On May 2-4, 2008, 261 contestants and their family and friends packed the Josey Ranch in Marshall, TX, for the 27th Annual Josey Junior World Championship Barrel Race. We were very excited to travel back in time this year, with a Rock-n-Roll theme from the 1950’s and 60’s. R.E. and Martha along with their staff and the City of Marshall rolled out the red carpet for the most prestigious youth barrel race in the world.
To kick off the weekend, R.E. and Martha teamed up with Danny and Darla Ray of Victory Farms to produce the 1st Annual Josey Super Select Barrel Horse Sale, held May 1st at the Marshall City Arena. Before the sale, everyone enjoyed a fish fry prepared by Catfish Express. Congratulations to Harry and Vivian Blackwell for having the top selling horse out of the 50 horses consigned to the sale. The beautiful bay gelding Nonstop Bay Boy sold for $46,500.00 and was purchased by Edwin Cameron of Marshall, TX.
The prestigious Junior World kicked off Friday, May 2, and is a three run average, the fastest average on three consisting of a long go, short go, and finals. Each contestant has two chances to qualify for the Top 50.
Mesa Leavitt, 12 year old of Blue Grass, IA, sponsored by United Vet Equine and her great horse Juniors Genuine Doc, rocked and rolled around three barrels to claim the Championship in the Junior Division. Mesa and Junior qualified with a greased lighting run of 15.859 to bring her back to the Top 50 Round, ran a 16.589, then came back and ran a 15.839 in the short round giving her an average of 48.287 to clinch the Championship title. Since Mesa had the fastest average of the Junior and Senior Division, she was handed the keys to a beautiful trailer donated by Big Tex/Cimarron Trailers. Mesa and Junior’s 15.839 was also the fastest time of the weekend winning them a custom made bit by Wasson Bits.
The heat was on in the Senior Division, but 15 year old Bailee Wright, of Billings, MO, sponsored by Flying W Rodeo Company, knew what she had to do. Bailee and her great horse A Smoothman showed the pack what they were made of and qualified with a 16.310 to bring her back to the Top 50 Round, and ran a 16.192 to clinch a spot in the Top 20. A great run of 16.399 in the short round gave her an average of 48.901 making her the leader of the pack for the Senior Division Championship.
Both Champions received beautiful trophy saddles, trophy belt buckles, Priefert Retractable Barrels, Pro-Kold Ice Boots, cash, and many other prizes.
Following the exciting 1st Round of Competition on Friday, everyone enjoyed the Barbeque Awards Banquet held on the beautiful Josey Ranch. The stage lit up as Junior World Contestant Bailey Hefley of Little Rock, AR, entertained the crowd with songs of the 1950’s and 60’s. As part of the program, Haley Burton gave her winning speech from the Purina Speech Competition. Following the awards, Martha had a surprise for everyone. “Elvis” made a special guest appearance on the Josey Ranch! Contestants and staff dressed 50’s style and danced to the music of the Elvis impersonator, and yes the ranch did “Shake, Rattle and Roll.”
Six college scholarships were also awarded at the Friday night banquet. The Mom Arthur Scholarship was awarded to Lauren Yoder, the Bob Arthur Scholarship to Misty Woodcock, the Shelia Aiken Scholarship to Jamie Lynn Huffman, and three Josey Ranch Scholarships were awarded to Devon Click, Michael Ann Wilson, and Laramie Null. Another very special award, The Mom Arthur Award, was presented in memory of Martha’s mom. This award goes to the mother of the contestant writing the winning essay about their mother and her commitment to them, family, and the sport of barrel racing. The winner of the 2008 award went to Dawn Smith, mother of contestant Jimmie Smith.
As we all know, cowgirls must look pretty, and the Best Dressed awards went to Kyler Terlip in the Junior Division and Kyra Stierwalt in the Senior Division.
The Purina Speech Competition winners were 1st Haylee Burton, 2nd Jimmie Smith, 3rd Taylor Steinhoff, and 4th Clint VanVolkenburg. Top Raffle Ticket Sellers were 1st place Cassidy Kruse, 2nd place Megan Young, and 3rd place Kylar Terlip. Congratulations to Pam Hooks of DeRidder, LA, who won the Circle Y Raffle Saddle. Five contestants traveling the greatest distance and not placing in any of the go rounds each received $200.00 provided by Rusty Howell. The recipients were Ty Steele of Arlee, MT, Darlene Miller of Dundee, OH, Madison Drotos of Lakeland, FL, Rebecca Keeku of Union Grove, WI, and Megan Rogers of Dade City, FL.
Barrel Racing starts young at the Josey Ranch with the Annual Stick Horse Barrel Racing competition as contestants four and under compete for the Championship title. Paige Wagley of Malvern, AR, took home the title of 2008 Champion.
Sunday’s Cowboy Church Service began with an opening prayer by Randy Adams, followed by speaker Thomas Mitchell, and concluded with inspiring messages from Coy Huffman and Martha Josey. The voices of Bailey Hefley and Christy Hall added to the morning service.
To honor Martha’s great horse Cebe Reed, winner of 52 consecutive barrel races and seven horse trailers, two very special awards were given to the horses with the most heart. This year’s honors went to 13 year old Special K Edition, owned by Kelly and Kory Allen and ridden by Kory Allen, and 18 year old Red Man Bay, owned and ridden by Blaise Bercegeay. Special K’s dam won this award ten years ago, and both Special K and Red Man Bay have made the prestigious Top 20 many times.
The top 20 trophy saddles were made by the greatest names in western saddlery, Circle Y, Billy Cook, Jerry Beagley and HR Saddle and Tack.
Saddle winners 2nd thru 10th place in the Junior Division were Reserve Champion Cassidy Kruse, Gillette, WY, riding JKR Assured Win “JJ”, 3rd place Kory Allen, Hillsboro, TX, riding Special K Edition, 4th place Sassi Jae Thompson Hugo, OK, riding ChooChoo, 5th place Raelee Self Powderly, TX, riding Im Shy an Freckled, 6th place Blaise Bercegeay, Summitt, MS, riding Red Man Bay, 7th place Cierra Chapman, Kiowa, OK, riding Miss Cruella Deville, 8th place Jimmie Smith, Elgin, TX, riding Scooter, 9th place Jana Guthrie, Canton, TX, riding Jetting Dial, and 10th place Taylor Wharton, Mineral Wells, TX, riding Shotzie.
Senior Division 2nd thru 10th place saddle winners were Reserve Champion Jessi Eagleberger, Springtown, OK, riding Pecos, 3rd place Shelton Headley, Port Gibson, MS, riding A Lone Hero, 4th place Dana Haas, Kiln, MS, riding Shes A Power Train, 5th place Chelsey Huffman, Nixa, MO, riding Minnie Mouse, 6th place Katy Strange, Kilgore, TX, riding Mighty Slick Theif, 7th place Heather Moore, New Johnson, TN, riding Martha’s Chicado, 8th place Jessi Eagleberger, Springtown, OK, riding Pace, 9th place Chrystal Fretwell, Santa Fe, TX, riding Holly’s Pepponita Gay “Peppy”, and 10th place Elizabeth Ray, Ball, LA riding Yeller.
Many corporate sponsors, NFR contestants and proud parents were on hand to support the finest youth barrel racers and horses in the world at the Josey Ranch. If you would like to be a part of the 2009 Josey Jr World Championship Barrel Race May 1-3, 2009, or for information on future Josey Clinics and events please visit us at www.barrelracers.com or call 903-935-5358.
