One Last Go by Ethan Weston

Isabelle Camino undoes a strap ..., barrel racing and goat tying.

Isabelle Camino undoes a strap on her saddle following a day of rodeoing during the Wyoming State High School Rodeo on June 10, 2022 at the Johnson County Fairgrounds. Camino competes in three events: breakaway roping, barrel racing and goat tying.

Isabelle Camino joined the rodeo scene in Buffalo almost as soon as she could walk. When Camino was 18-months-old, her mom took her out and led her through her first patterns in front of a crowd. By the time she was 3, she was riding those patterns on her own. And by age 5, she’d won her first buckle.

“Since then I’ve just been almost addicted,” Camino said. “It’s hard but it’s enjoyable.”

Now Camino is getting ready to move on. Not from rodeo, but from Buffalo. Camino graduated from Buffalo High School in May. The Wyoming State High School rodeo, held in June, marked her last high school competition. While she didn’t do as well as she’d hoped, she’s still looking forward to her future.

Camino will attend Eastern Wyoming College this fall where she will continue to compete in rodeo.

“Wyoming is definitely one of the, if not the most, (difficult) states to rodeo in,” Camino said. “I don’t think (college) will be much different from high school.”

Isabelle Camino and her horse D...ly shatter my world.”

Isabelle Camino and her horse Dish compete in the barrel race during the Wyoming State High School Rodeo on June 11, 2022 at the Johnson County Fairgrounds. Camino has a strong relationship with each of her horses. “Those three horses … I look forward to seeing them every day,” Camino said. “If I ended up losing my ability to walk I would 10,000% at least try and ride horses again because I think if I were to quit … it would completely shatter my world.”

Isabelle Camino, second from ri...g the senior’s visit.

Isabelle Camino, second from right, walks with fellow seniors from Meadowlark Elementary School to Cloud Peak Elementary School as part of the senior walk on May 17, 2022. Her fourth grade teacher gave Camino a letter she wrote to her high school self during the senior’s visit.

Isabelle Camino tears up as she...hool for veterinary technology.

Isabelle Camino tears up as she hugs Lily Crago following Buffalo High School’s commencement ceremony on May 22, 2022. Camino will attend Easter Wyoming College in Torrington in the fall. “I'm definitely nervous (about going away to college) but I'm also excited, but more nervous,” Camino said. She’s going to school for veterinary technology.

Isabelle Camino, right, sticks ...aduation party on May 20, 2022.

Isabelle Camino, right, sticks her tongue out and leans in to Cassie Downare’s face during Camino’s graduation party on May 20, 2022.

Isabelle Camino and friends lau...aduation party on May 20, 2022.

Isabelle Camino and friends laugh at a video during Camino’s graduation party on May 20, 2022.

The first buckle Isabelle Camin...here I am right now.”

The first buckle Isabelle Camino ever won along with photos of her at some of her earliest rodeos. Camino won her first buckle at the age of five riding Question. Question was Camino’s mom’s college rodeo horse. “She was my first really competitive horse that pushed me to do really well,” Camino said. “She's definitely is one of the horses that has built me to be where I am right now.”

Isabelle Camino vaccinates a ho...lege for veterinary technology.

Isabelle Camino vaccinates a horse on May 18, 2022 at her mom’s house in Buffalo. Camino helps deworm and vaccinate her grandad and neighbor’s horses as well as her own. Camino is going to college for veterinary technology.

Isabelle Camino waits in the pe...is just in the zone.”

Isabelle Camino waits in the pen ahead of her first go at breakaway roping during the Wyoming State High School Rodeo at the Johnson County Fairgrounds. “In the arena it’s an adrenaline rush 900% of the time,” Camino said. “I don’t remember the majority of the runs I have ever made. It’s like adrenaline takes over and my mind is just in the zone.”

Isabelle Camino holds her goat ...s shit,” Camino said.

Isabelle Camino holds her goat tying rope between her teeth as she prepares to compete in the Wyoming State High School Rodeo on June 10, 2022 at the Johnson County Fairgrounds. “Because of goat tying (my teeth) are uneven as shit,” Camino said.

Isabelle Camino ties a goat dur...eat at what they do.”

Isabelle Camino ties a goat during the Wyoming State High School Rodeo on June 10, 2022 at the Johnson County Fairgrounds. Camino came in 11th overall for goat tying in the state. “Wyoming is definitely one of, if not the most, hard states to rodeo,” Camino said. “Just because there's so many people that do it and so much tough competition. There are some girls that are just flat out great at what they do.”

Haley Odenbach embraces her dau... with her performance in state.

Haley Odenbach embraces her daughter, Isabelle Camino, at the end of the Wyoming State High School Rodeo on June 10, 2022 at the Johnson County Fairgrounds. Camino was disappointed with her performance in state.

Isabelle Camino sits with her h...my own little space.”

Isabelle Camino sits with her horses Dish, Scar and P.I. while watching the Wyoming State High School Rodeo on June 10, 2022 at the Johnson County Fairgrounds. The state finals were Camino’s final rodeo as a high schooler but she will continue to compete in college. Earlier this year she signed to the Eastern Wyoming State rodeo team. Someday, though, she wouldn’t mind ending back up in Buffalo. “My hope is to find some spot down here,” Camino said. “Some land maybe and kind of just build my own little space.”

Ethan Weston

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