Chadron State College Athletic Hall of Fame
Jennifer Nelson’s time at Chadron State had a sad ending, but her adaptation to tragedy demonstrated her cowgirl capabilities. The Hartford, S.D., native competed for the CSC rodeo team in 2004-05, bringing along her bay gelding, Pickle. They easily won the region’s breakaway roping title, catching 13 of the 17 calves she drew in an average time of 2.8 seconds. After roping her first three calves in 2.3, 2.4 and 2.9 seconds she was the leader going into the last round of the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper.
Just before she was to make her run, Pickle died. She quickly saddled her dad’s horse that they had brought along. They got off to a slow start, but Jennifer caught the calf in 4.8 seconds—good enough to finish third in the final standings. She also received the rodeo’s Hardluck Cowgirl Award. Jennifer and Pickle had won the South Dakota’s breakaway championships in 2003 and ’04. Now living at Humbolt, S.D., she works in the Nelson family’s trailer sales business
