Ella Beggar, World Rodeo Champion
 | Author:
Mikayla Kraft, MT43 News Correspondent
MT43 News School Correspondent |
Ella Beggar, World Rodeo Champion
Mikayla Kraft
MT43 News Correspondent
I have had the privilege of knowing the famous senior, Ella Begger for almost four years now and she is an inspiration to so many people around her. People across Broadwater County, and now across the world, know Ella Beggar. Ella has now been pronounced the 2023 World Champion Pole Bender. She is the third Montanan to ever win the World Championship since 1960 and the first since 2004. Though she has had many accomplishments, she did not win this title by default. She put a large amount of hard work into this accomplishment and she cannot give all of the credit to herself.
Ella grew up in North Dakota and Montana, moving to Townsend, MT when she was a freshman in high school. Her rodeo career did not start in Montana, however, it has been growing since she started rodeo when she was only 7 years old with the purchase of her quarter pony mare, Pepper. Pepper was only six years old when Ella got her, but has since then become a strong and talented partner and friend of Ella’s. She competes in 5 events, “barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying, breakaway, and team roping,” however her favorites are, “pole bending, breakaway, and goat tying. (Beggar)"
Her family has been a huge support through the years and has continually given her the encouragement to achieve her most difficult goals, “...they’re the ones driving [my sibling and I] and spending the time and money for me and my sibling to have opportunities.” However, her family is not the only support she receives, “Montana High School Rodeo Association… is one of the best ones out there… The amount of support from all of the parents and even competitors, friends, and rodeo moms”. She strongly believes that competing is about wanting success for everyone rather than turning against each other for the sake of winning.
As a senior in high school, it can be difficult for her to balance rodeo and education as both are highly important to her. She simply tries to put all of her attention towards school during school hours and get her assignments done in that time because she knows the rest of the afternoon and evening will mostly consist of training. It can be difficult and stressful, but she is not going to give up her passion for rodeo. She “definitely would love for another world championship in the pole bending, but would also like to have the chance for a title in my other events, that’s the whole reason why we do this, to work toward opportunities like being a world champion in all the events we compete in.” She continued, stating that it is going to take a lot of practice physically and mentally, success doesn’t come free.
Overall, rodeo has been “a huge blessing to be able to do… and do it with people I enjoy it with,” Ella stated. She has also extended her thanks to the community for their continuous support through the years. Go, Ella!
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PhotoCredit: Photo Credits: Mikayla Kraft
Image 1 Caption: Ella Beggar and her horse, Pepper after winning the World Championship in Gillette, Wyoming.
Photo Credits: Mikayla Kraft
