By Amy C. Witt
Instagram: @caliiforniadreamin
www.caliidreamin.com
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At a very young age, Kamish Wagner’s signature bold “girl curl” was recognized. At only 14 months old, she was entered in her first dummy roping. When she was just 4 years old, Kamish Wagner was crowned the National Finals Rodeo Girls World Championship Dummy roping title. And as young as 5 years old, she started turning steers for her dad in the arena. Now, this 14-year old, cowgirl is not only talented and smart, but hard working and motivated, and a business owner on a mission to inspire girls and women of all ages to believe in themselves, roping and the power of Girl Kurl.
Kamish Wagner aspires to encourage all female ropers to be their best and rope their best. (Norm Witt Photography)
Born and raised in Red Bluff, California, Kamish is the daughter to Jerritt and Adrienne Wagner, who instilled in Kamish the time and dedication it took to deliver the ideal horn catch. In 2013, after doing something never done in the history of the National Finals Rodeo World Championship Dummy Roping, Kamish won her fourth girl’s world dummy roping championship. On their 10.5-hour drive home from the event that year, Kamish began developing her business, naming her company, Girl Kurl, evoked by her love for roping and her perfect signature horn catch – with the “C” being replaced by a “K” to represent her first name.
“My mom and dad have always reminded me that anyone can throw a loop. But, the definition of a girl curl is those who rope tough throw curl,” Kamish said. “Girl Kurl Roping apparel can help me pay it forward by promoting women to live by the Girl Kurl Creed.”
Kamish believes the best recipe for developing your perfect loop and Girl Kurl as a header is spending countless hours and daily commitment developing fundamentals with your favorite rope in hand – her personal favorite rope being Fast Back’s Centerfire extra-soft. She also explains that “true practice is processing all the possible steers you may encounter and working on strategies that will get you in tune.” This can also be applied to heeling and breakaway roping, too.
Through Girl Kurl, Kamish’s goal is to create a brand and apparel that motivates and empowers females in the roping industry. She keeps her prices low so that everyone can afford her product, especially kids and teens who save up to buy. Currently, her inventory consists of ball caps, drawstring bags, gloves, and t-shirts. She is actively working to expose Girl Kurl all over the United States and eventually, all over the world. And, donating apparel to dummy ropings is something that is very important to Kamish. To date, Girl Kurl has donated to the BC dummy roping, ACTRA National Finals dummy roping, the World Championship Dummy Roping, JP Ranch Rodeo dummy roping, along with local fundraisers, like helping with a family’s medical bills for their son. Kamish also plans on donating to female roping events and girl divisions at more dummy ropings.
A freshman at Red Bluff High School, Kamish is competing on the California High School Rodeo team, District 1, for her rookie year. Most recently, she was awarded the Red Bluff FFA Proficient award for Agricultural Sales for Girl Kurl, along with earning her Chapter Greenhand Degree. She is sponsored by Fast Back Ropes, Red Bluff Dodge, Total Feed, Les Schwab, Prime Lending, Red Bluff, along with her parents. Other businesses and individuals like Kystinz, Joe Vine/Copy Center, American Ink, the Loft, Norm Witt Photography, and her friends, and family who have supported and helped her along her journey.
“Having a Fast Back rope in my hand brings so much joy to my heart. Whether roping the ground dummies, calves, or steers, I find myself content and feel nothing can stop me from reaching my goals,” Kamish expressed. “I am determined to pursue my goals of going far with team roping and breakaway and while doing so, I will continue to represent strength and integrity as a female athlete.”
What does roping mean to you?
“Roping means the world to me and I’ve been known to shed a few tears at home if we have to miss a team roping now and then. Sometimes I catch my parents giggling about it and when I ask why they are laughing? They say, ‘We’ve created a roping monster.’ I can remember when I was about 9 years old I sat in the ACTRA National Finals stands watching the short round, watching the young boys spinning steers and I looked at my mom and said, ‘Mom when can I rope in the actual roping?”
