Rodeo Life

Author: Siri Stevens

  • 5 Star Champion Sissy Winn

    5 Star Champion Sissy Winn

    [ I’ve been using 5 Star pads forever; I’ve tried them all and I love the way they fit.” Sissy has a horse that’s 16.2 hands and she doesn’t have to cinch her saddle up to prevent it from rolling. “I’ve got one horse that’s 16 2, and my saddle doesn’t roll, it has to do with my pad. I don’t have to cinch up so tight.” ]

    “Making it to Vegas still brings tears to my eyes,” said 25-year old Sissy Winn. “I put in the hard work and it happened. Looking back, I thought it was going to be easier than it is. What we sacrifice to keep going to the next one is worth it, but we give up a lot. This summer, my dad (Tom) will take one trailer and my mom (Melissa) will take another one and I will fly back and forth.” She is quick to give her parents the credit for her success. She entered her first NFR ranked 7th in the world and finished ranked 13th with $149,156 after winning $47,308.
    Sissy, who was named after an aunt that passed away, had her future as a lawyer planned out. She graduated Texas A&M University at College Station Magna cum laude with an ag leadership and development degree. “I was studying for the LSAT, and trying to go down the road,” she said. “I wasn’t doing either one very well, I had the horses to go.” She grew up competing in every event in rodeo offered to young girls in southern Texas. She is a 7x National High School qualifier and won the coveted Texas High School Rodeo Association All Around Cowgirl in 2013.
    She and her older sister, Amy, shared horses growing up. “We had the same horse for every event,” said Sissy, who spent a few years getting the horsepower she needed to make her first NFR last year. She has two horses that are NFR capable – Chewy and his newest partner, Scoop. “Chewy is scared of men, he won’t let a man catch him.” Chewy got his name from his habit of chewing things. She was looking for a good second horse and found Scoop. “I’m going to love Houston because I have a horse that will love Houston – Scoop. I got him from Danielle Campbell who trained and futuritied on him and we made the NFR last year.” She travels with one of her parents, two horses, and two “support” ponies. It is a drive to get anywhere from her home in Chapman Ranch, in southern Texas. “I drag them everywhere with me; I don’t go by myself. My mom and I did Jackson this week – 13 hours one way.” Chapman Ranch is a small community that used to be part of the King Ranch. It is 15 miles from Corpus Christi and the Gulf of Mexico; a few hundred miles from the Mexico border. “Anytime we see a horse trailer, I’m so excited and then I wonder who it is.” She didn’t spend much time at the beach as a kid. “I appreciate it more now than I did back then.”
    She won the 2022 Jerry Ann Taylor Best Dressed Award at the Fort Worth (TX) Stock Show and Rodeo, presented by National Cowgirl of Fame. “I pursued the queen title in junior high because not very many girls competed in rodeo as well as represented the rodeo as a queen; I love to dress up and talk about rodeo.” She was able to do that as she was a former Miss Rodeo Texas Princess (2011) and Miss Rodeo Texas Teen (2015). She and her mom enjoy picking out the outfits. “I want some nice pictures, so it comes easy to dress up.” All her shirts and pants are Rock and Roll and Panhandle. “I love the season I’m in, but I want to have a family and enjoy that in the future.” “Keep going …. It might be better than you ever imagined.”

  • American Hat Presents Sage Kimzey

    American Hat Presents Sage Kimzey

    7x World Champion Bull Rider, Sage Kimzey, was forced into taking time off last year when a recurring left shoulder issue finally took its toll. On June 10, with more than $115,000 amassed for the season and sitting in the No. 3 position, Sage got bucked off Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Severe Weather and that ended his year. Dr. Tandy performed surgery on July 11, which included a bone graft. “I didn’t get to move it for two and a half months to let that bone graft heal in,” said the new father. He and his wife, Alexis, had a five-month-old son, Steele, and Sage was able to lay on the couch and hold him one armed. “It was a lot – the days were long that’s for sure.”
    He was talking with the PBR about commentating early after his surgery and by mid-August, Sage was in Nashville. He started a complex rehab with a physical therapist and spent the next five months regaining his strength, commentating bull riding, settling into being a dad, and building his life with Alexis. “We are a team and my goals with my riding are ever evolving, especially with becoming a dad. It changed my perspective on what’s really important. I’m a huge planner and always have been – there’s a lot to be said for that, but there’s a divine plan that we are part of and we have to roll with the punches. It’s good to have a North star but nobody ever talks about the fact that life’s not fair. It comes down to figuring out how to live a life worth living.” He and Alexis are each other’s teammates. “At the end of the day, whatever she sets her mind and heart to do, I’m 100% supportive, and likewise.”
    Alexis and Steele were there when Sage made his debut ride back at Ft. Worth, during the Xtreme Bulls, taking the win in his first trip out. Sage is not done competing – he is still chasing the 8th title that Donnie Gay has. But for him, the bigger picture is helping the younger guys be more professional. “If I can help the next generation have a little less learning curve than I had, my energy and focus will go to that. If there is a blueprint to be shared, I want to do that. I’m a huge advocate of learning.”
    One of the things he has learned in the importance of good partnerships. “I have been very fortunate over the course of my career – I have stood with companies that stand for the same ideals and moral compasses that I do. I think it’s part of that bigger plan that I can’t fathom. American Hat is a great example. My partnership with them has allowed me to get to know that company – the cowboy way of life is not just a tagline for them.” Sage recalled his own childhood, dreaming about riding bulls at the NFR. “Being a world champion wasn’t enough, there was still something missing – I wasn’t completely fulfilled and I didn’t know why. The older I got, the goals changed from being a world champion, to being a great world champion.”
    Sage feels a real obligation to be a steward of the sport he loves. “We need to take the time to teach that to the next generation so the next generation of rodeo athletes will have it better than we do now. That’s a driving force for me as a competitor and a person.” He has seen the prize money “go crazy” from his rookie year to now. “In the better part of a decade, it has doubled and some.” He believes the next step in the rodeo industry is to make it a viable career option. “If we can get it there – do you want your kids to do it? If it’s a resounding ‘yes,’ then we’ve got it covered. It’s not the easiest way to make a living, and you truly do have to love it.”
    Sage believes there is a big void in rodeo from the image of the American West to the image of the American cowboy. “The American cowboy is idolized – I want to make it tangible for someone that doesn’t have the background of ranching and rodeo. I’m passionate about this – there’s too many guys that fall through the cracks and if I can help do that it’s a duty and an honor. With modern technology, we can shorten that gap and minimize the risk while raising the education. Give that kid an avenue of trust to where they can go try it out.”
    Sage battled his way back from injury and each time he finished a workout, he would ask himself a simple question. ‘Why am I putting myself through this?’ And his answer was: “There’s a twelve year old Sage Kimzey watching my story, and someday my son will, and my story is not done. Keep progressing every day. This surgery and recovery has taught me that as long as I’m moving forward, there will be a breakthrough. I’m not sure there is a finish line, but I’m going to keep working. I don’t have a choice. I believe I was put on this earth to do this, that’s for sure.”

