Josie Conner competing at the 2016 Louisiana Junior High Finals Rodeo - Phifer, RodeoBum.com

Meet the Member Josie Conner

story by Gigi Robey

A goal is a desired result that a person envisions for themselves, plans and commits to achieve. “I want to dominate my calf,” says young Josie Conner from Iown, La, “placing doesn’t matter; this year I want to make the best run I can on the calf I have. I didn’t do that this past year, and my goal is to do better at that this coming year.” That’s the goal twelve-year-old Josie has set for this upcoming year of Junior High Rodeos. With an impressive set of accomplishments, including winning the Barry Burk twelve and under breakaway roping in 2015, she’s just wanting to make the most out of every run. Within the junior high association, she competes in ribbon roping and breakaway; however, breakaway is her passion. Both of her parents (Wendi and Jade) have always been involved in rodeos, Wendi has won several all-around saddles, and Jade currently competes in tie down roping in some pro rodeos. Josie said she has been riding horses since she was 4, but remembers the first time leaving the house was to go to a local rodeo at age 7. She says that people probably don’t realize how much she practices, which she does a lot more than most people, from running calves, to helping her dad, to roping the dummy, she is always practicing. Her family helps her stay motivated, she says that if anything goes wrong they are always there for one another to lift each other up. She also likes the bible verse Proverbs 31:25 “she is clothed in strength and dignity, and laughs without fear of the future.” Her parents play a big role in her life, not only in rodeos, but in everything. She looks up to her dad, as her idol, because he has taught her a lot and helps her a lot. They normally travel together as a family, as well, and normally her sixteen-year-old cousin, Elle, goes with them. Josie is homeschooled, which she enjoys, she said her favorite subject is math, because she is good with numbers.
Pretzel, Ace, and Klorox is the three horses Josie likes to ride. Pretzel is her main rodeo horse, who Josie described as “grumpy” usually found with her ear pinned back unless you have a treat in your hand. Ace and Klorox are the two she practices on, which she said are both like big teddy bears. Klorox is her dads horse that he lets her ride, he was given the name Klorox because of the way he cleans up runs, he is very smooth. She also has a blue heeler, named Drew, and eighteen heifers that are very sweet. After high school Josie would like to train horses, and maybe open up a swimming clinic for horses.
Josie said that if she had the opportunity she would like to ask JJ Hampton “How she keeps herself motivated, and how she puts it on the neck so quick?” she would also like to know “how she wins so much in a short period of time?”
She says that the best thing about rodeo is the people you meet along the way, she said she has met some great people; she said rodeo has also taught her a lot of life lessons she wouldn’t have been able to learn without rodeos.

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