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.”