story by Lindsay Humphrey
Rodeo was and is a key component of Jaylyn Hash’s everyday life. Not only does he compete in three events – calf roping, steer wrestling and team roping – but he’s also bullfighting on a regular basis at the amateur, collegiate and professional level. “I’m a third-generation cowboy, my mom’s uncle – Bud Jennings – owns J&J Rodeo Company,” said the Garden City Community College rodeo athlete. “I’ve been around stock contractors my whole life.” “My dad provides the goats for the Little Britches Finals and the CNFR.” When Jaylyn was 5, he got his first horse and started roping. It was just a few years later that he got hooked by a steer at a rodeo school and realized fighting bulls could be fun too.
“All my uncles fought bulls and so did my dad, so it’s a family sport just like roping. I fought my first rodeo when I was 16 in Hoxie, Kansas, at a KPRA event for my uncle. I’d never practiced, I just watched YouTube videos and then Bud threw me in the arena, and it took off from there.” Jaylyn fought bulls for the rest of the rodeo season for his uncle that year. The older he’s gotten the more contracts to fight bulls he’s found himself fulfilling. Last year he was fighting bulls on his PRCA permit and now he’s a full-blown professional. “It’s a dream come true for me. Starting out I didn’t think it would take me anywhere, I was doing it to make some money and help Bud out. I didn’t think it would go this far, I’m very blessed.”
Even though Jaylyn’s been a KPRA member since high school, it’s only been in the last few years that he’s been fighting at more KPRAs than he’s been entering. “I like everything about the KPRA. The committees putting on these rodeos do a lot for us. And the KPRA has quite a bit of added money which makes the competition tough.” This will be the first year that Jaylyn’s hauling to KPRAs with a few goals in mind. “I never had it on my mind to qualify for the KPRA finals until this year, but I’ve worked them several times. I’m hoping I can both compete in them and fight.” To that same end, Jaylyn has quite a few professional rodeos on his schedule this summer as a bull fighter. Even though he’s taking his sports management degree seriously, Jaylyn would be lying if he didn’t admit that it was his backup plan.
“I love sports, all sports. Bull fighting isn’t really a lifelong career for anyone, so some day I’m hoping to be a coach or an athletic director while also teaching at the same time.” Until then, Jaylyn will keep roping, riding and fighting as much as he possibly can. He’s in a unique situation at Garden City Community College because his dad is the rodeo coach there. “My dad was my coach growing up, so it feels very normal to me. He usually lets his assistant coach help me during practice, but I’m one of very few people who gets to have their dad in the box every time I compete at a college rodeo.”
Riding the little gray gelding that could – Diego – Jaylyn loves calf roping more than any other event he’s tried. “Diego came off a feedlot and basically nobody had a use for him, so I decided to start heeling on him and hauling him when I could. His very first rodeo as a calf horse, he placed eighth in the long round and then made the short go. I’m pretty proud of that horse right now.” Jaylyn is optimistic that the 6-year-old will help him qualify for and then compete in the KPRA finals later this fall.
