio will continue her tradition of competing in the event.
Bentley Till, the 11-year-old Brown County Fair Association Princess, made her barrel racing debut at the Brown County Rodeo when she was just 3 years old. Till is eagerly awaiting her return to the Earl Q. Wilson Arena this weekend.
“I’ve ran my Palomino there and I ran my really good horse Shorty there, so just being able to run there has been so special,” Till said. “It’s been like a tradition to me and I’m just very happy they’re having it this year and I’m able to keep that tradition going.”
As for being a member of fair association royalty along with competing, Till said, “It means a lot because it tells people that I rodeo and I can also make sure that everybody else gets the opportunity to meet and talk to me.”
Till, the daughter of Kelly Till, first began barrel racing at the age of 8 months old. Among her accomplishments, Till has competed in the BBR World Finals in Oklahoma as well as the All In Barrel Race in Las Vegas, appearing for the past three years.
“I’ve been everywhere,” Till said. “I go to little jackpots, junior rodeos, and barrel races.”
Regarding her goals for the Brown County Rodeo, Till said, “I just want it clean and I want it consistent. I want to stay around my average time which has been 17. It would be amazing if I could get a 16 because that’s been my goal, but whatever happens I’ll be proud of myself and my horse.”
Asked of her long-term plans, Till said, “I definitely want to able to qualify back to the BBR and be able to futurity there again, then also be able to get a higher placing at the All-In Barrel Race. And I definitely want to be able to do more barrel races than we’ve been able to do the past year.”
Queen Rylah Morgan and Junior Miss Taylor Simpson will also be on hand during the weekend’s festivities.
The 57th Brown County Rodeo is slated to begin at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.