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B5 THE ASTORIAN • SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2021 Oregon teen is a bull-riding daredevil ‘I HAVEN’T BROKEN ANY BONES FROM BULL RIDING YET. THANK GOODNESS.’ By JULE GILFILLAN Oregon Public Broadcasting Fourteen-year-old Najiah Knight is friendly, outgo- ing and responds to questions with “yes, ma’am” as refl ex- ively as most adolescents roll their eyes. But those aren’t the only qualities that make the poised, polite teen unique. This 80-pound daredevil rides 800- pound “mini” bulls because “it’s soooo much fun!” Rodeo is a big part of small-town life across Ore- gon, and tiny Arlington on the Columbia Plateau is no excep- tion. For as long as there have been ranch hands, riders and stock animals, there have been rodeos to see who could rope- and-tie that calf quickest or ride that big bull the longest. Traditionally, girls like Knight have competed in horseback sports like barrel racing or pole bending (a sort of high-speed slalom where horse and rider weave through a course of closely spaced poles). But from her earliest days, Knight has been follow- ing her father, Andrew Knight, behind the chutes as he pre- pared for bull riding events and begging him to “put me on!” “She wanted to always get on something, before she could even dang near walk,” he said. “And I’m like, you’re too little, your time will come.” That time came when Knight turned 3 and started riding sheep, a sport known as “mutton busting.” Najiah Knight | 14-year-old rodeo competitor Phillip Kitts Najiah Knight competing on a mini bull. “She was a champion mut- ton buster. I mean, she just gripped on there like Velcro. And there wasn’t no getting her off ,” her father recalled. “From there on, there was really no holding her back.” Along with being the fi rst girl riding with the Mini Bull Riders circuit, Knight made history in early 2020, when she was the fi rst girl to ride a bull at Madison Square Gar- den in New York City. She also beat all her (male) com- petitors in the third round. Standing out is something she’s gotten used to. “Sometimes you feel like you’re just part of the boys. Like, you don’t feel any diff er- ent and they just accept you. But sometimes they’ll be like, ‘So I can’t get beat by a girl.’ But, you know, you just gotta show him who’s boss,” Knight joked. Still, rodeo sports are about as dangerous as they come and having your daughter compet- ing at elite levels (Knight was ranked number seven at the time of her Madison Square Garden appearance) would give any parent pause. “My stomach goes up and down, probably every rodeo,” her father confessed. One close call at a competition in Louisiana is a prime example. “She got a little out of posi- tion, got jerked down to the ground, got her face mask caved in. (The bull) stepped on her mask, pushed it into her eye and swelled her eye shut,” her father said. “But because she had another bull she had to get on that day, they said ‘you don’t have to get on this bull if you don’t want.’ But she was like, ‘I didn’t travel this far to sit here and watch.’ She showed everybody that she was there to compete.” “I haven’t broken any bones from bull riding yet. Thank goodness,” Knight said, rubbing the scar, now barely visible beside her right eye. Knight demonstrates impressive maturity when asked about the possibility of mortal injury. “I know if it’s my time, COMING IN MAY M Seeking fi nancial support for son Dear Annie: My son, there if he wants to talk about can’t seem to carry on a con- “Tim,” is engaged to “Jen- things. Off er an empathetic versation with him with- nifer,” a woman whom he’s ear. If he asks for it, then out him getting mad. Yet, he been seeing for many years. off er your perspective. But doesn’t appear to be on drugs They have two small chil- whatever you do, quit off er- or drinking. dren together. My problem is ing your soon-to-be daugh- We really don’t know what that Jennifer will not get a job. ter-in-law the classifi eds sec- to do at this point. We’ve Tim supports all of them. She tion. Because despite our best always still invited him to used to work, before (and well-intended) church with us whenever we their fi rst child, but eff orts, our loved ones go, but he never wants to go DEAR has not since. have this pesky thing with us. Any suggestions for ANNIE We have all hinted called free will — me? — Worried About My to her about getting and we need to accept Son a job and even found that fact if we want to Dear Worried: Living for jobs for her, but her have healthy relation- decades with the disease of answer is always the ships with them. addiction can warp one’s per- same: “I can’t put Dear Annie: spective — and I’m not just my kids in day care! I have a 45-year- referring to your son. You, Nobody knows them ANNIE LANE old son who is my too, have been living with Creators there.” Well, sure — whole life. But he has the disease, and it’s equally Syndicate Inc. nobody is going to always been in and important that you seek recov- know them if they are out of the drug scene. ery. There are many resources always home and don’t meet He has two sons of his own, available, including ther- new kids and people. neither of which will speak to apy; books such as Melody Tim and Jennifer plan on him, me or anyone else in our Beattie’s “Codependent No getting married in the next family. This, even though he More”; and programs such couple of years, and I feel like has always worked and paid as Nar-Anon (nar-anon.org/ she’s taking advantage of him. his child support. He does virtual-meetings), Al-Anon Her mom was the same way have a temper that is out of (al-anon.org), or LifeRing when she was growing up. this world. Recovery (lifering.org). Help! What can a person do? Almost 10 years ago, he While it’s still diffi cult to He shouldn’t have to work his started going to church and meet up in person for many butt off to support all of them. was even baptized and saved. of us, Nar-Anon and LifeR- — Mama Needs Help Now, he’s done a 180-degree ing are holding online meet- Dear Mama: I understand turn — yet again. He does not ings via video conferencing, your protectiveness: He’ll work, and he is currently liv- and Al-Anon hosts telephone always be your little boy. ing with his father and me. meetings in addition to online But he’s also a grown man, I try to talk with him, but I meetings. and if he is unhappy with the dynamics with Jennifer — which isn’t even clear, based on your letter — then it’s on Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber him to talk to her about it. The most you can do is let Northwest Hardwoods • Longview, WA him know that you’re always Contact: John Anderson • 360-269-2500 WANTED then it’s my time. But it’s not my time yet, so I’m doing pretty good. Jesus is bless- ing me. Thank goodness,” she said. “So, yeah, I’m not afraid to get back on it all. I just, you know, shake it off and I’m ready to ride.” That strong faith will be needed to achieve her big goals. “My short-time, I guess you can call it, is to be num- ber one this year. Number one in the world. Champion,” she said. The coronavirus pandemic put a crimp into Knight’s packed schedule of compe- titions as well as her plans to win that championship in 2020. But she’s looking for- ward to this year and getting one year closer to her 18th birthday. “My longtime goal is to be the fi rst girl in the PBR.” PBR stands for Profes- sional Bull Riders. Knight aspires to compete in the group’s “Unleash the Beast,” a circuit that includes the top bull riders from all over the world. As an Indigenous Pai- ute and member of the Klam- ath Tribes, Knight hopes to represent the U.S. as part of “Team Wolves” in the Pro- fessional Bull Riders’s Global Cup, a sort of Olympics of bull riding. “There’s two American teams: Team Eagles and then Team Wolves, which is the Natives. I would be part of Team Wolves because I am Native. I think that would be so cool. “Four more years,” Knight grins. A G A Z I N E From Manzanita to Willapa Bay, the beautiful scenery, engaging stories and fascinating history that tells why visiting Our Coast is special. This year’s edition celebrates ten years of feature-packed magazines with a special keepsake pull-out poster of Our Coast covers. Secure your advertising space today email sales@dailyastorian.com, or call 971-704-1555 Hi Lisa, I just wanted to drop a note to say how pleased I am working with you and The Astorian. 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