Futurity winner has ties to Millen
By Chris Gay
(Editor's note: Priscilla Crawley competed in The Augusta Futurity in Augusta last week.)

Crawley on Smart Little Rooster at The Augusta Futurity last week. (Photo by Steve Norman/Augusta Futurity)

At this rate, Priscilla Crawley will have paid for most of her college education.

Atop Smart Little Rooster, the 17-year-old Crawley easily won her second Area 18 Youth Scholarship Cutting finals Friday night at James Brown Arena.

Crawley marked 223 to win a $3,000 scholarship. With her 2002 victory, a pair of runnerup showings and a third-place finish in this event, she's collected more than $10,000 in scholarship money.

"I love showing in this arena," said Crawley, who finished second in 2006. "It's my favorite place to show. I've done really well in the scholarship cutting."

Crawley, a junior at Fullington Academy just outside of her hometown of Unadilla, Ga., hasn't finalized her future plans. She's considering majoring in either marketing or journalism in college. She's just not sure where.

"I'm undecided," she said. "Somewhere in Georgia."

Crawley's father, Charles, trains Smart Little Rooster, a 9- year-old gelding owned by Dennis Jenkins of Millen. She's only ridden the horse for about six months, but she's grown to appreciate him.

"He's just extremely bright," Crawley said. "He's intent on a cow. He draws a cow toward him and traps him in the middle of the pen."

Jenkins owns 10 horses. He said Crawley rode his best one.

"He's got a big heart," he said. "He loves to cut a cow. I think he really likes the challenge of it."

Crawley drew up last in the 12-horse final. Parker took the lead seven horses into the competition, but everything came together for Crawley.

"We just went in there and cut some cows we had picked," she said. "My horse was really good. Everything just fit. It was awesome. I had some very spectacular help.

Crawley has very limited time to ride horses these days. She's active in school - she's president of her junior class - and she's active at church. Crawley said she rides horses three to four times a week. Her time is limited since she's a varsity cheerleader. In fact, she'll be cheering for the school's basketball team tonight with a big grin on her face.

Photograph and article reprinted with permission of The Augusta Chronicle.