Meet the Member Josey Murphy

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Josey Murphy, National High School Finals All Around Rookie of the Year, at the 2017 LHSFR - Phifer, RodeoBum.com

Meet the Member Josey Murphy

story by Siri Stevens

Josey Murphy is 15 years old and ended her first year in high school by winning the National High School All Around Rookie of the Year as well as 11th in the barrels. This All Around title is not new to her – in her junior high career she had back-to-back All Around titles for the Louisiana Junior High Rodeo Association. She competes in barrels, poles, breakaway, goats, and team roping.
“I really wasn’t going for that – I was focused on trying to win the breakaway and be competitive in the barrels. It worked out great.” She won Gist Silversmith buckle, and a pair of Bex sunglasses, an American Hat certificate an $1,000 scholarship. “It’s a great feeling – to be there – 48 states – to be the best one there is an amazing feeling.” Josey spent many hours practicing before Nationals. In the afternoons when it was too hot to ride, she’d rope the dummy. “We’d rope and ride every night until 10:30 or so. The time and effort paid off. I also believe that if you take good care of your horses – happy horses make competitive horses.”
She started competing when she was three. “My mom (Julie) got a really old horse for me and I started walking and trotting around and pretty soon I could lope the pattern myself so we went to playdays.” She practices everyday on one of her eight horses. “There are around 35 horses on the place – my family, especially my dad and my uncle, gets horses in to tune on or sell.” Murphy Ranch is located in Keatchie, Louisiana. “There is a little store and a four way red light, two churches, and that’s town,” she said. “I love it – it’s very pretty – green grass and hills.” Josey has one older brother, Macon, 18. “Now that he almost full time rodeos, it’s brought us closer – we help each other out and support each other.” Macon is a senior in high school and was named one of the top 50 basketball guards in the nation. He competes in calf roping and team roping. They practice together at home, and sometimes at the end of the practice session, their dad, KC, will call for a three calf match, and they will compete with each other. “My dad screams, saying ‘you just won a $30,000 trailer’ to make it fun.” KC has a fence building company, he also buys and sells cows, as well as hay that is raised on the ranch. Everybody in her dad’s family lives on the ranch, her uncle along with her grandparents.
Her first year of high school “was one to remember. I had such a great time with friends and going to Nationals and winning – I had a blast.” There are 150 students at the high school, located in Grand Cane, 20 minutes away. “My brother and I rodeo together and will again this year.” School will start again in a week and she’s not excited. “I would rather be home riding.”
Josey knows she wants to rodeo when she gets out of high school. “I might try for the NFR but I’m not positive. I haven’t thought about what I want to study, but I know I want to rodeo.” Rodeo seems to be in the family blood. “My dad’s side of the family is from Montana, and my mom’s side is from South Texas, so everyone loves rodeo. Just being able to do this sport is a true blessing and I can’t thank my parents and all my sponsors enough.”

Association Member

Meet the Member Josey Murphy

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Louisiana High School Rodeo Association (LHSRA)