story by Lily Weinacht
Justin Kibler secured a qualification to his first GCPRA finals last fall in his events of tie-down roping and steer wrestling. The 19-year-old from Willcox, Arizona, won second in the second round of the finals incentive tie-down roping, and finished second in the incentive year-end standings. “I love the rush, and when you practice so hard and finally put a good run together and win, it feels like you’ve accomplished something,” says Justin. “Calf roping is my favorite for sure. It was one of my dad’s best events, and I just grew up around a lot of calf ropers, so it’s a family deal. I look up to my dad, and Tristan Mahoney, Dickie Lee Miller, and Howdy Sanborn. Those three have all been a part of the association through the years.
“The (GCPRA) competition is always good, and there’s always a lot of nice people,” says Justin, who’s entering his third season in the association. “And the stock is always good. I really like Durango, just because it’s beautiful up there and it’s a cool setup.” Justin is also in the middle of his first year of college rodeo, roping and steer wrestling for Central Arizona College in Casa Grande on a full-ride rodeo scholarship. His dad college rodeoed on the team for two years, followed by two years on the University of Arizona rodeo team. “I’m really enjoying it,” says Justin. “I’m majoring in welding technology. It’s a two-year degree, and we’ve been doing structural welding and getting weld certifications. In high school, I built a horse saver. It’s a horse that can drive by a steer dummy, and I still use it.”
Prior to college rodeo, Justin competed in the AHSRA for three years. He had to sit out his freshman year of high school rodeo when the family learned he had midaortic syndrome, characterized by a narrowing of the aorta, which restricts blood flow and causes severe high blood pressure. While he had to forego a season of rodeo, Justin was part of a groundbreaking procedure when he and his family traveled to Boston Children’s Hospital for his surgery. Rather than using prosthetic material to create a graft, the doctor used one of Justin’s mesenteric arteries, which would allow the material to grow with Justin. It was a success, and he went home a month and a half later, then resumed tracking calves and roping after nine weeks. “They say I’m 100 percent. It’s awesome! They’re great doctors, and I made it to Nationals my senior year in calf roping and steer wrestling.”
Justin practices six days a week, either in Casa Grande at a friend’s arena where he keeps his horses during school, or at his family’s arena in Willcox. Friends will come over to help runs chutes, along with Justin’s dad, Mark; and his grandpa, Henry Kibler, who is a retired tie-down roper. Justin’s 17-year-old sister, Courtney, ropes with him and competes in the AHSRA, while their mom, Wendy, handles the videoing. Trey Nahrgang hazes for Justin at the GCPRA rodeos, while Trey Robertson hazes for him at college rodeos. Justin and his dad trained his steer wrestling horse, Ramon, and Justin’s main calf horse, Painted Lady, was started by Joe Bob DeWitt and finished and seasoned by Justin.
During school breaks, Justin helps at his family’s grow yard where they background feed beef cattle, and they also raise hay. “I love to go hunting, and I like skiing and playing pool,” he adds. “I want to make the College Nationals Finals my first year, so I have to get that done this semester. I also want to really work hard and dominate the open calf roping at the Grand Canyon rodeos this year.”
