Stanmore’s Mandy Murfitt will carry on a proud family tradition in the rodeo arena when she saddles up to ride in the United States later this month.

Mandy’s father Mark and brother Jack are both accomplished rodeo competitors riding bulls and horses, and now the St Columban’s Caboolture student has the chance to shine in the international arena.

The 17-year-old will compete in the barrel race and pole bending events at the National High School Rodeo Association finals in Gillette, Wyoming from 18-24 July.

She gained selection in the national team for the first time after shining at the Australian High School Rodeo Association finals at Kingaroy in May.

Mandy said she was pleasantly surprised at being selected in the Australian team.

“I’ve only been riding for about five years so it was pretty good to make the team,” she said.

“I was a little bit surprised to make it because my horse Hope is only a baby, so I was pretty proud of her.”

Quarantine restrictions means four-year-old Hope won’t make the journey overseas with Mandy, with the teenager to have four days to work with a local horse before the start of the world finals.

In a sad twist of fate, Mandy has been forced to sell her double doc mare to fund her trip to the USA, where she will wear two hats.

Not only will she ride for Australia, she is also an ambassador for her country, serving as our Rodeo Queen.

“It involves things like opening buildings over there and doing speeches and interviews on radio shows and stuff like that,” Mandy said.

While she notes that “you can’t really make enough money doing it as a career”, Mandy has her sights set on learning the ropes of rodeo in the USA by gaining a scholarship to an American college.

“It’s good to be doing something instead of being a kid just hanging around shopping centres, and I enjoy doing something that actually gets you somewhere,” Mandy said.

Mandy follows in the footsteps of Dayboro’s Joel Wallace, who competed for Australia’s high school rodeo team in Wyoming in 2005.

Anyone interested in buying Hope can contact 0488 128 806.