By DEB FOWLKS

By this point, a good many school children have uttered the dreaded phrase, “I’m bored!” Four area girls preparing for the upcoming Wrangler Junior High National Finals Rodeo in Gallup, N.M. don’t have time to be bored let alone think about being bored.

Logan Boydstun, 14, Berwick, Jesse Haynes, 14, Abingdon and Katie Staley, 13, Roseville, will be among the 900 plus contestants from 41 states, five Canadian provinces and Australia competing June 28-July 4.

The Wrangler Junior High Rodeo Association (WJHRA) is for kids in sixth, seventh and eight grades and is part of the National High School Rodeo Association. Most youngsters involved with rodeo get an early start. Boydstun says she started riding horses when she was 2 and started participating in rodeo events when she was in Kindergarten. She followed in older sister, Ashley’s, footsteps. Both Boydstun girls got a healthy admiration for the rodeo from their mother, Debby Jo Metsker-Boydstun, “My mom rodeoed. She was a first generation member of the high school rodeo association,” shared Logan.

Some might say Logan was inspired to rodeo before she was born, “Logan was born in September. I was pregnant in the summer with her and helping Ashley at different rodeos. She was part of it before she was before,” said Debby Jo.

Katie Staley also begin hitting the rodeo circuit at an early age, hearing about it through the Boydstuns, as did Jesse Haynes, “I started rodeoing when I was in first grade. This is my eighth year. I have always had horses, but mom heard about the junior rodeo through some friends of ours, the Boydstuns.”

Two recurring themes for the girls is travel and practice. Boydstun said she has traveled to five different states since becoming involved. Haynes has been to multiple states as well, “I have traveled all over Illinois and have been to Iowa, Indiana and New Mexico.

With six events at each rodeo (barrels, poles, goat tying, breakaway roping, team roping and ribbon roping), most participants spend multiple hours practicing. Boydstun said she tries to practice as much as she can but generally is able to spend about an hour and a half per night working on her skills. Haynes said juggling practice and other activities can be a challenge, “It’s sometimes hard with school sports to practice. I usually practice about three hours a day. Now that school is out, I have a lot more time to dedicate to rodeo.”

Staley said she practices every day between 20 and 30 minutes, “You practice so you don’t get nervous,” she said.

Both Boydstun and Haynes agree their favorite event is breakaway calf roping while Staley enjoys poles. 

While all of the girls have the support and help of their parents, the expense involved in participating is a huge factor, “It’s very expensive,” said Debby Jo, “you usually do it every weekend. You stay in a camper, you have to take care of the horses, you have vet. bills and diesel fuel and other expenses.”

“There are a lot of expenses involved. It’s not just the entry fees. It’s the horses, the equipment, the truck and trailer and stalls,” said Jodie Haynes, Jesse’s mom.

Debby Jo estimated they would pay about $2.50 a gallon for diesel fuel. To cut down on expenses, they are sharing the 22-24 drive with Katie Staley and her mom.

Participating in rodeo events is not for the faint of heart. Debby Jo and Jodie recognize the drive and determination their daughters exhibit, “Logan is determined. When she was in Kindergarten she had a horse that would knock her off. Each time, Logan would go back, get back on and get knocked off again. She wouldn’t give up.”

Logan recalls the horse, “It made me mad!”

“My daughter is one of the hardest working, most determined young ladies I know. She tries to practice every night. She competes in all six events. It’s hard to fit all that in one night of practice,” said Jodie.

Awards are generally presented, but not always, said Haynes, “The awards given out for rodeos are usually belt buckles and saddles for year end awards. We do not always get awards, though. Sometimes we compete just for points. The year end points determine who will qualify for Nationals. Only the top four are able to go.”

While participating in the rodeo doesn’t leave much time for other activities, Boydstun, Staley and Haynes say they all enjoy doing other things, “I enjoy basketball, volleyball, 4-H, hunting and running,” said Haynes. Boydstun agreed, “I like sports, showing cattle and pigs.”

Attending the various events means spending a lot of time together on the road. Both Boydstun and Haynes enjoy spending that time with their mothers who always accompany them, “My favorite thing about the rodeo is getting to spend time with my mom,” said Haynes.

For Staley and Boydstun this will be their first trip to Nationals. Haynes has gone before. This year, Staley and Boydstun will be competing in barrel racing. Staley will also compete in the pole bending event. Boydstun missed fourth place in the breakaway calf roping event by two points, “I’m disappointed, but I’ll have to work harder, “ she said.

Haynes will be participating in four events; breakaway calf roping, ribbon roping, team roping and goat tying.

Participating in rodeo is something that will be a long term endeavor for the girls, “I want to participate in rodeo until I die!”, said Haynes. Boydstun agreed, “I want to do this forever. I want to get my kids into it, too.”

There’s a lot more to rodeo than what people think said Jodie, “There is a whole lot more to rodeo than competing. We often have to travel three to five hours to a rodeo. What a great time to get to know your kid! It’s a great environment to raise kids. Every rodeo is started with the National Anthem and then a prayer. Every Sunday we have a Cowboy Church. The families in the rodeo circuit all know each other and help the kids improve. The contestants all cheer each other on and are quick to lend a hand or equipment when needed.”

Jesse is the daughter of Jon and Jodie Haynes. Logan is the daughter of John Boydstun and Debby Jo Metsker-Boydstun while Katie is the daughter of Christine Staley and Brent Staley.