Kinzie Robins connects with children in the stands.

JOSEPH — Kinzie Robins says she doesn’t feel like an outsider in the rodeo world, being one of the first women to do what she does. Instead, she said, she has found her place in the world.

“I want everyone to know there’s a place for you, no matter what the world says,” she said. “If there’s a mold, break it. I am here to show you the way.”

Robins, 32, of Corinne, Utah, is a professional rodeo clown, one of the few women in pro rodeo circles with that job. Rodeo clowns entertain the crowd throughout the show and they also double as a barrel man, which helps distract the bulls and keep other rodeo performers safe.

She is scheduled to perform as the rodeo clown at this year’s Mountain High Broncs and Bulls free on June 15 in Joseph. (See the related story for more information.)

Robins grew up in Aurora, Utah and was steeped in rodeo culture from an early age. She said she learned how to ride and rope before she could walk.

“The first rodeo I actually remember participating in was when I was about four years old,” she said. “I got on a sheep in the ‘mutton bustin’” event. “I rode that thing backwards and looped around the arena, winning my very first trophy. I told my parents numerous times growing up that I wanted to be a professional team roper, a trick rider and a rodeo clown.”

But growing up, Robins did not see any female rodeo clowns. So she decided to put her childhood dream on hold to pursue basketball.

“My mother told me that ‘You only have four years of high school sports, and you can rodeo your whole life.’ That really stood out to me. So, I chose sports. When I graduated, I ended up going to college to play basketball,” Robins said.

When that path lost its appeal, Robins said, she decided to take a chance on her childhood dream.

“After my first year as a collegiate athlete, I decided that it really wasn’t the direction I wanted to go anymore. I talked to the rodeo coach at the university I was attending, and he offered me a scholarship to finish out my college career.”

During her time in college, Robins competed in the Rocky Mountain Professional Rodeo Association.

Her first gig as a rodeo clown didn’t go quite according to plan.

“I was so scared (during) my first rodeo as a clown,” she said. “After getting in the barrel, before the first bull was bucked, my knees locked up and I tipped myself over,” Robins said.

She responded in true rodeo clown fashion by using humor to ease what could have been a difficult moment.

“The announcer asked if I was OK, and I immediately told him I was one of those turtles that get stuck on their back and can’t get back up,” Robins said. “The crowd ate it up and thought it was a joke, which was great, but I was not joking. I was shaking, but had to make the best of that situation.”

As Robins’ experience grew, so did her reputation.

Robins’ rodeo coach at Southern Utah University, Shane Flannigan, made mention of her as a rising young star on the rodeo circuit to Lee Daggett, who’s organized Mountain High Broncs and Bulls for 20 years now.

“Lee Daggett actually had worked some rodeos with my college rodeo coach, who had mentioned to him that he had a former rodeo athlete who was a ‘woman barrelman,” Robins said. “Lee called me immediately and said that he wanted to know if I would like to come and be a part of the Broncs and Bulls, and that it will be such a cool experience to have not only women stock contractors, but a woman rodeo entertainer and barrelman.”

“Some of the biggest obstacles I still face are that of breaking the mold of being a barrelman,” and many rodeo fans aren’t familiar with the idea. “As far as I know, I am one of the only women to step into the arena as a rodeo clown. Nobody believes it until they see it,” Robins said.

Robins said the money in the rodeo is good, but said that the rodeo means more to her than a nice check.

“Rodeo life to me, means more than just entering rodeos for money. I am there because I have invested my whole life, and my heart, and soul into it.”

Robins said being in rodeos has taught her a lot about what she is capable of — and she wants to share that message with others.

“I want the world to know that it’s OK to evolve,” she said. “It’s OK to try something new. It’s OK to step out of your comfort zone. It’s OK to grow up and live out what you wanted to be when you were four years old.”

MOUNTAIN HIGH BRONCS AND BULLS

What: Mountain High Broncs and Bulls Rodeo.

When: Saturday, June 15. The preshow begins at 4:30 p.m. with the main event starting at 5.

Where: Harley Tucker Memorial Arena, 405 W. Wallowa Ave., Joseph.

How much: The rodeo, now in its 20th year, is free.

What to expect: Scheduled events include ranch saddle bronc riding, bull riding, youth bronc riding, wild horse racing, mutton busting, bull poker, sheep money scramble and more.

Website:

mountainhighrodeo.com