  • Testimony of Karen Vold: God is Faithful

    Testimony of Karen Vold: God is Faithful

    Don’t expect to be treated fairly in life. Some people will say and do hurtful things that you don’t deserve.
    After leasing our part of the ranch for 10 years we went through another heart wrenching experience. The owner sold the whole ranch to a man in Oregon. Harry had a meeting with the new owner and he agreed to sell us the part we had been leasing. He told us to go do our winter rodeos in Texas and we would finalize the deal when we returned the 14th of February. On the 15th of February, the fire marshal, and the foreman of an outfit from Louisiana, came to the ranch and asked if Harry had found another place yet. He told us we had 30 days to get out. The man from Oregon had sold the entire ranch to a developing outfit that went all over the country buying up land.
    Several years earlier, Harry and his brother bought some property in Ponoka, Alberta. Eventually a gas line from Alaska was installed past it and an interstate was built next to it, so it became very valuable. Harry’s younger brother—whom he had been partners with in an auction market before moving to the States—built a very elite golf course on his half. That, in turn, made Harry’s half more valuable to build houses around the golf course.
    During this time in March we would go up to Edmonton and put their rodeo on. The guys from Louisiana finally dealt with Harry and many prayers later traded the ranch we leased for the land around the golf course, as things were really hopping in Canada that year in construction. It was truly a miracle! “The things that are impossible with man are possible with God” (Matthew 19:26).
    Sometime later, the army at Ft. Carson was looking for land to expand for training and they thought they wanted our ranch along with the rest of the Red Top. The people of Pueblo put up such a fuss, as they didn’t want the army trucks, etc., all going through Pueblo to get to the training base. Many more prayers later, the army went farther south to Highway 10 and took those ranches. Some had been in families for several generations. Scriptures we stood on at this time were Romans 8:31, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” and Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
    In 2004, on a Cheyenne parade morning, while I was trying to keep a saddle horse on his feet that was colicing, I was kicked hard and landed 15 feet away.
    It required two surgeries, and 12 months to completely recover from this accident. When I was taken to the emergency room, the parade committee chairman came to see me. I was told later that the announcer asked the entire audience to pray for me. That too was a humbling experience.
    Another example of God’s faithfulness in spite of undeserved treatment came in 2011, after we had put on the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo for 36 years. They told Harry they decided to change stock contractors, and didn’t need him anymore. Harry was extremely hurt over it because he thought you didn’t lose a rodeo unless you did something wrong, and we had worked just as hard the 36th year as we did in 1976, the bicentennial year and our first year.
    I will admit that all of the family was pretty upset about the way they went about it. They could have handled it in a less hurtful way after 36 years but it had nothing to do with the people of Cheyenne. Many of them were always wonderful and we made a lot of good friends over those years.
    Sometimes God’s plans are different than your plans. Cheyenne was very hard work and required additional horses, and equipment only needed for their rodeo. It costs a lot to feed that extra livestock all year, for one rodeo. At this point in life I’m glad not to have to work that hard, so it turned out for the best in the long run.
    After Harry and I married we became a blended family. He had four children and I had one. His two daughters married and moved to the States, living in Casper, Wyoming and Greeley, Colorado. His two sons both stayed and still live in Canada, and my daughter Nancy married and moved to Texas. Kirsten, our daughter, was born in 1973 and was raised on the ranch we still live on.
    All the children were and still are involved in the rodeo business. Nancy died of diabetes when she was 48. There was no background of diabetes on either side of the family but her doctor indicated it was brought on by stress. I had a hard time believing that and it is very painful to lose a child at any age. No one expects that to happen. But let that be a warning to you not to allow stress to cause you to get a serious illness.
    Harry passed away in 2017 and Kirsten has taken over running our rodeo and ranch company. She had been the foreman for her dad for many years and is trying to keep the legacy going. Thank you, Lord, for all those who stepped in when I couldn’t do it alone. Now let me be the one to reach out to others. I am very blessed to have a good relationship with all our children and the rodeo business is still our common bond.
    I was fortunate to be in rodeo when they formed the Fellowship of Christian Cowboys, and also blessed to be at Colorado Springs when my dad got saved during a church service. His friend, Wilbur Plaugher, another rodeo clown, and one of the original seven that formed the FCC, did the service that day.
    Jesus is a gentleman. He stands at the door and knocks. You must choose to invite Him into your heart and life, unlike Satan, who barges into your life and tries to steal your health and finances, and destroys relationships and families. God created us but gives us the freedom to choose Jesus and His gift of eternal life, or Satan and his path, which leads to hell and horror. John 10:10, “Jesus said, ‘The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they might have life and have it abundantly.” Remember, no matter what the challenges are that we face in life, the Lord loves you and wants you in his family.
    Jesus has been my rock, my shield, my refuge, and my strength through all our challenging ordeals. He promised he would never leave those who believed in him. And he has kept his word throughout my life and he will in yours.
    If you don’t already know him, I urge you to make the choice to accept his free gift of forgiveness and salvation. He wants to be your best friend and will never leave you or disappoint you as your family or friends or other people you deal with might do at times. Psalms 18:30 says “As for God His way is perfect, the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him”

