story by Ruth Nicolaus
JC Fisher is continuing the legacy started by his grandpa, “Pap” Jim Fisher, and his dad, Jamie Fisher.
Pap rode and broke a lot of horses in his time in central Pennsylvania, and has taught his grand-son, JC, a member of the American Pro Rodeo Association, a lot about horsemanship.
JC, a tie-down roper, is the 2019 Rookie of the Year in his event in the APRA. He started youth rodeos at a young age, competing the Central Pa. Youth Rodeo Association and the Keystone Junior Rodeo Association.
He graduated from high school in 2016 and works for two sale barns: the Middleburg Livestock Auction and the Dewart Livestock Auction in Watsontown.
Last year, he rode a bay gelding named Doc, but this year he’s moved up a step to a paint mare named Stella, who has “more run to go to,” JC said, “a little bit more edge on her” than the bay.
JC also competed at Cowtown Rodeo in New Jersey several times this year, traveling with Ned and Zane Kilgus.
His Pap, Jim, has been very influential in his life. “He keeps pushing me to do better, like my dad does, too,” JC said. “He wants me to be the best I can with what I want to do. He’s always pushed me to be a better horseman and go the extra mile.” Jim doesn’t ride much anymore; his wife, JC’s grandma Jane, has Alzheimer’s and needs a lot of care, so Jim stays with her.
Grandpa Jim is proud of his grandson. JC used to sit in his Pap’s lap as they watched rodeo vid-eos together and that’s all JC could talk about. “Since he was three years old, all he wanted to do was rodeo,” Jim said. “He always had a rope in his hand.”
JC is quiet, Jim said, but respectful, helpful to others and a hard worker who loves to work around animals. “He’s a great kid. I’m very proud of him.”
In his spare time, JC likes to fish with his dad and his brother.
He has a younger brother, Stran, and a younger sister, Josey. He is the son of Jamie and Diana Fisher.
