News & Events Josie Conner & Dutch
The Arkansas Elite Barrel Racing Finals was held March 16-20 in Fort Smith, AR. It was a fast and spectacular weekend, with many raffle winners, including Bryan Perry (Cricket), Samantha Cope (cert for Robbie Phillips saddle), Staci Defresne (corn hole boards), Makenzi Goss (Epic saddle cert), Jaclyn Girty and Brittney Metcalf (each $125 fuel cash), Sydney Tindell (Cowboy Rust Saddle), and more! Jennifer Godfrey and Calamity Jane Productions were recognized as producer of the year. Winners Friday, were Grayson Fairless (Open) and Kelby Kelley (Jr), while Saturdays was Savannah Toon (both Open & Jr). Sunday’s champs were Tandy Meyers (Open) and Savannah Toon (Jr). fmi, arkansaselitebarrelracing.com. The 2021 APHA Breeders Trust payments were mailed to the tune of almost $400K, with a per-point value of $8.35, the highest value since 2013. Simons Show Horses LLC, Aubrey, received owner payout for Zippos Sensation, leading sire. That stallion has taken the No. 1 Breeders Leading Sire title for 21 years, with 64 foals earning 3,813 eligible points last year. The Simons also received subscriber check for Leading Earner with Even More Sensational, owned by Stephanie Mohindra, who also received a hefty check. NavaRio Ranch Horse Productions hosted its 2022 Series Kick-Off Show in Brenham, March 19, resulting in HPs Kyndal Daniel (WT-YL1/Big Easy Scooter), Alex Ayala (WT-YL2/ Co), Katherine Allen (WTL-YL1/Sweet Pistol Packer), Maria Matjka (WTLYL2/Sweet As TN Whiskey), Ryan West (Green-Horse/Shootin Cos), Kim West (WT-Adult/Heavy Duty Gunner), Emalee Hoffman (WT-Open/Speedy), Kar12
Jennifer Godfrey & Calamity Jane Productions were named Producer of the Year at AR Elite Barrel Racing Finals (lt). Braxton Bespie won the 7-9 Dummy roping at Integrity Team Roping Production Show. en Barksdale (Rookie/Gunners Scotch), Jessica Twohig (Nov/Blazing Investment), Addison King (Am/Haida Risto), and Liz Hebert (Op/Huckleberry). fmi, navarioranch.com. SLTSA’s March 19 show winners were Tammie Robillard/Chris Brian/EB Thomson (#15-3Man-2 Gate), Charlie Richardson/Ken Marks (#10Ranch-Sorting), Lily Isaaac/Avery Dougas (Yth-Ranch-Sorting), and Bill Harvey/Ken Marks (#6-Ranch-Sorting). fmi, www.sltsa.com. Sooner Barrel Racing Assoc’s March 19-20 event in Sapulpa OK, resulted in 2-day average winners Jocee Bailey (1D), Kim Harrup (2D), Kim McGrew (3D), Suann Harness (4D), and Brandy Sams (5D). The USTRC NM Championships, held March 26-27 in Clovis, paid out $86,120! John English and Calvin Taylor won the average in the 13.5-Slide, and USTRC average champs included Clayton Williams/Garrett Baldwin (#12.5), Colten Runyan/Joel Fuchs (#11.5),Pason Patton/Garrett Baldwin (#10.5), Ransom Morris/Cole Wilson (#9.5), Pason Patton/Callahan Taylor (#8.5), and Ransom Morris/Efrain Rodriguez (#7). Baylor University’s equestrian team earned 33 selections to the 2022 National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) All-Academic teams and Academic Honor Roll. Nine Bears were
SouthWest Horse Trader May 2022
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Louisiana’s Josie Conner Wins BFI Breakaway Roping Contributed by Kendra Santos
Andersen CbarC Photo
Contributed by Laura Cannon
The BFI Charlie 1 Horse All-Girl Breakaway Roping sent BFI Week 2022 out with a big bang, and young gun Cajun cowgirl Josie Conner stuck it on ’em April 5 for $11,000, including $1,000 for the 18 & Under Youth Incentive. Home-schooled high school senior Conner of Iowa, LA, roped three calves in 12.59 seconds for the win. “This is awesome,” said Josie, who’s 18, graduates in May and plans to start college at McNeese State University in Lake Charles in the fall. “The BFI is such a prestigious event in the team roping world, and they were one of the first big jackpots to bring the breakaway along with it. We appreciate that, and this was a pretty good day.” Josie is the daughter of Jade and Wendi Conner, and Daddy Jade is always in her corner—literally. Josie’s giving her trademark sorrel horse, Tonka, a mini vacation while she and her parents head for the spring-run rodeos in California. “I almost cried when I left Tonka home yesterday,” Josie said. “This is the first place I’ve been without Tonka. But Dutch (who’s also a sorrel) has done great, and I really just feel like this is going to help me get rolling on him.” There were 105 entries, the scoreline was one under, and the calves were running. Second to Conner’s 12.50 on three was Cassidy Kelly at 14.30. She won $6,000. It’s a great time to be a young breakaway roper, and Conner is capitalizing on it. “Breakaway roping has grown so much as a sport, and all the girls have upped their game,” Josie said. “It’s just so cool to grow up with the sport. It’s happening fast, and I’m really excited for that.” Her dad has had the biggest hand in helping Josie climb the roping ranks. She’s also a student of the game. “I like to watch all the breakaway ropers, and take bits and pieces from everyone and see how they might work for me,” she said. “They’ve all impacted me. As the sport’s gotten bigger, everyone has upped their game. And that’s helped me up mine.” She had to wait to turn 18 to get her pro card. That makes this Josie’s rookie year. “I try to do my job every single time, make as few mistakes as possible and not leave money on the table.” w
