Jamie Christensen - Kaylee Hopper Photography

Meet the Member Jamie Christensen

story by Ruth Nicholaus

There’s some tough competition in the breakaway roping amongst the Rocky Mountain Pro Rodeo Association, and Jamie Christensen is right there in the middle of it.
The Erda, Utah cowgirl, who also runs barrels, was ranked seventh prior to the RMPRA Finals last month, with about three hundred dollars separating fourth place and twelfth place.
Jamie has been an RMPRA member for five years, beginning when she was a junior in high school.
Her roping horse is a twenty-year-old chestnut named Chester, who the family has owned since he was two years old. Jamie’s older sister Heather rode him, and when Jamie was ready for junior high rodeo, Chester carried her. She rode him throughout high school, where she competed at state finals and Silver State International Rodeo, and at Utah Valley University, where she was reserve breakaway roper in the Rocky Mountain Region her freshman year, and finished twelfth in the nation at the College National Finals.
Chester is special, Jamie said. “That horse has been able to take me everywhere. He’s so fun and honest to ride.” He has a big personality, too. “He’s quite the little stinker. He likes to play tricks. He’ll always nudge somebody, or nip at them, but he’s never hurt anybody.”
Her barrel horse is a ten year old gray named Eyesa, whose registered name is Eyesa Bit Blue. Jamie trained the horse, taking her time and letting her grow up. She began running Eyesa her senior year of high school. Eyesa loves rodeos, running on rodeo ground, and the lights and the crowds. “I can take her to a jackpot and she doesn’t like those,” Jamie said.  “They’re not exciting. She likes going to town and hearing people cheer.”
Jamie graduated from UVU in May with a degree in communications. She works in the recruiting office at the C.R England Trucking Co., training recruiters and helping with the marketing.
Of her two events, roping is her favorite. “My heart is into roping. It’s what I really love to do.” Her dad likes to tease her about it. “My dad says, good thing you can rope, so you can pay for your barrel racing habits.”
This year was her third time to qualify for the RMPRA Finals, which were held last month.
For fun, Jamie loves to draw, paint, and play with her nearly four-year-old niece Elzie. Elzie’s mom, Jamie’s sister, is Heather Clegg.
She is the daughter of Wade and Ruth Christensen.

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