When COVID canceled the 2020 College National Finals, dreams of hundreds of college athletes were crushed. One of who was Makayla Farkas. 

Now 21 years old, her first CNFR qualification may have never made it to the yellow arena of the Ford Wyoming Center, but three years later, she finally got to make the trip to Casper, Wyoming. And she made it count, walking away as the 2023 CNFR champion breakaway roper.

Coming back third high call, Farkas knew she wanted to take her best shot.

“I was just standing back there, and it’s my last CNFR probably, and I was like, I want to go for it, but at the same time, I want to be really smart,” Farkas of Leona Valley, California, said. “And so, I just sat back there, I trust my horse 100%. He’s amazing, and so I just kind of let him figure out the start. I went when I thought, and I said, ‘Score, ride your horse, rope the shoulder.’ That’s just all I told myself.”

Crushing Goals

The senior kinesiology major at West Hills Community College in Coalinga, California, was consistent throughout the week, roping her first calf in 2.5 seconds, her second in 2.8 seconds and her third-round calf in 2.7 seconds. Consistent two-second runs exceeded her hopes for the week.

“My goal all week was just to rope four calves, even better if in two seconds,” Farkas said. “I didn’t want to be any faster or slower than that, but if I was faster, that’s cool. But that was just my goal going into it. I wasn’t really looking too far deep into it. I didn’t want to frazzle myself. So, I just went in with a small goal, and it paid off in the end.”

And when it all came down to the day of the championship round, Farkas tried to keep her mind off of the short round, despite the morning interviews for the top three in each event.

“I went to lunch with my parents for Father’s Day, then I came back, kind of packed the trailer, got ready to head out and then I took a little nap and tried not to think about it at all,” Farkas said. “Then I came here, roped the dummy, saddled my horse—kind of followed my same routine that I always do—and then I came down here, and I did it.”

After posting a 2.7-second run, she couldn’t help but give a post-run fist bump of excitement for accomplishing her goal of roping all four calves. As she prepared to walk out of the Ford Wyoming Center—not realizing she had a shot at the top spot—the first and second high-call girls saw unfortunate luck in the short round, and Farkas came out on top with 10.9 on four head in the average.

“I was just so happy I roped all four calves,” Farkas said with a smile. “That was what I wanted to do so I was just stoked that I did that, and I was really proud of myself and proud of my horse. I honestly didn’t think I won it at all. I was just happy to be there. It was crazy.”

Rooster

Farkas was riding a special horse, her 12-year-old gelding Rooster. What makes him so special to Farkas is, in part, his versatility.

“I’ve had him forever and he’s just one of those horses that’s just so awesome to be around,” Farkas said. “I could take him outside, I could brand calves on him, I could the next day come and rope on him in a big stadium like this and he’s totally fine. I’ve taken him everywhere.”

Winning the national title was even sweeter because she got to do it with her favorite horse, whom she’s spent nearly eight years with.

“I love him so much,” Farkas said. “He’s the best thing ever. If you know him, you love him. He’s so cool and so honest. I couldn’t be where I’m at without him. I’ve had him forever; throughout high school, and we kind of learned together. He was the first horse I finished in the breakaway. So, without him I couldn’t do anything and I’m just really happy I got to do this with him.”

Average Results

1. Makayla E. Farkas (WHILLS) – 10.9/4

2. Kennedy M. Buckner (BLUE) – 11.3

3. Samantha A. Kerns (TVCC) – 12.2    

4. Raegan L. Steed (CSID) – 13.3          

5. Kyleigh J. Winn (KSSU) – 21.3          

6. Sutton S. Mang (ALLAN) – 21.5       

7. Morgan D. Foss (DICKSN) – 12.1      

8. Mikenna R. Schauer (NMTC) – 29.4

9. Tyree Q. Cochrane (CAPSLO) – 7.8/3

10. Haiden A. Thompson (GILLET) – 8.0/3

For full results, click HERE.