HEBER CITY — Ashley Garrett doesn't care that most female rodeo athletes don't compete in team roping.

"I just love to rope," she said as she sat on her horse Cope after competing in the Utah High School State Rodeo Finals at the Wasatch County Fairgrounds this week. "Barrels and poles, that's more your horse, but roping is more you. You are counting on yourself to rope the calf or the steer."

Just a few years ago, it was difficult to find more than one or two high school girls competing in team roping. This year there are nearly two dozen girls competing in the event, including several teams made up of only girls. High school and college rodeo associations allow girls to compete in team roping, but the PRCA does not. There is a women's only pro rodeo circuit where women can also compete in any of rodeo's traditional events.

Ken Norris, who oversaw the Utah High School Rodeo Association for 30 years and now sits on the National Rodeo Association's foundation board, said he believes girls are starting to rope at younger ages.

"They start out real young and then just come up through the ranks," Norris said. "They rope real good and I like to see them doing it. We say rodeo is an equal opportunity sport — seven events for girls, seven events for boys and one that they can both do."

Garrett is one of those girls who started roping young.

"Roping is my favorite," said the Juab teen. "My dad and grandpa taught me. … All the boys in the family. "

She said there are occasional challenges.

"Being a girl makes it hard to get a partner sometimes," she said. "But then you just go to practice and rope and usually you can get one once they see you can rope."

Garrett competed this week with Justin Anderson, who is a family friend. She and her family compete every chance they get in Jackpot Rodeos held nearly every weekend.

"We just call up our friends, family, get everyone together and head out," she said. "Roping isn't a boys or a girls event. Anyone can do it."

Rodeo officials believe the fact families can do it together has drawn more girls into one of the sport's fastest-growing events.

"I think it's the fact that team roping has just exploded," said Utah High School Rodeo president Kelly Anderson. "It's such a family sport. It brings families together. Kids can rope with moms and dads and it's a fun activity."

Milli Hughes ropes with her cousin, Callie Magoon, both of the Dixie Club. She said more girls are taking up team roping because it's enjoyable.

"It's fun," she said. "I like it. ... That was the first thing I ever started doing."

For her, the decision to do it has a lot to do with her skill.

"It's the easiest event for me," she said.

The second round of the finals concluded Friday night with the top 10 in each event qualifying for today's championship round. The championship was scheduled to start at 5 p.m., with the top four competitors in each event earning a spot on the National Finals team.

E-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com