Arkansas Teen aims to achieve National Finals Rodeo first

AUSTIN, Ark. – From the stall to all-time great, 15-year-old Paris Wilburd has been making a name for herself in rodeo.

Since the Austin teen first got in the saddle at age six, Paris says she has “never wanted to go without a horse.”

Lily Wofford, owner of Wofford Ranch, has coached hundreds of kids. It didn’t take long for her to notice Paris was a coachable kid with natural ability.

“When we first had that conversation about competing, I said realistically we need to be about a year into this before we start looking at competitions. We started in June or July and in October Paris was in her first rodeo, and she ended up winning all-around cowgirl that year too,” Wofford recalled.

Paris has had winning by the tail ever since with barrel racing being her best sport.

From Texas to Georgia, California to Colorado, and more. She won big in 2023 at the Bill Pickett Rodeo National Finals in D.C. earning the junior and women’s all-around champion title.

“That’s really cool for someone of her age to be able to win not against her age, but of ladies of any age,” Wofford said.

“I had dreams of being like winning everything and pinning a name out for myself, but I never actually knew that it would ever happen,” Paris said.

Paris and her horse named F. L. Baby Blue Bugs who’s name outside of competition is Fugley have gone on to place in the top 10-15 of 700 to 800 horses Paris’ coach says.

The two are more than the winners of almost a half-dozen national titles, they’re friends, according to Paris, best friends.

When her other friends ask where she is they know more than likely she is training or at the rodeo. It is more than a hobby. In 2023 alone she won $60,000 in prize money.

As much as she’s accomplished, she has no intention of slowing down.

“I want to do this forever, and I want to go to the National Finals Rodeo and be the first black African American to win,” Paris said. “I’m very excited to get up to that level, but we still have a few years until we get there.”

It is not Paris, France that needs to watch out for Paris Wilburd as competition, but Las Vegas.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.