  • Miss Rodeo America 2023

    Miss Rodeo America 2023

    Kicking up Kindness

    “To me it’s a family legacy.” explains the 22-year-old, Queen Creek, Arizona native, Kennadee Riggs, about her platform. “My grandmother in the 90s didn’t like how negative the news headlines were, so she started writing a column for a local paper on kind deeds and she had people write back with their own stories of kindness. We now have a whole book of kindness stories and I get to do the exact same thing – hoping to bring more positivity to the media.”
    “Kennadee exudes kindness,” said Hailey Frederickson, the outgoing Miss Rodeo America. “She is genuine in every way and I have no doubt that whoever comes across her during her year as Miss Rodeo America will leave with a warm heart.”
    Kennadee will have the entire year to share stories of kindness as she crosses the globe representing rodeo as the 2023 Miss Rodeo America. “I dipped my toes in all the waters,” said Kennadee about her childhood in Arizona. “I performed on an equestrian drill team with the women in my family – Cowgirls Historical Foundation – which started with my grandmother – and included many different women across Arizona. My life was split between the loud environment of rodeo and the quiet lifestyle of showing horses. My great great grandfather, Harry Frost, started Frost Quarter Horses over 75 years ago. That bloodline is still going today.”
    Harry Frost was the 1963 Reno Rodeo President. After the grandstands burned down, Harry was said to have saved the rodeo when by a miracle he was able to bring in temporary stands just in time.
    Kennadee’s great grandmother was the Reno Rodeo queen, and all the women in the family have followed in that. Kennadee had always wanted to pursue Miss Rodeo Arizona and Miss Rodeo America to carry on the family legacy, but hadn’t known if that was the Lord’s will for her. Her plan after high school was actually to cheer in college. “Then one specific day, I felt strongly that I needed to go on a mission for my church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I knew that would change the course of my life being that it was 18 months away from home, dedicating my time and money to serving others.” Teaching horse lessons to fund the mission herself, the mission trip took her to Brazil and Oklahoma, before returning home. “I came away a completely different person – thankful of Heavenly Father’s awareness of us – I was always meant to be where I was – I also came back with a new appreciation for air conditioning and carpet.” The experience helped her see and focus on what matters the most – and that her deeper sense of purpose is who she can help.”
    She felt called to try out for Miss Rodeo Arizona and won that competition. “It’s something she’s always wanted to do,” said her mother, Shanda. “I was Gilbert Days Rodeo Queen, and my sisters were all rodeo queens, Taryn Brady Hale (Miss Rodeo Arizona 2009), Kelsee Brady Bradshaw (Miss Rodeo USA 1st runner-up) and Marjon Brady Brown (Miss Rodeo USA 2000). We were all part of Gilbert Days Royalty and ran at the national level so she was familiar with that lifestyle.” Her first time running in a pageant was Miss Rodeo Arizona.
    When she won the title in December as Miss Rodeo America, she knew it was God’s calling for her life. “When my name was called, that was more of a testament to me that this is Heavenly Father’s will, it wasn’t just by chance that I won. I knew it was because of my prayers. That’s the biggest sense of emotion that I got when they called my name — gratitude — for another mission experience that I was really hoping and praying for.” Her first stop is the National Western Stock Show, where she will present the flag for 20 performances. “In a nutshell, I hope to always be kind so people might recognize a light in me that comes from something beyond our comprehension. I will get to meet people all across the country and hopefully continue to do what I was able to do as Miss Rodeo Arizona, which is promote this heritage and lifestyle that is so special to me,” she said. “At the same time, in everything I do, I will try to be an example of Jesus Christ as someone who loves Him and show that in everything I do.”

  • WNFR Through the Lens of Will Reed Jennings

    WNFR Through the Lens of Will Reed Jennings

    “It was amazing – there was no feeling that rivaled that feeling,” said Will Reed Jennings about walking down the tunnel at the Thomas & Mack to photograph his first Wrangler National Finals. “There were so many people just in the hallway that I knew.”
    Will Reed Jennings is the only son of Dave and Beth Jennings. Like his dad, Will has a natural eye for a great image. “I never really got interested in rodeo until Covid happened,” said the 19-year-old freshman at Texas Tech. “I missed it and got back into it.” Will grew up listening to his dad instruct other photographers and his knowledge of cameras came from sitting next to him and Dave telling him what to do.
    Will throws passion into everything he does – he excelled at one-act plays and percussion. His talent with a drum landed him a position in the drum center line while marching band. “It’s hard to have drum sets in college, so I brought a guitar. One of the first instruments I learned was violin, so it’s pretty easy.”
    With his new-found love of rodeo photography, Will has joined the Texas Tech Rodeo Team as their photographer and will do that while pursuing a degree in media and communications. “If you have a feeling about it, just try it. That’s what I did and this is what it’s turned into.”
    Dave’s photography career spans 40 years, beginning in 1982, including 8 trips to the NFR, and all the major rodeos, photographer for the National High School Finals for 15 years. He has been inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2012. Watching his son walk into the Thomas & Mac was something he’ll never forget. “That was bad-___. I couldn’t believe it was happening – it was sureall.

  • American Hat Presents Daniel Miranda

    American Hat Presents Daniel Miranda

    Daniel became an American Hat ambassador his 8th grade year at Nationals. “I went to their booth to get a new straw hat,” he said. Daniel has been wearing an American hat since he was 8. “As soon as I could wear a good hat, it was an American.” He met Keith Mundee, who gave him the hat and asked Daniel to join the Ambassador team for American Hat. “That was five years ago, and I’m still doing it. It’s grown to be a family now, which is super awesome. The people there are amazing.”

