story by Siri Stevens
Jenna has competed in the CPRA for 7 years, winning Rookie of the Year in 2011 and average in the barrel racing at this year’s Finals. The stay-at-home mom to 10-month-old Chloe Rose spends her time traveling with her PRCA tie-down roping husband, Riley, or home on the ranch near Gering, Nebraska.
Her sister, Nicole Waggoner, talked her into getting back into chasing cans in the CPRA this year very late in the season. “I wasn’t going to rodeo at all this year, I was just going to get used to being a mom,” she said. “My sister talked me into it and I entered Longmont and won it. So I made it a goal to make the Finals, with only seven rodeos left.” She won four more rodeos, putting her ninth going into the Finals. “I knew going in I wouldn’t have any chance to win the year end; I couldn’t catch up with the money; my sister won the year end title so that was neat.” Jenna won the average and ended up third for the year end standings. She had a great year traveling with Nicole. “The plan next year is to start earlier.”
She makes the five hour trip to her parents’ house in Pueblo West and the family takes off for the weekend together. “Both parents go with us to watch Chloe for me since my sister and I are both competing. My mom (Gina) is a realtor in Pueblo; my dad (Vic) owns a trucking company, Waggoner Trucking Inc. I don’t know how I’d do it without their help.”
Jenna was born and raised in Fowler, Colorado, and started rodeoing when she was 6, along with her older brother Tyler and younger sister Nicole. She competed in National Little Britches, Junior High and High School rodeo. She competed in all the events while growing up, winning several All Around titles along the way. After graduating in 2012, she went to Otero Junior College on a rodeo scholarship, eventually transferring to CSU Pueblo and completing her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a minor in Marketing. Once she transferred, she quit college rodeo and competed in the CPRA rodeos. She competes in barrel racing exclusively now. “At the level I’m at now, that’s all I can do – I have a passion for barrel racing so I wanted to narrow it down and focus on that.”
She met Riley in 2012 at a college rodeo. The couple dated for three years, became engaged on New Year’s Eve in 2015 and got married in October of 2016. Chloe was born December 30 of 2017. “We raise cattle and ranch on his family ranch, where his mom and dad (Martee and Troy) live.” She was working until Chloe was born, and now spends her time keeping the books for their cattle, taking care of Chloe, helping on the ranch, and traveling with Riley when time allows. Riley competes in the Mountain States Circuit and won the 2018 Finals – competing alongside Jenna’s sister this year. The family will make their 3rd trip to Kissimmee Florida this spring.
The CPRA rodeos are Jenna’s way to get home. “I love the CPRA and the people that run it. My family is there and the Finals are amazing, so that’s why I keep going,” she said. “Riley is gone so much, so when he goes to the Northwest, I hit the amateur rodeos with my sister. After the first one, it’s all over. You crave it and can’t stop. The plan next year is to start earlier.” Her sister has taken the year end title two years in a row now, and Jenna plans to give her a run for her money next year. “It’s time for my sister to share.”
