<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1wqzfe_1H3wyPNm00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1wqzfe_1H3wyPNm00" width="375" height="500" ><figcaption>Malani Murphy, daughter of Councilmember Teri Murphy, won first place in Mutton Bustin’ at the Marana Fall Festival. (Teri Murphy/Submitted)</figcaption></figure>Second grader Malani Murphy doesn’t overcomplicate the sport of Mutton Bustin’.“It’s where you ride a sheep, and you try to stay on the longest to win,” Malani explained.On Oct. 17, Malani clung to her sheep for about 15 seconds before being bucked off. The time earned her first prize in the 6-year-old age group at the Marana Fall Festival.Few could be surprised, on account of Malani’s last name. She’s the daughter of Marana Town Councilmember Teri Murphy, who also rode three horses that day, winning third, second and first between several barrel racing events. Councilmember Murphy is the president of the Cowboys and Cowgirls Open Barrel Racing Association (CCOBRA), which hosts twice-monthly barrel racing events at the Marana Heritage Arena, as well as occasional timed events like tie down roping, breakaway roping and steer wrestling.Malani takes after Mom, who won her first saddle at 7 and would later be crowned Miss Reno Rodeo and Miss Rodeo Nevada, as well as dad, who grew up mutton bustin’ at the Tucson Rodeo. The parents rope together at the Grand Canyon Pro Rodeo. Malani has two little brothers in the 4- and 5-year-old Mutton Bustin’ age groups, as well as a sister who took home second in youth barrel racing.It’s a bona fide rodeo family.“We enjoy it, and we’re glad that we get to not only produce it for our kids, but we also get to do it for the town of Marana and for our community,” Councilmember Murphy said.“And most of the kids that come out and compete at Marana themselves, we provide the helmets, we provide the vests, because they are kids that actually live in the subdivisions. So giving children the opportunity to experience the Western way of life to me is amazing, and I think that every kid should get to enjoy playing in the dirt.”Malani might be a 6-sixth generation cowgirl, but greatness transcends genetics. Mutton bustin’ takes practice.“I ride my pony,” Malani said. Councilmember Murphy elaborated that her daughter, who also competes in barrel racing, lopes around the arena bareback on her pony to simulate holding on to a sheep.By now, Malani is a veteran at the rodeo event, having participated for a few years. Her mindset proves that she’s been around the block. She described the experience as “fun” and vetoed any other adjective. She wasn’t nervous, or scared or thrilled. It was “just fun.”Councilmember Murphy shared a story that sheds light on her daughter’s champion’s attitude.“It’s really funny, because we laid out all the trophies. We had 30 entries per age group, (and) we gave out five trophies this year just to make it a little bit more fun for the kids,” Councilmember Murphy said.“And all of a sudden she looked and she picked out the trophy, and she goes, ‘That’s the trophy I’m gonna win, you watch. I’m gonna win.’“And she won her trophy.”According to Councilmember Murphy, Malani won another mutton bustin’ event this year at Sonoita’s Grand Canyon Pro Rodeo.Despite the winning record, Malani is just like the rest of us. She goes to school like any other second grader. Her favorite subject is science, because “it’s fun when you get to do experiments.”But science is a fleeting interest. Rodeo is forever. When Malani grows up, she wants to be a trick rider, which she described as “when you do tricks on your horse.”“You could do a backflip, or you could hang off from the sides,” Malani said.As for Councilmember Murphy, she is proud to pass down these traditions and preserve the Western way of life, which she said is a “really good deal.”“What I like about it is that we practice in the arena together every single night and then we travel together,” Councilmember Murphy said. “And so it makes it a family event. And then, once the kids get older, they have to keep their grades up in order to compete in the junior high school rodeos, the high school rodeos and then even on to college.“We really do have a great time, and you’ll see it’s all families, and my favorite part about any of this is it’s kids cheering for kids, and we are really fortunate in Marana to still have the camaraderie, where people cheer each other on and all the kids are excited for each other.”</div></body>

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Second grader Malani Murphy doesn’t overcomplicate the sport of Mutton Bustin’. “It’s where you ride a sheep, and you try to stay on the longest to win,” Malani explained. On Oct. 17, Malani clung to her sheep for about 15 seconds before being bucked off. The...

Malani Murphy, Marana’s Mutton Bustin’ Master

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Second grader Malani Murphy doesn’t overcomplicate the sport of Mutton Bustin’. “It’s where you ride a sheep, and you try to stay on the longest to win,” M

Malani Murphy, Marana’s Mutton Bustin’ Master

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