    Daniel Miranda is a freshman at Cal Poly. The native from Maui had his eyes set on Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, which has a strong rodeo team and a school of agriculture. “The schooling is great here in California; it’s good competition but it’s about getting the degree first.” Daniel plans to pursue a degree in Ag systems management. “It’s close in line with getting an engineering degree but not the ridiculous math and having fun with everything else,” said the 19-year-old who ended his first sememster with a 3.1 and is currently leading the California ciruit in the tie down roping. His degree will help him learn about Animal Science irrigation management.
    His father, Ken Miranda, is the general manager for Kaonoulu Ranch, and Daniel is a seventh generation family member on the ranch, through his mother, Morag, and the Rice family. He grew up with a rope in his hand. “I started roping as soon as I could hold the string to rope the cowboy toy,” he said. “Then I graduated to roping my three sisters (Elizabeth, 15; Rebecca, 27; Megan, 31). I remember some nights my youngest sister would run around the house and I’d rope her – I did that when my parents were gone of course.” Through a close family friend, Peter Baldwin, the Miranda’s were able to grow their Corriente herd. “We have around 200 momma cows now,” said Daniel. “We have three places we put ropings.”
    Daniel went through the junior high and high school rodeo, making the trip to the mainland each summer to attend Nationals. Transporting horses from Maui to the mainland is nothing new to the Miranda family – they ship horses from island to island all the time. “My 8th grade year, I sent my horse, Allen, up to the Junior High finals in South Dakota. I calf roped, ribbon roped and goat tied, my team roping partner headed on him too. Allen made the 12-hour boat ride from Maui to the main island, then five hours by plane from O’ahu to Las Angeles, followed by a 22 hour drive to South Dakota.” Horses are quarantined upon arrival back to Hawaii. “Hawaii doesn’t have any major diseases, so it’s just coming back home when they have to be quarantined for a month and a half.” The cost is around $3,000 a horse to transport from Hawaii to South Dakota.
    Along with the rodeo team, he is also part of the polo team. “All plans change, that’s why you have a plan, but my plan right now would be to graduate from Cal Poly and if I’ve got the support through my rodeo sponsors that I’ve acquired the past couple of years and my family up here and my family in California — I’d like to go try some pro rodeos a little bit.”

  • On The Trail with Killer Bee

    On The Trail with Killer Bee

    “Cowboys don’t know what pen to put her in,” said 4x World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider, Clint Johnson, about Killer Bee. “She is probably the greatest in this generation. She’s been a little bit of an exception all along. She is an outstanding bronc – one of those horses that comes along once in a lifetime – like Secretariat, Scamper, and a handful of others that were exceptional in their discipline.”
    Killer Bee is the daughter of Commotion and Molly Bee. “Molly Bee had been to the finals four or five times and we bred her to Commotion as we retired him. That mare colicked when we were in Nebraska and she didn’t survive the surgery,” said Bennie Beutler. “Killer Bee was two months old, and we raised her on a bottle. She never got real gentle.”
    She bucked her first time as a four-year-old, at a college rodeo. “We eased her along to some of the smaller rodeos,” continued Bennie. “We knew we had something – she was rank in the bareback.” Cowboys couldn’t mark her high enough, so she was switched to bronc riding. The Wrights got on her – that was in 2015 – the bronc riders wouldn’t get on her because they couldn’t ride her. When cowboys could ride her, they, they were in the 90s and same in the bronc riders. “She’s just as rank one way as the other.”
    At 17, Killer Bee went out on top – Dawson Hay scoring a 92 point ride in Round 9 of the 2022 WNFR. Among her other accolades Killer Bee was the 2020 Wrangler NFR top bareback horse. She was the 2019 PRCA Bareback Horse of the Year and voted top bareback horse of Round 3 of the 2019 NFR after bucking off Austin Foss. Killer Bee was also the top bareback horse of the 2018 NFR and top saddle bronc horse of the 2013 and 2014 NFRs. Her job now? Raise colts. “Now the hard part comes.”

    The Beutler name has long been connected to rodeo stock and this year their ranch-raised stock took all three awards for top-scored rough stock of the Finals. Beutler & Son were awarded best bareback, bronc, and bull of the Finals. This comes from the judges scores – and with 105 in each event, winning one is an honor and winning all three has never been done.
    “We were pretty fortunate.”

    Killer Bee Accomplishments
    2013 – Top Saddle Bronc of the NFR
    2014 – Top Saddle Bronc of the NFR
    2018 – Top Bareback Bronc of the NFR
    2019 – PRCA Bareback Horse of the Year
    2020 – Top Bareback Bronc of the NFR
    2022 – Top Saddle Bronc of the NFR

    Beutler & Son Accomplishments

    Most Top Bucking Stock of the NFR Awards for a Single Rodeo Company – (14), six bucking bulls, four barebacks, and four saddle broncs.
    Most Top Bucking Stock of the NFR Awards – Killer Bee (5), 2013, 2014 & 2022 as a saddle bronc and 2018 & 2020 as a bareback horse (Tied with Sippin’ Velvet (Bernis Johnson).
    Most Top Saddle Bronc of the NFR Awards – Killer Bee (3), 2013, 2014 & 2022 (Tied with Angle Blue (Flying U), Trade Winds (Big Bend), & Trails End (Zumwalt).
    First Stock Contracting Company to Win All Three Top Bucking Stock of the NFR Awards In A Single Year – 2022 with Killer Bee (saddle bronc), Ghost Town (bareback), and Smoke Stack (bull).
    4th Highest Scored Bareback Ride in PRCA History (13-way tie) 93 points by Devan Reily on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Killer Bee in Tucson, Arizona, in 2018.

    Ranch Raised

    The Beutler name has long been connected to rodeo stock and this year their ranch-raised stock took all three awards for top-scored rough stock of the Finals. Beutler & Son were awarded best bareback, bronc, and bull of the Finals. This comes from the judges scores – and with 105 in each event, winning one is an honor and winning all three has never been done.

  • On The Trail with Nellie Miller

    Annelle (Nellie) Miller gets home as often as she can. “This year I didn’t have to travel near as much,” said the mother of two. “We had a pretty good start in the winter so we could pick and choose where we wanted to go.” Nellie has fit motherhood into her NFR run perfectly. “They travel with me most of the time.” That family includes James Miller, General Manager of Red Bluff Roundup, and their two daughters; Payton is 6 and Hadley is 3. “Since they aren’t in school yet, they can go with me. My parents are a huge factor in this too – her dad, Sam Williams, trains her horses, and her mom, Roxy often goes down the road to help with the girls. She has two brothers, Clint and Wyatt.

    She competes on her horse, Sister, a 10-year-old blue roan mare, Sire: KS Cash N Fame/Dam: Espuela Roan. “I have so much confidence in her,” said the 30-year-old who is making her third appearance to the Thomas and Mack arena this December, with career earnings of $533,276. The duo won Cheyenne Frontier Days in spite of a run around the barrels in the hail. “I knew she was going to work no matter what. My main plan was to push her through that hail – my cowboy hat helped block it a little bit and luckily it wasn’t too big. We definitely felt it – honestly I don’t remember much about it, I was just trying to get through it.” Back home in California now, Nellie is doing mom stuff. “I’m riding a few horses and I’ll go to the Circuit Finals, but until December, I’m home. “ The road to her third WNFR qualification started when she was a little girl.

