DOUGLAS n Waiting for her event in back of the livestock chute, Kiley Scott sat atop her horse, an iPod delivering tunes through ear buds.

Concentrating, she prepared herself mentally for the break-away roping Thursday morning at the Wyoming State High School Rodeo Finals. This would be the 18-year-old Douglas girl's last high school competition, and she was counting on a strong go.

Settling her horse into the box as rodeo hands loaded a calf into the chutes, Scott whirled a rope a few times above her head.

She called for the calf's release and a gate shot open. Breaking out in pursuit, Scott sent that rope flying, hooking the calf fast with a fluid grace.

But it was a disappointing no-go as the calf busted free of the loop, darting to the end of the arena.

Scott's face fell as her shoulders sagged. It couldn't be helped. Rodeo competition is tough, and it's bittersweet when a competitor is facing her final year.

Shaking off the disappointment n after all, she'd have another chance later, and would be put to the test in two other events, goat tying and barrel racing.

Scott waited outside the arena until she was called on to help corral horses for steer wrestlers in the next event.

A cowgirl's work is never done. At least not a cowgirl like this one, who does whatever she can to help perpetuate the sport and secure the lifestyle she loves.

Scott grew up with rodeo as naturally as some grow up with dolls and play dates. She figures she traveled the rodeo circuit with her parents, Troy and Katie Scott, since she was old enough to leave the hospital. By age 3 she was learning the ropes of competition at gymkhanas, her horse led by one of her parents' practiced hands around barrels and poles.

Then came junior rodeo, and high school. Pretty soon, Scott will saddle up with a full-ride rodeo scholarship to Casper College, where she plans to earn a degree in agriculture business. That should bring her home to the family ranch east of Douglas, which is exactly where she wants to be.

Scott knows that in order to participate in the life she loves, she must also keep that lifestyle going strong for others. She's a constant presence at the same gymkhanas where she earned her spurs. Now the teen is helping youngsters learn to compete.

"There's a bunch of little girls and boys I help tie goats," Scott smiled. "I just like helping little kids n the smiles on their faces."

She's adding links to a chain of goodwill that she herself has been a recipient of within the rodeo community. A young boy was really getting into the gymkhanas, but needed a new horse. Scott ponied up with her old barrel racing horse. The boy's father had, years before, gifted Scott with his old roping horse.

Rodeo folks know that they are all family, Scott said.

She puts in the hours on the family ranch, but leaves plenty of time to train her three rodeo horses, and for extra cash, breaks colts.

As Wyoming High School Rodeo president this year, she initiated a fundraiser n with the help of her mom n that raised $12,000 for scholarships and to pay some contestants' way to nationals.

"My parents are great leaders, and they taught us kids to be leaders too," Scott explained.

Dixie Huxtable, national director for Wyoming high school rodeo, said Scott is someone she can count on for anything, anytime.

"She's an awesome young lady," Huxtable said from her beehive of activity in the rodeo office. "She's very dedicated to her sport, very fair and honest. I don't know anyone else who's so dedicated."

When things don't go quite as planned, Scott is often one of the first to shrug it off and move on, with a positive attitude.

"You can always count on Kiley," Huxtable said.

Wednesday morning, Scott stacked bales of hay for the stock contractors n just because it needed to be done. Most years she hauls a few extra horses to town for teens who need a mount to ride in the grand entry. Friends stay at her home during state finals, and many evenings a whole crowd may be out at the ranch arena practicing with Scott and her sister Kelsey, who also competes.

"This association is a great association," Scott said of the high school rodeo program. "It's a good chance for kids to show their skill in more than (just) high school varsity sports. Kids that can succeed in this sport are above and beyond."

That's because of the extra work, responsibility and dedication rodeo involves. The event isn't over when the buzzer rings or the goat is tied. Horses are partners that must be cared for and trained.

"Rodeo has just always been my thing," Scott said. "I've tried other sports, but rodeo's the thing for me.

"It's the only thing I know, and I just love it. I wouldn't want to do anything else."