Hailing from the small, coastal town of Van Vleck, Texas, Kami Klepac has her eyes set on the big stage of the World Championship Junior Rodeo (WCJR) in Guthrie, Oklahoma, currently in the mix on the Junior Breakaway Leaderboard with 8,050 points.
2025 will mark 15-year-old Klepac’s third trip to the event, and fourth year competitively roping.
While Klepac may have come to rodeo later than some of her peers, but she’s made up for lost time. With family support and a strong practice routine, she’s focused on entering Guthrie with confidence.
“I’m going in there knowing I can win,” Klepac said. “I’ve been working hard, and now it’s time to do what I know best.”
She spends her mornings working barrel horses and evenings roping with her dad Dale, balancing her schedule around school and her family’s arena. That discipline and commitment extend to her string of horses, including her two breakaway mares—Cupcake and Fancy.
“Cupcake had some box problems, so we started working with Fancy,” Klepac explained. “Now they’re both scoring great and stopping hard. Cupcake’s a little more free, and Fancy’s better for a quicker setup, but I’ll probably ride Cupcake in Guthrie.”
Klepac also brings experience from the barrel pen with horses Zoey, Bullet, and Dusty, leaning on consistency and chemistry, especially with Zoe, her long-time partner.
Outside the arena, she’s backed by a strong support system. Her parents, Morgan and Dale, haul her to events, while her aunt Jocelyn and cousin Paisley Pierce have played a key role in her rodeo journey.
As the WCJR approaches, Klepac hopes her hard work—and a good draw—will pay off.
“Hopefully I draw good,” Klepac said. “But I’ll be ready either way.”