    Nellie started riding about the age of ten. Roxy took it upon herself to take her daughter to some gymkhanas and once she started, the whole family pitched in. Sam is a self-taught horse trainer. “I’ve had a few mentors along the way; Tom Johnson, Bob Nelson and his wife, and I picked up a little bit from everybody, learning where I could from anybody.” Sam breaks all the horses they use on the ranch and roping trail. “I rope and my boy ropes too. Nellie started out roping and the barrels just happened,” he said. “You have great hopes for all of the horses you ride, but until you put them on the clock, you never know. Sister was a real good mare to break and ride – real confident. I was tying cattle out in the field when she was four – very willing and not afraid. To run at the PRCA level, you have to have a horse that can do anything. She tries hard every time. So does Nellie – she doesn’t weaken an ounce.”

    Nellie rodeoed through high school, competing in team roping, barrel racing, breakaway roping, pole bending and goat tying, although goat tying was her least favorite event. She made the high school finals in barrel racing all four years, but only traveled to it three times. “My last year it was in Springfield, way far away, and the horse I was on was a real good horse at state level, but not at a national level, so we decided not to go. Her parents, Parents are Sam and Roxy Williams and brothers are Clint and Wyatt…Father Sam trained her horse Blue Duck which was a homegrown horse and started out as Sam’s roping horse.”

    Nellie went on to college rodeo at UNLV in Las Vegas, winning the region and second at the CNFR. “I never made it in the roping, just barrels.” She had a great horse in Blue Duck AKA Rebas Smokey Joe (Registered name), half brother to Sister, and made the decision to start rodeing professionally on him. She filled her permit on 2008, but Blue Duck got hurt midyear and they went home. “He came back the following year and did OK and in 2010 we made the NFR.” Nellie has no words to describe her first trip to Vegas. “You never know until you experience it for yourself. It was a real learning experience. We struggled that week. We didn’t know what to expect.” The duo won second in the first round, and after that they were one out of the money every night for five or six nights, and then it went downhill.
    The bright spot in that year is she met James Miller, who worked for one of her sponsors. They got married one year later in Las Vegas. Payton was born in 2012 and they moved to California in 2013 for the position that James accepted as GM for Red Bluff RoundUp. Hadley was born and Blue Duck was getting older and Nellie was starting to work with Sister, but she wasn’t quite ready for life on the road. “She had a lot of potential and had what it took to be a rodeo horse, so when she came on, we hit the trail.”

    The family lives in Cottonwood, California, two hours from the Oregon border. The small town has a lot of team ropers and barrel racers, but it’s not the California that people generally think of. “It’s rural and ranching.” Nellie was raised there, but James made the trip across the country from his home state of Florida. “I kind of joke about James – he hit California and had more friends than I did – and I lived here my whole life. He’s got a lot to do with the community and the town and it’s fun to be a part of all that.”

    Both girls have ponies and they are already talking about barrel racing. For now, Nellie and Sister are at home making sure they are legged up for Vegas. “We raised Sister and have a whole family of horses related to her – I’ve been running her since she was six, and she’s consistent and always fires. She’s special!” Nellie’s secret to being on the road is simple. “I just try to do my own thing and if it works out that I win great and if not, that’s the way it goes. I don’t get wrapped up in beating anyone.”

  • On The Trail with Jackie Crawford

    On The Trail with Jackie Crawford

    Multi-talented Jackie Crawford won the 2020 WPRA (Womens Professional Rodeo Association) Breakaway Roping world title by less than $2,000. Her performance at the first ever Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping held in Arlington, Texas, propelled the 38-year-old to win her 20th (WPRA) World title. This isn’t her first Breakaway World Championship, she has won the WPRA title in 2016 and 2014. She is the second most decorated member of WPRA, trailing the late Wanda Harper Bush, also an inductee of the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, who won 32 titles during her rodeo career. Jackie’s other titles have been in All-Around, Team Roping, Tie-Down Roping plus she also barrel raced.

    The National Finals Rodeo, held in December happened to coincide with Jackie being six month pregnant with her daughter, due in March. “At first I wasn’t sure if I would compete. It was a bittersweet feeling because we have worked so hard and been on this journey to bring breakaway to this level; so to watch the inaugural year from the sidelines would have been tough. After much discussion with my family, doctor, and prayers, I told myself as long as I was comfortable, I was going to compete!”

    Jackie makes her home in Stephenville, Texas, with her husband, Charly; their daughter, Kaydence, age 16; and three year old Creed. The 38 year-old said, “I cut the horn off my saddle, to protect the baby. I trust my horse, T-Boy, so much and had so much confidence in him.” She had continued to compete three years ago until she was five and a half months pregnant with her son, Creed.

    The National Finals Breakaway Roping event was ten rounds, then they took the top eight into a shoot-out round, followed by the top four. Jackie managed it all. She even went back to the judges in Round 5 and admitted she had an illegal catch (the calf’s back leg in the loop) that the judges did not catch. The judges listened and changed her score to a ‘no-time’. But in spite of her honesty, winning $25,536 with two go-round wins, and placing in four rounds, she came out on top, with a total for the year of $47,185.
    Jackie thought the National Finals event was an awesome time. “I was suppose to be on that journey . . . what a way to end on a high and take a break!” She and Charly have named the ‘soon to be born little girl’ Journey.

    “My mom (Annette) and dad (Mark Hobbs) rodeoed in Illinois. My dad and his brother are the only two to win the National High School Finals Team Roping from Illinois.” Jackie explained that her mom cut the middle out of a foam pillow, for the saddle horn, and that is where she rode. Her mother was well known for training barrel and roping horses and she was inducted into the Murray State College Rodeo Hall of Fame. “You can’t have a cake without the ingredients – in other words, it took a good work ethic, dedication, horses, coaches, and sacrifice – you have to be willing to put it first,” said Annette, who got her work ethic from her dad.