Then at 11 years old I got to feel the excitement as I backed in the box of the short round and placed well and it was an amazing feeling hearing Bob Feist announce my name. And this past October, I won Reserve Champion with Tyler Friday in the #5.5 Roping. There is something about the grand entry, the loud music, and confident sound of the announcer’s voice that assures me that my hard work has paid off whether I am backing in the breakaway roping box or heading box at the National Finals Little Britches Rodeo, the past three years at the CJHSRA State Finals, the past two years at Silver State International Finals Rodeo, the BC Roping, a backyard jackpot team roping, or at a standard high school rodeo. I am grateful for every single day that I get to rope and am grateful for those who rope with me or alongside me.
Who/what inspires you and why?
All of the support I get from my mom, dad, my brother Kanton, family, and friends inspire me to continue to work hard. And, when I was little I always looked up to our longtime family friend, Chelsey Bushnell because she is so talented with a rope in her hand and she is very humble.
What do you think is the most challenging aspect of roping?
Two things I feel can be a challenge to most ropers is first, horsemanship. My parents always encouraged me to get on different horses and compete in many different rodeo events so that I could develop my horsemanship skills and it is horsemanship that supports me in handling my cattle to give my heeler the best possible set up. The second challenge would be scoring – diverse steers are probably the most challenging part of roping both as a header and breakaway roper because that is where you can either “set the pace and let’em chase” as my mom says, or you can cost the team a penalty or take yourself out of the breakaway roping.
What is your favorite part of roping?
My favorite part of roping growing up was and still is spinning steers for my dad. I also really enjoy getting to rope with and compete against all the different age groups and all the different levels of ropers. I can still remember when my mom and dad finally let me enter my first local jackpot and the butterflies I got when I got to enter my teams. My mom said, she was going to have to work hard to keep her partners now since I was now entering. That made me smile and feel like a team roper.
Tell us about the Girl Kurl creed.
As I was learning the FFA Creed for my Greenhand Degree, my mom (a high school teacher) suggested we develop a Girl Kurl Creed along with developing Girl Kurl as an acronym defining strength and supporting the message of the creed. And so we did. The Girl Kurl Creed and the strength words behind the acronym of Girl Kurl are what drives me to work hard at roping and rodeo not only to achieve my goals but to also encourage other females of all ages to believe in the power of their Girl Kurl.
GIRL KURL acronym (for everyone) Glory Intrepid Redemption Loyalty
Keen Unshakeable Revolutionary Legacy
The Girl Kurl Creed (for the female roper): Glory is only achieved through hard work and determination. It’s an intrepid mindset that will remind you of the skills you possess in moments of redemption. Your loyalty and dedication to the sport and keen sense of integrity in and outside of the arena will make you unshakable. For it’s the daily commitment and passion that will make you the revolutionary female roper you aspire to be and a legacy to all.
What advice would you give girls who rope or want to start roping?
If I was to give advice to females who want to learn to rope or are in the beginning stages of roping, I would encourage them to be dedicated to your Girl Kurl by roping the dummy the correct way daily, be grateful for a good horse, watch every roper because there is always something to learn in each run, only try to beat your personal best, and most of all give every run everything you’ve got and never give up. I was raised roping at my uncles Brewer’s Arena “Home of the Head Duckers” and also roping slow, medium, and fast cattle and I really feel that has help me read my cattle and at times make a businesswoman shot instead of rushing into a hurried decision.
Find Girl Kurl on Facebook and Instagram @girlkurl. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for purchases and information.
Kamish Wagner throwing her signature Girl Kurl loop. (Norm Witt Photography)
The author of the blog, California Dreamin’ (www.caliidreamin.com), Amy Witt’s articles have appeared in magazines and newspapers around the world. A fashionista, cowgirl and journalist, Amy strives to motivate and inspire people around the world.