best riders I know.” So much of what Kenna knows came from her childhood. She absorbed knowledge probably without even realizing it, and that came in handy as she started her own professional career. “There are things I remember about being on the road with my mom, traveling,” she said. “I might not even remember things specifically,
started to fade,” she said. “As I get older and learn, it’s not that big of a deal anymore.” It’s been a progression for Kelly, too. “I used to get really, really nervous when she would compete. Now, I just get really nervous. So it’s getting better,” Kelly said, laughing. And while she might be a bundle of nerves watching her daughter compete, it’s also been an amazing experience to see her compete and grow. “When she’s running, if I’m not, I get just as competitive as if I’m still doing it,” Kelly said. “I’m running with her, basically. I have all these emotions that come up.” The duo spends a lot of time together, and while the daily grind of training and hauling can be a lot, they make the most of their time together too. They are self-professed lovers of exploration, calling themselves “perpetual tourists.” “Whenever we’re somewhere, we go exploring, seek out new areas,” Kelly said. “Whether it’s geological or the history of the people, we love traveling across the country.” Kenna said she picked up the travel bug from her mom, a former schoolteacher, and noted that she loves hitting up National Parks. “Each one is so different, so it’s kind of our thing to do,” Kenna said. “We live in a really beautiful country and it’s neat to get to see all the different places.” Kelly was recently recognized for her rodeo accomplishments with her induction into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, Texas, and Kenna was by her side to see yet another milestone in her mother’s career. So whether for work or for play, in the arena or on the road, the Kaminskis are quite the mother/daughter duo. As Kenna’s career blossoms, they’re writing themselves into the WPRA history books as an unforgettable pair of competitors. This past December, history
but when I first started competing, we would pull in somewhere and it would feel familiar. I remember snippets. “Just having my mom in the truck, and her knowledge of traveling, where to stay and what to do, that’s been really helpful on my side of things, knowing those ins and outs.” Kelly’s historical knowledge of rodeos and grounds also benefitted Kenna early on. “She knew my horse and what type of ground she liked and setups, so with my mom’s background and knowledge we were able to go to rodeos that fit my mare’s style and avoid other situations,” she said. But with all of that knowledge, experience and success brought its own challenges. Kenna had to forge her own path and make her own name, one that wasn’t under Kelly’s shadow. “Being second generation … I mean, growing up, this is all I ever wanted to do. I knew it growing up, and I feel like I was under my mom’s shadow a little bit, but over the past few years it’s gradually Kelly Kaminski won back-to-back world titles in 2004-2005 aboard Rockem Sockem Go “Rocky” and her daughter Kenna, although very young at the time, had a front row seat to it all. Kenna knew then that she wanted to follow in her mother’s footsteps. WPRA photo by Mike Copeman
was made in the WPRA with the first mother-daughter duo winning a WPRA World Title when Jordon Briggs joined her mother Kristie Peterson. Maybe one day Kenna and Kelly Kaminski will be added to that list. Kenna Kaminski says she is finally feeling like she isn’t riding in her mother’s shadow and is forging her own way in the ranks of ProRodeo. In 2021, history was made in the WPRA with the first ever mother-daughter duo winning a world title in the WPRA when Jordon Briggs joined her mother, Kristie Peterson, on that illustrious list. Maybe one day, Kenna will do the same. Photo by William Kierce
MAY 2022 WPRA NEWS 15
15 WPRA NEWS DECEMBER 2021
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