    Jackie began competing in junior rodeos in barrel racing, poles and flags. When they moved to Oklahoma she added roping. “I was drawn to it – I was meant to be a roper. I turned my barrel horse into a roping horse. I started competing my sophomore year in high school.”

    Before they moved to Oklahoma her mom worked at Fairmont Park Race Track in Collinsville, Illinois. In Oklahoma she went to work for Blue Ribbon Downs, in Sallisaw, while she studied to be a radiologist. Jackie began working there cleaning stalls when she was 14. She got her pony license at 16. “To this day I have scars on by body from ponying horses. It taught me to appreciate a good minded horse and what those horses are, and what they do and how athletic they are.”

    Her first team roping horse came from the track. “I team roped and barrel raced off that big impressive bay gelding,” she said. “I sold him to buy my first truck – a 1996 extended-cab Dodge. It was the coolest thing in the world to me; I got to go to college from that horse.” She had several full scholarships from colleges in her area of Oklahoma. “Wanting to be the best and being so competitive I wanted to go to the toughest place there was. I knew the southern region was the toughest region. I took a scholarship for less money to go to Vernon Regional Junior College, Texas.” As she expected the competition was something she’d never seen before. She did win the NIRA Breakaway Roping Championship which helped the Women’s Team win that year, as well. “Iron sharpens iron and that was my mentality.”

    Jackie then went on to Tarleton State University, in Stephenville, TX, with her best friend in college, Tessie McMullan Doyle. They pushed each other every day to become better competitors. Their women’s team won the National title their senior year, 2005
    After college she went to work for Lari Dee Guy, in Abilene, TX, riding colts training roping horses, whatever was necessary. She admits she learned a lot. In 2009 Trevor Brazile won the calf roping and team roping on Sans Diamond Shine at the World Show and the owner of the horse sent us a bunch of that stud’s colts to train. “They were all good horses and I bought T-Boy out of that group,” she said. At first they didn’t get along. “He was so quirky, and we went through a battle,” she admits. “I had the feeling there was something about him – he isn’t fancy. He was a problem and hard to get to work, but he had an ability to win.” When he was five she took him to Joe’s Boot Shop that had a five-header and he won. He has been taking her to the pay window for a decade. Today she says, “He’s just a phenomenal horse. I don’t think anyone can dispute the fact he’s probably the highest money-earning horse ever in breakaway roping. He’s just a winner.”

    Jackie met Charly through the roping world. She was dating a mutual friend of his. “I thought she was a buckle bunny,” said Charly. “It turned out that wasn’t the case at all. We became friends and had a lot of things in common. One year she needed a head horse for the World Series Finale in Vegas so I let her use one of mine, and it went from there – I could tell right way it was a fit.”
    Charly started roping at a young age in Canby, Oregon. He roped with his dad and made it to the National High School Finals three times. He graduated in 1996 and went to Central Arizona College for two years. “I got my PRCA permit when I was 17 but didn’t have enough horses to really compete.” He bought his PRCA card in 1998 and won the Resistol Rookie (header) of the Year in Team Roping. He’s made 10 appearances at the National Finals which included 2020, when he and his partner, Logan Medlin, won the 7th go-round. He plans to slow down and concentrate on his family, his roping schools and clinics. “I’ve gotten five heelers to the NFR so I figure I better take that talent and use it to put on schools and lessons. My daughter wants to make the UPRA anc CPRA finals this year so I want to help her as well as help Jackie however I can. I’m good with being a good dad and husband.”
    Jackie graduated with a degree in Business Administration, which she admits has helped her with communication, sponsorships, and everything else that goes with rodeo. She has hired Cheyenne Britain that acts as Jackie’s ‘right hand man’. “She helps me saddle, unsaddle, drive and everything in between. “I hired an agent and a social media person,” Jackie explained. Charly and Jackie are restructuring their program so they can do the things a replacement can’t do. “Nobody can replace a mother, a dad, wife, husband or a competitive roper,” she said.

    Creed has grown up in the arena. “We have huge play areas set up inside a 10×20 chain link fence; slides, jungle gyms, etc.,” said Jackie. “In between horses, we play and do what we need to do.” The plan is to keep going. “Our biggest goal as a family is not to be broke cowboys – rodeo doesn’t have a 401K.” Jackie’s initial goals were to be in the conversation of the greatest women ropers in the world and get inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame. Now that the doors are opening to breakaway roping opportunities, her goals are changing, but in the end she wants “to know that no matter what, I’ve accomplished the things, I’ve worked for. I did it and stamped my place in history … a sigh of relief that the first NFBR is in the books. Let’s rock on and keep this ball rolling. I’m so fortunate to do this – I get to be with my kids. Even though we are working, we are all together as a family all day. How many people get to say that.”

    “My vision for myself is continuing to help put this sport in a position that when I’m too old to do it, I’m sitting in the gold buckle seats watching my daughters roping at NFR.”

     

    CHAMPIONSHIP WINS
    2020 National Finals Breakaway Roping
    2016, 2014 Womens Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) Breakaway Roping
    WPRA All-Around 2019, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2009 & 2008
    WPRA Team Roping 2016, 2014
    WPRA Tie-Down Roping 2014, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008

    2003 National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Breakaway Roping for Vernon Regional Junior College
    2003 National Woman’s Team for Vernon Regional Junior College
    2005 National Woman’s Team for Tarleton State University
    2000 Oklahoma State Champion Breakaway Roper
    2020 Betty Gayle Cooper Ratliff Fast-Time Award see story on pg 43
    Sponsors:
    American Hat, Ariat, Smarty, Hay Chix, Classic Equine, Rattler rope, Classic rope, Martin Saddlery, LubiSyn, Chute Help, Plaza Hotel and Casino, Total Feeds

