The South Buckeye Equestrian Center in Buckeye, Ariz., is becoming the winter haven for barrel racers. During the month of January, the SBEC hosts big barrel racers during each weekend including the who’s who of futurity riders and pro barrel racers.

The Barrel Racers National 4D (BRN4D) presents the Classic Equine Futurity and 5D as well as the Greg Olson Memorial on consecutive weekends. Both events were WPRA co-sanctioned for both open (Divisional circuit) points and the WPRA Futurity/Derby program.

One barrel racer taking advantage of warmer temps in Arizona in the winter is Megan Lewis. The cowgirl hails from Twin Falls, Idaho but spends time each year in Congress, just outside of Wickenburg. Lewis and her 9-year old phenom Frenchy Ta Dash earned top honors in the open 4D average for the Classic Equine race.

An own daughter of Pro Elite Sire Incentive (PESI) stallion Dash ta Fame and out of a daughter of PESI stallion Frenchmans Guy, Miss B certainly has the royal pedigree for barrel racing. During the Classic Equine race January 7-8, she proved it in the SBEC’s big covered arena.

Lewis posted a 17.226 during the first day, good enough for sixth in the 1D, and a 17.048 for third on day two, to win the two run average. Her total haul for the weekend was $1,223 plus awards.

“To be really successful at these big barrel races, where the times are so fast, I think it takes the horse being conditioned properly,” says Lewis of the SBEC’s tendency to produce lots of 16 second runs on a full WPRA standard pattern. “This includes being in physical shape as well as fed properly. Nichols Equine.net takes great care to see that my horses are fed properly.”

“And then, of course, you still need a little luck!”

Former Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR) qualifier Melanie Southard won the open on Saturday with My Perfect Choice and her time of 16.906. On Sunday, it was California Circuit Finals Rodeo qualifier Kimberlee Boddy and Hicks San Rey Olena with the 16.950 for the win.

Lewis trains futurity colts for a living, splitting time between Arizona and Idaho, and finished 14th in the Wilderness Circuit Pro Rodeo standings a year ago with Miss B. The duo added a championship at the Queen Creek, Ariz., ProRodeo as well.

After watching his daughter run barrels on a heel horse and deciding it was not some phase that would soon pass, Lewis’ father sent her to train with former WNFR qualifier Judy Myllymaki.

“I really did, and still do, learn everything from her,” says Lewis. Miss B also got her start with Myllymaki when owner Alan Woodbury of Woody’s Feeds sent the mare for training. “I got to be her jockey. It wasn’t exactly love at first sight because she is extremely sassy, but I knew I had to have her.” Lewis purchased the mare three years ago with the help of both Woodbury and Myllymaki.

“She won almost $10,000 last summer, and gave me the opportunity to learn a lot,” says Lewis. “We’d like to try it again this year and see if we can’t do a little better. I’d really like to make our circuit finals.

“I’m just really grateful to have Miss B in my life, and for the people who helped her get here, and I think she deserves her shot at a career.”

While Lewis is just embarking upon her own WPRA career, current Turquoise Director Sarah Kieckhefer is a solid veteran of the sport and a former Turquoise Circuit Champion. During the first weekend in Buckeye, Kieckhefer piloted a young horse, also with an outstanding pedigree, to the championship in the Classic Equine Futurity which had $10K added money and over 200 entries.

Fiesta Royale is a son of Royal Shake Em and out of Firewater Fiesta, the fabulous grey mare that carried Kelly Yates to a WPRA Reserve World title back in 2001. Yates bred the stallion, now five years old, but sold him when he was just days old to the late Booger Barter. Barter consigned the stallion to the JB Quarter Horses Creating Legends Sale in 2009 where a partnership paid $22,000 for the unbroken colt.

Kieckhefer and her WNFR tie down roping husband Rick joined with PRCA Reserve World Champion Tie Down Roper Brent Lewis and his wife Cami, along with Bruce Robinson, to buy the stallion. Both Lewis and the Kieckhefers have had turns training on the stallion and they have used him for ranch work.

“We use him a lot on the ranch,” Kieckhefer told The Barrel Racing Report, “and we’ve treated him like a horse. I turn him out with my geldings. He doesn’t have a special pen to himself.”

Bart, as Fiesta Royale is known, won the first go of the futurity with a 17.410, took sixth in the second round with a 17.488, to win the average and $8,534. He added another $10,000 for second in the slot race.

“They bought him as an investment,” she added in the BRR interview. “They told me not to get attached to him. With all the money he won this weekend, I think I might have to take my share and put it down on him myself, so I get a vote!”

Ryann Pedone and Kiss This Guy—now owned by WNFR qualifier Carlee Pierce—won the Derby with a 17.326. Pedone collected $1,465 for the win and added another $600 in the open races.

With barely a week to catch their breath, the BRN4D crew got started back up on January 12-15 with the Greg Olson Memorial. Taking top honors in the equally competitive GO Futurity was former WPRA member Mary Jo Camera and her horse Fairlea Lucky Gun. 2009 WNFR qualifier Jordan (Peterson) Briggs was second with Shake It Frenchie.

Taking the open average title was Amanda Nielson, who also won Saturday’s race, a whopper with almost 500 entries. Nielson posted a 16.853, the fastest run of the two weekends. Boddy was back on top on Sunday with a 16.931.

WPRA gold card holder Mary Lou Edwards and Front Bumper JC were second in the average after placing in both open 1D’s and winning both senior side pots. Edwards collected $1,370 for the weekend.

Shannon Tidwell piloted Richard Carl to the GO Derby win with a 16.978. The win was worth $1431.

Lewis, for one, approves of WPRA co-sanctioning events such as the Classic Equine Futurity and 5D and the Greg Olson Memorial and the role the events play for contestants.

“I love to see big barrel races co-approved with the WPRA,” she says. “I think it’s a great opportunity for young girls and young horses to see where they are without being in a high pressure, rodeo situation.”