Written by: Siri Stevens

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2022 NJHFR WORLD CHAMPIONS

Boys breakaway roping – Wyatt Howell (TX) Barrels – Skyler Nicholas (TX) Girls breakaway – Colee Cox(TX) Bare back steer – Taos Weborg (SD) Tie down roping – Reno Scribner (NM) Girls goats – Wacey Trujillo (NM) Boys goats – Cash Colcasure (AR) Team roping – Steele Smith and Logan Vander Hamm (KS) Ribbon roping – Craig and Bella Sciba (TX) Saddle bronc steer – Hardy Osborne (NM) Pole bending – Chaynee Slavin (OK) Chute dogging – Craig Sciba (TX) Bull riding – West Schroeder (MT) Rookie boy all around – Stetson Corman (IL) Rookie girl all around – Lana Houck (MN) All around cowgirl – Ella Kay (LA) All around cowboy Craig Sciba (TX)

Ella Kay from Iowa, Louisiana, had her mind set on winning a championship in either goat tying or breakaway roping at the National Junior High Finals in Perry, Georgia. The 13-year-old competed in those events as well as ribbon roping this past week and ended the week as the Girls All-Around Champion for the 2022 National Junior High Finals Rodeo. “It caught me by surprise; the hard work is finally showing.” She took reserve champion in the goat tying, fourth in breakaway and second in the second round of ribbon roping. Her hard work includes a routine of roping off both horses every afternoon, tying goats, and twice a week intense training at the gym. “I push sleds, tires, and run with resistance bands,” she said. “That’s helping my feet go faster and helping me be more mentally tough.”

“It takes a big crew to get this done,” said her dad, Brian, who used to compete in tie down roping. “All the grandparents at home are taking care of chores; her older sister, Addison, is helping in the barn, and her mom DeAnne is keeping track of forms, fees, clothes, and cooking.” They were joined by Ella’s coach, Kamryn Duncan, who flew in from Casper, Wyo., where she had just tied for the 2022 College National Finals Goat Tying championship. Ella took two horses to the Finals, a ten-hour trip from Iowa, and will turn around and head to the National Little Britches Finals in Guthrie, Oklahoma at the Lazy E Arena, the end of the week.

The seventh grader is quick to give all the credit to God. “You have to believe and trust God – he has a plan and you have to follow it. My parents remind me that I’m here to follow His plan and whenever He’s ready I’m ready. It’s a habit now – I say my prayers and I listen to the rosary with my parents every morning.”

Craig Sciba from Victoria, Texas, won the Boys All Around Champion, the World Champion Ribbon Team – roping for his sister, Bella, and the World Champion Chute Dogger and reserve champion goat tyer. His horse, Tag, took the title of AQHA Horse of the year. Tag is his roping horse, tie down horse as well as a goat tying horse. “It was a long shot to get All Around,” said the 14-year-old. “I was only there in three events and there were guys there in five and six events.” His game plan was doing the best he could. Going into the short go, he knew he needed to do his job in order to get the All Around title.  “I go at it the same way as I do any other round – make the run. In Ribbons we had to be 12 and we were a 6.3. I didn’t safety up at all. If I start thinking about all that then things go wrong.” His dad, Craig, is his main coach in the practice pen. Craig is moving into the high school competition next year and his goals for the future are simple. “Take one step at a time; high school next and probably college rodeo.”