  • 5 Star Champion: Stetson Jorgensen

    5 Star Champion: Stetson Jorgensen

    They used to call me Turbo when I was little because if I wasn’t going 100 miles an hour, I would drop and take a nap,” said Stetson Jorgensen. “When my older brother and sisters started roping and getting into it [rodeo], my parents sold all the dirt bikes and four wheelers to get us through rodeo.” This Blackfoot, Idaho, cowboy grew up to be tall and lanky when he got into high school rodeo. He never dreamed bull doggin’ would be the event he’d eventually take to the WNFR. “I started mutton busting when I was 2 and I always thought I would be a bull rider. I worked both ends of the arena for a long time and even won a couple all-around saddles.”
    Injury eventually gave Stetson a way out of steer wrestling, and he took that opportunity to focus on riding bulls and roping. “I was a sophomore in high school when I broke my femur and then my wrist while taking down a steer. I sat the season out and then came back and broke my wrist again.” Ironically, Stetson quit steer wrestling because bull riding proved to be the safer event for him. His time at Central Wyoming College with his buddy, Colton Hill, was pivotal to his career in the PRCA.
    “I was still roping calves and all that, but I didn’t really like running chutes, so I started throwing steers during practice. Things were clicking pretty well for me, so I jumped on Colt’s horse and entered the last five rodeos of the spring.” Clearly, Stetson had a natural ability because he won four out of those five rodeos and then took home the year-end regional title. “I had a good horse and I really learned that goes a long way in this event. I think I just needed my body to mature and to learn about steer wrestling at a collegiate level. It blows my mind that I ever thought I would be little when I got older.”
    After Stetson’s freshman year, he bought his permit and traveled the circuit on and off for a few years before his professional career took off. So, to speak. “I met Garrett Henry at a circuit rodeo, and I ended up working for him at one point. Garrett started Mabel in the steer wrestling the year before I got there. That was in 2018, and the rest is history.” Making his first WNFR in 2019, Stetson won round seven and it’s still a bone chilling memory for him. He finished the finals in third that year and now at his fourth consecutive WNFR, Stetson came in holding the coveted number one spot. “I wasn’t trying to be number one, but it feels amazing. I never look at who’s behind me, just ahead. I look at the finals as just 10 more rodeos to go.”
    Under the bright lights of Vegas, Stetson’s 5 Star pad and boots will be working just about as hard as the athletes they protect. “Two years ago, I was looking for a boot sponsor, something that would benefit my horse. My fiancé, Kellie Collier, heard good things about 5 Star pads and boots, so I approached them.” Beyond the superior quality, Stetson appreciates that the products are made in America. Before the sponsorship, he hadn’t tried anything 5 Star made. Stetson’s confident he’ll be a forever customer now that he’s spent some time their pads and boots. “I’ve had my pads for two years, and I still don’t need new ones. If you take care of them, you can end up with a 10-year-old pad and it won’t even be worn yet.” The proof is in the even sweat marks on his horses and the complete lack of rub marks. “I like how the pads mold to the horse the more I use it. I have plenty of buddies who cowboy in the mountains all day and they like the pads too.”
    When Stetson got his first set of boots, he had no idea how to put them on. While the additional straps can be confusing at first, the added support is worth the learning curve. “I like how the two straps in the back can cross for extra support. That’s an extra barrier for overreach protection. But I also like that you can’t get them too tight.” The back boots reach a bit higher than the fronts, to give more support for the harder working ligaments. “I use back boots on the front to give my horse a little more protection. They’re a very universal boot.”

  • Dusty Tuckness is Back

    Dusty Tuckness is Back

    Being side lined brings a whole new meaning in the sport of rodeo. It’s words no rodeo athlete wants to hear or go through for that matter. One thing is for sure though, if you rodeo long enough it’s going to happen especially when your job is taking hits for others. I believe one’s true character and heart is shown on the other side of adversity.
    In December, during the 9th round of the NFR, I suffered an injury that I wasn’t going to be able to tough out; I would be sidelined through the winter rodeos coming up. It was an injury that was easy to see something wasn’t good. I broke both my tibia and fibula on my left leg and once I looked down and saw it, the first words out of my mouth were, ‘Jesus, Jesus, Jesus…healed in Jesus’ name.’
    It’s been quite a roller coaster of events through it all because after four weeks on the mend, I found out I was going to have another surgery because the first one wasn’t done right. Talk about taking the wind out of your sails.
    Even with all the craziness I had to go through, I knew it doesn’t matter what’s thrown at me, God had a plan through it all. This is the part of the story God wants to tell through me.
    Some words that were given to me in this season were: mindset, faith, evidence, and love. These are words that really stuck out to me when I was digging deeper into what God has for me.
    Mindset
    I’ll start with mindset; God tells us in 2Timothy 1:7 that he didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. Once I got started int my comeback, I was willing to work harder and do everything I could to get me back as soon as possible. So my nutrition and supplements were on point. But with my physical being fed right, I must also feed my mind in the same way. So what I allowed in my mind was very important. I start every morning before my feet touch the ground reading God’s Word and reading motivational books. A good start to your day leads to a good finish.
    Faith
    What is Faith? For me, it’s believing in something regardless the situation; trusting in the Higher power and process. We can say we have faith, but our actions truly show how much faith or belief we have in something.
    Faith is a big one for me because not only having the faith in my doctors and therapists to help get me back, but also, I must have that same faith in knowing God has good things through all of this. My focus is to be plugged into the source more than the system (world)!. My thought process through it all is I will be better and stronger through it all.
    James 1:2-4 tells us to find joy in the trials and tests we encounter in life. That’s hard to do when it’s keeping you from doing what you want. With that said, though, just as physical training makes you stronger and can do so many more things, it’s the same with your faith. When it’s tested, it produces endurance so you can become better and stronger! You have to go through suffering in order to grow and be successful in anything. Your character – faith and heart – is revealed in discomfort and found on the other side of it. Over time you callous your mind and grow in all areas of life.
    Evidence
    Evidence is proof of something being true. This world was very bold to me not only wanting my hard work to show as I’m recovering and when I’m back, but more so with my faith and love fro God in trusting the process. It was like a daily check list for me everyday to make sure there was evidence showing in my physical, mental, and spiritual actions – it was a great routine that helped keep me focused.
    Love
    Love was the last word. To love as God does is a lot different than the love of the world. A verse I read years ago, which stuck to me for ever is John 15:13 Greater Love has no one than this. To lay down His own life for His friends. That is what Jesus did for us all and my mindset being my training and every time I step into the arena.
    Through this whole process the one question that kept coming up – When will he come back? Will he come back? If he does, will he do his job? This to me was nothing but fuel for the fire. There were a lot of unknowns and the time line that was given was anywhere from 6-12 months. My goal was to work hard and be more focused than ever before and be back stronger and better before anyone thought. That wasn’t an easy task, and I had to keep doing things reminding my why. One thing I did was the cookie jar theory from David Goggins which is keeping a mental jar full of all the good things that have come from and will come from hard work. Reaching into the cookie jar every day kept me pushing forward. It kept me pushing – when you put your hand in the cookie jar, and find those good memories, brings you light and life. Those days when you are hurt or you can’t do it – you can reach in the cookie jar and know that this will work and you will lbe back .
    As it comes closer to the time I’ve be back in the arena, I didn’t have a for sure date or event. Of course, the sooner the better, but I just focused on making each day count. After spending some time in Cody, Wyoming, working a few perfs, my first pro rodeo back was Reno, Nevada!
    I can’t describe the feeling; part of me felt like I never left and the other was like a breath of fresh air. As we went about the summer, it seemed like all was in place. I still had soreness in my leg and knee, but my strength was getting better with each perf.
    The summer run was great and as we approached the fall run, we were nearing the end of the season. With right around 80 perfs for the year, now I as blessed to receive phone call for the Texas Circuit Finals and the PBR Challenger Finals.
    With the NFR right around the corner, my goal was to not net my injury determine the last time I’d be back at the Thomas and Mack. But it had a new fuel to the nerves this year. I felt like I came back stronger and given it all I had and which ever way things went I could have peace knowing that. Knowing God was with me very step of the way, I truly believe whatever we go through in life helps shape us into the person God has called us to be. I’ve said this from the start If this could just help uplift or motivate just one person to overcome something, it was all worth it. It was an amazing year.
    On October 21 at 6:14 my phone rang to tell me I was voted for the NFR. This one hit different – I closed my eyes and fought back the tears. Every year I’m so thankful for the blessings God has blessed me with, but this year was probably one of the hardest but best years yet. I want to give thanks to everyone that was a part of this journey. I couldn’t have done it without you all.
    One thing I’ll leave with you as we are about to step into a new year. Seek God in all you do and even though things may look rough at times and maybe not the plan we had – know God will be with you every step of the way. He can and will use everything for the good. Trust the plan, the process, keep the faith and always believe!
    God Bless,

