Taylor Harmon, of Calhoun, competed July 21-28 at the 2012 NBHA Youth World Championships held in Perry, an invitation only event that is the largest youth barrel race in the world.

The NBHA Youth World participants numbered over 1000 in the Teen Division (13 and over) and approximately 700 in the Youth Division (12 and under). The contestants ran for over $200,000 in cash and prizes. Prizes included 4-Star Trailers, Cactus Champion Saddles, Gist Buckles, Drysdales Championship Vests, Tony Lama Boots and many other prizes.

Contestants were from over 36 states, Canada, Italy, Panama and Australia. Contestants must qualify each year in their respective states to compete in the NBHA Youth World Championships and are the finest youth equine athletes in the world. They qualify on a local level by competing at NBHA sanctioned shows or they can win a “Wildcard” at NBHA National Shows, Super Shows and State Show events.

The National Barrel Horse Association is based in Augusta and has members in every state and five continents. It is known to be the most innovative barrel racing business in the industry and is credited with introducing the divisional concept to barrel racing.

Harmon is 14 years old and a Freshman at Sonoraville High. She is the daughter of Andrea and Monte Wilkey and Scotty Harmon. Her older brother is Dustin Harmon.

Taylor chose her six-year-old “Kings Magic Command” aka Toby to compete on at NBHA Youth World. She has spent the last year training him herself for barrel racing and pole bending. She also has two other horses that she competes on for barrel racing and rodeo. She has just started training her fourth horse. This will be the second she’s trained on her own. She hopes to use the horse she is currently training for barrel racing and pole bending as well as roping.

In addition to being a memeber of NBHA, Taylor is also a memeber of SERA (Southeastern Ropers and Barrel Racers Association) and GJRA (Georgia Junior Rodeo Association). Taylor was the 2011 2D and 3d Youth Champion Barrel Racer and 4D Open Champion for SERA. She finished the 2011-2012 season of GJRA in third place in Barrel Racing, Roping and Pole Bending and fourth place in Goat Tying, as well as third place in All Around Cowgirl for her age division. She finished up the 2012 season for SERA on Saturday taking the 2D Youth Champion Barrel Racer and 3D Open and finishing in fourth place in 1D Youth and third in 2D Open. Taylor competes in four events for GJRA and hopes to add Team Roping to that next year.

Taylor said she would like to thank her family and friends for the support over the past two years. She would also like to thank a few who have have helped her along the way - Aleah Higgins, Paula King and the entire Orozco family. She is currently taking lessons for Barrel Racing and Pole Bending with Cathy Pharr at Lightning P Arena in Resaca.