ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. — Arina Haugen joined a rare South Dakota company on July 20. 

The Sturgis High School sophomore-to-be claimed the All-Around Rookie Cowgirl title at the National High School Finals Rodeo. She’s just the third South Dakotan to earn the honor, joining Buffalo’s Kayla Nelson (1999) and Faith’s Dusti Varland (2004).  

“I didn’t know that,” Haugen said. “That’s pretty cool that South Dakota can show up. I want to see more people succeed from South Dakota. Hopefully this is a start.”

It’s not the start of Haugen’s rodeo story, but instead a continuation of her rising career. In addition to earning the honor at nationals, Haugen won the 2024 Rookie Cowgirl title at the South Dakota High School Finals Rodeo, was the Reserve All-Around Cowgirl and was the state’s barrel racing champion. 

“It’s pretty rewarding,” Haugen said. “The most rewarding part is when you have the horses and family that are along with you, helping you achieve those goals.”

Sturgis' Arina Haugen competes in the breakaway roping at the South Dakota High School Finals Rodeo in Fort Pierre on June 15. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

She carried the momentum into nationals, qualifying in the breakaway roping, pole bending and barrel racing. She racked up 840 total points, finishing 350 points ahead of second place Kinley Follman (North Dakota). Haugen finished fourth in the All-Around Cowgirl standings.

“I had high expectations for myself,” Haugen said. “But for it to actually come true is pretty cool. I was hoping to have some luck and come home with something at least. I was wanting maybe the all-around. But the rookie all-around is still pretty cool.”

It was her first time competing at the National High School Finals Rodeo. But Haugen had competed at the National Junior High Finals Rodeo and other big events. 

Those previous rodeos helped her on the big stage. 

“I wasn’t nervous,” Haugen said. “I have been to a lot of big places before. So it was just another rodeo to me where I was going to show up and do my best.”

Sturgis' Arina Haugen competes in the barrel racing at the South Dakota High School Finals Rodeo in Fort Pierre on June 15. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

At nationals, Haugen was fifth in breakaway roping (9.32 seconds), 12th in pole bending (66.107) and 15th overall in barrel racing (52.973). 

Haugen’s best performance was in the breakaway roping on Friday evening, running a 2.62 seconds to win the performance and finishing ninth in the second go-round. 

The breakaway roping also bolstered her chances significantly at winning the All-Around Rookie Cowgirl title. 

“It was the breakaway roping for sure,” Haugen said. “I roped all three calves and I put myself in a good position to get those points.”

But Haugen wasn’t focused on the end goal at nationals. She instead locked in on her performances throughout the week. 

It paid off in the end. 

“I had kind of been tracking it all week long,” Haugen said. “So I kind of knew. I don’t really focus on winning the all-around. I kind of focus on each individual event. But when it does play together like that in the end, it’s super cool.” 

It also culminates months and years of hard work, too. Haugen, who plays basketball in the winter, regularly competes in rodeo throughout the year. In November, she will compete at a breakaway roping in Arizona and will head to Texas in February for a rodeo. 

She’s currently en route to Oklahoma for the World Championship Junior Rodeo.

“I am glad that my parents give me these opportunities,” Haugen said. “I think going to the bigger rodeos throughout the year helps me get to these big places like nationals and my nerves aren't as big when I go to big rodeos.”

Arina Haugen's belt buckle for winning the All-Around Rookie Cowgirl title at the National High School Finals Rodeo. (Courtesy photo)

Parents Dee and Tyler were both former professional rodeo performers, sister Landry competes for the University of Wyoming rodeo team and 9-year-old sister Blaisely is next in line. 

“It’s fun watching my sister (Landry) rodeo,” Haugen said. “We both rodeo in different ways and compete in different ways and it’s fun to watch that. It’s awesome that my parents support it that much.” 

Haugen also credits her horses — “Chili” and “Scratchy” — for winning the All-Around Rookie Cowgirl title. Chili is her pole bending and barrel racing horse, while Scratchy is her breakaway roping horse. 

Chili and Wyoming’s Rayne Grant won the pole bending at the 2022 National High School Finals Rodeo. Chili was also the 2022 American Quarter Horse Association Horse of the Year. 

Scratchy is Landry’s horse and Arina said “we go together pretty well and really grateful my sister let me use him.” 

“They are the reason that I won this,” Haugen added about her horses. “Chili, she is outstanding in both of her events and she makes my job easy. Scratchy, he does the same thing every time. He will back in the box. He will go when I tell him to go. He does a great job. He’s just a soldier for me.”