Pine Crest School students are known for their intellect, curiosity, and talents, with recent graduating classes including pilots, filmmakers, entrepreneurs, researchers, animal rescue advocates, and more. One Class of 2019 alumna, Britta Strain, adds amateur rodeo champion, professional roper, and future equine radiologist to the long list of students’ diverse interests.
When she was 10 years old, Britta won her first rodeo buckle at the Davie Rodeo Summer Series. That marked the beginning of a promising career in rodeo and an interest in all things equine, which Britta plans to take with her to college and beyond. She went pro for roping in February 2019, and signed with the Texas A&M University rodeo team where she plans to study biomedical science with her hopes set on becoming an equine radiologist.
A combination of sheer determination, dedication, and grit have helped get Britta to this point. She travels to competitions most weekends and practices every day, often driving an hour and thirty minutes from Fort Lauderdale to Okeechobee to work on different rodeo skills at multiple venues. Like track and field, there are multiple events in rodeo. Britta competes in five of these events, which include barrel racing, breakaway roping, goat tying, pole bending, and team roping. Of these, her main events are goat tying and breakaway roping where the fastest time wins.
“Goat tying is a dangerous event because you get off the horse while he is running,” said Britta. “I have had three surgeries as a result of this event and have torn my quad off the bone completely, along with tearing all the ligaments in my right ankle.”
Pine Crest President Dr. Dana Markham ’18H and several administrators, teachers, and students supported Britta in person at a rodeo in Davie recently. She won many of her events with her Pine Crest fans in the stand watching.
“Rodeo is very uncommon in Florida, so it was cool to introduce people to such a different sport and see them be intrigued by what I was doing,” said Britta. “It meant the world to me for everyone taking the time out of their weekend to come watch something so far off from what they are normally around. It definitely made competing so much more fun that day because many of the people there had never been to a rodeo before.”
In addition to her athleticism, Dr. Markham noticed Britta’s sound character.
“Britta has such a kind, caring spirit,” said Dr. Markham. “At the rodeo, I noticed children following Britta around — she is an idol to many! She spent time and was gracious with everyone. I also see this at Pine Crest. Britta is amazing to the other students and the faculty and staff.”
This summer, Britta will be on tour traveling to rodeos only offered to high school students as well as some pro rodeos. While at Texas A & M, Britta will not be far from her horses, living 15 minutes from where they will be kept so she can take care of them and practice with the rest of the rodeo team. Her rodeo schedule will run year round, with 10 in the fall and 10 in the spring.
“My biggest rodeo goals are to win the breakaway roping event held at The American in AT&T Stadium (home of the Dallas Cowboys) and to qualify for the College National Finals Rodeo my freshman year in college in breakaway roping and goat tying,” said Britta.
In addition to academics and rodeo, Britta ran cross country and ran hurdles for track and field for Pine Crest. Joe Markham, Pine Crest Executive Director of Security and Support Services, is one of several administrators, teachers, and coaches who has known Britta from the beginning.
“Britta is a ‘lifer,’ who has been part of the Pine Crest community since pre-primary,” said Mr. Markham. “It feels like yesterday that she was riding the bus from Davie to the Fort Lauderdale campus. From the bus drivers and teachers to the coaches and campus security team, it has truly been a privilege for us to be a part of Britta’s life. With all that she has accomplished so far, there is no doubt that she will reach her goals and more. We look forward to cheering her on from Pine Crest!”