Whataburger's Whatakid: Jada Trosper
Congratulations to the Whatakid of the Month, Jada Trosper! The Ponder, Texas native, and Region X member, is a competitor in the barrel racing and pole bending events. While she loves both, she explained how poles is definitely her favorite. “Poles is a speed game with one obstacle after another,” she said. “If you let your guard down, or your timing is slightly off, it will cost you five seconds.”
While this is Jada’s first year in THSRA, she said her favorite part about the organization is that it focuses on the kids, and provides the opportunity to compete against some of the top competitors in the state. Additionally, she explained how rodeo, as a whole, has taught her some of her most important life lessons like responsibility, patience, sportsmanship and determination.
“Because of the lessons rodeo has taught me, I am willing to make sacrifices and work to better myself so I can achieve my goals,” Jada explained. “Being around rodeo kids helps me develop better social skills that I will need for my future career, and it’s given me lifelong friends.”
In addition to lifelong friends, rodeo has brought Jada a few strong equine partners. Her current team consists of her pole horse Ems, and her barrel horses, Rocky and Seven. Rocky is best known for having grit, and being an “outlaw”, however, Jada explained how the 21-year-old mare recently tore her stifle coming around the first barrel at the Texas Circuit Finals Youth Rodeo in January.
“She has so much heart, I didn’t know anything had happened until we stopped,” Jada explained. While Rocky will be recovering and making her way into a happy retirement at Jada’s family ranch, Jada will be counting on Seven to fill Rocky’s shoes and carry Jada through 2020 THSRA state finals. “He is a beast in the pattern, and I cannot wait for our debut,” she said.
Outside of rodeo Jada is a straight A student, sitting third in her class. She is a member of Student Council, FFA, UIL, the varsity track and cross country teams, and the varsity cheerleading squad. While she did have to stop playing basketball and volleyball to make time for to work her horses, Jada said she wouldn’t change a thing.
“I had to make more time to do what I love the most,” Jada said. “I am very blessed to live the life that I live, and I thank God and my parents for making my dreams come true and helping me to pursue my goals.”
As a sophomore in high school, college is still a little ways off, but as of right now Jada said she would love to continue her rodeo career on the collegiate and professional levels, and would like to pursue a degree in the medical field. In the meantime, she said she is very thankful and honored to be selected as the Whatakid of the Month for Region X.
We wish all the best for Jada at state and in all of her future endeavors!