  • On The Trail with Junior Nogueira

    On The Trail with Junior Nogueira

    “Whatever you choose to do, do with all your heart and all your passion and be the best you can be at it.”

    When Junior Nogueira came to the United States at the age of 24 from his home country of Brazil he had learned to rope with his dad (Lucinei Nogueira) and was a team roper. He began roping with former World Champion and ProRodeo Hall of Famer, Jake Barnes. “I was scared – of not knowing English, or anybody. Everything was scary!” Thanks to Jake, who he lived with for two years, Junior learned much of what he needed to know. “I can never pay him back for what he and his wife (Tina) did for me. I made it because of him – he taught me how to work hard and be professional. It was God’s plan to put him in my life. I’m not perfect, but for sure without God, I wouldn’t be anything.”
    “My dad taught me to rope, in the round pen, I was four years old,” said Junior. “He taught me how to ride, how to build my loop, and chase the calf until I caught it. I would do it for hours. I lost my dad when I was six. My mom, Eliziane, was the first female calf roper in Brazil! Her dad had a cattle ranch and was a cowboy. My grandpa bought her a horse, and she began to compete. My parents met through roping.”

    After the untimely death of his father, Junior stepped up to be ‘the man of the house’. His mom was by his side and encouraged him. He spent hours watching videos of his American roping idols – Clay Cooper, Jake Barnes, Leo Camarillo, etc. Junior started roping professionally when he was 14. “I didn’t know what I was doing, just working hard and learning, but I was able to provide for my family and that was good.”

    Jake Barnes, the seven times world champion header with 27 NFR qualifications, said, “I thought I was done rodeoing hard when Junior showed up. I’d sold my truck and trailer, and our youngest son was off to college, so Toni and I were empty nesters. Helping Junior felt like giving back for what guys like Leo did for me. It’s neat when you can make a difference in someone’s life. Junior made a difference in my life, too.”

    Shortly after Junior arrived here, he and Jake were traveling to South Dakota to compete in Rapid City and spun out on black ice five minutes from the arena. “We lost Jake’s truck and trailer,” recalled Junior. “I thought I was going to die – my horse wasn’t hurt, but Jake’s horse was. A bull dogger drove by, picked us up, and put all our stuff inside his rig. The slack had already started, so I saddled my horse, Jake borrowed a horse, and we roped the steer and ended up placing 4.6. God’s amazing.” Jake and Junior made their first NFR in 2014, Junior’s rookie year, and Junior claimed the prestigious 2014 Rookie of the Year as well. Jake and Junior made a second NFR together in 2015, but Jake suffered a serious head injury when a horse fell practicing right before the Finals, so JoJo LeMond filled in and headed for Junior. “Good mind, that’s what I learned from Jake – stay in the middle, stay focused on what you are doing and get it done. Don’t let anything else take your focus.”
    Junior married Jaqueline, a girl he fell in love with from his hometown, Presidente Prudente, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Once he had become successful, he brought her to the States and they are now able to travel together much of the time. “My wife is very supportive. It’s the whole team; family, horses, and help at the house to ride when I’m gone, that makes this work.” He has roped with Kaleb Driggers for six years.

    Junior continues to work on his skills. “I try to be a master at what I do and figure everything out – now it’s paying off.” He has spent a lifetime working on his horsemanship, starting in Brazil with his father and continuing in the United States. Junior lived with him two different times early in his career. “Keeping your horse working, knowing him, and always helping him be better is important. You can overcome any kind of issue with good horsemanship.”
    This will be Junior’s ninth trip to the NFR. “I get excited and my heart beats so fast and nervous. It’s a good feeling and I don’t think that will ever change.” He and Kaleb will practice for the NFR at Kaleb’s house after the AQHA World Show in Oklahoma City. “We set up Kaleb’s arena (40 minutes from Junior’s house near Brock, Texas) with the same measurements for NFR and pull the chutes the same way.” Junior likes the small arena. “I like it – love it. it’s the NFR.”
    Junior also loves the United States. “For sure with no doubt it’s the greatest country in the world. I have my house, my family, and have this life – I’m very blessed.”