Rick Patrick
rick@greenepublishing.com
Madison County 4-H’er, Nadia Waller, is no stranger to horses. She has been around horses all her life and owned her first horse at the ripe old age of four. It is no wonder that today she spends most of her weekends at area rodeo arenas. The 15-year-old JMPHS sophomore has been participating in several equestrian speed events over the last several years. In more recent years, she has added steer wrestling and goat tying to her list of events.
In May 2021, Nadia participated in the 4-H Area North Horse Show, in Green Cove Springs, Fla. Placing second in three of her five chosen events, Senior Speed Ground Handling, Senior Barrels and Senior Stake Race. Placing third overall in the overall speed events qualified her for the 4-H State Horse Show in July, in Tampa, Fla. At the Florida State Horse Show, she walked away with second place in Senior Stake Race, fourth in Senior Barrels, and sixth in Senior Poles Race. Nadia placed 26th overall in the state and qualified to compete at regionals in Perry, Ga., the last weekend of July. Although she did not place at regionals, she had a wonderful 4-H learning experience!
4-H has not been Nadia’s only equestrian competitions. Participating in the Pavo Buckle Series (six-month series), she received Reserve Champion in Youth Division in 4D. When she was not riding in Pavo, she was in Quitman, Ga., participating in the Georgia-Florida Youth Rodeo (GFYR). The cowgirl finished the GFYR season third in Senior Barrels, fourth in Senior Goat Tying and sixth in Senior Poles.
When Nadia is not practicing for her own events, she is teaching riding lessons to younger riders. Madison County 4-H is proud of Nadia’s accomplishment this year and looks forward to watching her grow and improve in the years to come. If you see her around town, congratulate her on a job well done and her hard work on “Making the Best Better!”
Nadia is the daughter of Heidi Waller and granddaughter of Jim and DJ Waller.