story by Laurie Dineen
Nine-year-old Juddy wrapped up his last year in the CJRA Pee Wee division with style. He was named the 2018 Pee Wee All-around with accumulated earnings of $3,095.42, winning 1st in Barrels, 2nd in dummy roping, 3rd in both poles and goats and 4th in the flag race. In addition, he took home 2 saddles, scholarships totaling $400 and additional prizes at the CJRA Finals. “Last year was the best!”, Juddy exclaimed, and when I asked him about what he was going to do with his winnings he just said, “Woah!” – not realizing to sum of his accomplishments had accumulated to that much. “I just give my checks to my mom to help pay for my entry fees.”
Juddy is from Cheyenne, WY where he lives with his mom Amy Jo and step dad Nate, his brothers Jaxon (12), Jayton (5) and step siblings Teagan (11), Taislee (9) and Tayton (4). He is a 3rd grader at Prairie Wind Elementary where his favorite subjects are Art and PE and enjoys tackle football – playing running back and safety positions. He loves horses, rodeo and prefers being called Juddy instead of his birth name Judson.
A CJRA member for the past 4 years, Juddy began the year off on his horse Lola. She was the second horse he owned and his first big horse, but she ended up dying of old age shortly after the season began. “She was the BEST”, Juddy said. “She was easy to ride and taught me a lot. She was easy to catch and just put her head down so I could put her halter on. I would call out ‘here pretty girl’ and she would come running in from the pasture to me. The first week I had her I won a saddle – I was only 4, but I knew she was a keeper.” His mom said Juddy wanted to do something special this year to honor Lola – and he kept his promise. “Jaxon let me compete on his horse Bullet for the remainder of the season,” said Juddy. “I did everything on him. We both worked hard and it paid off.”
Juddy’s success with Bullet didn’t stop with the end of the CJRA season. At the Elks Youth Rodeo in Sheridan, WY the end of August, Juddy and Bullet competed in 5 events against other kids from 5-18 yrs. old and won the all-around title and a horse trailer. “It was really awesome and what made it even more special is that my brother, Jaxon did the same thing on the same horse when he was 9 yr. old,” said Juddy. “The coolest thing is that the trailer has Bullets’ name and my name printed on it.”
“I really look up to my Mom,” said Juddy. “She trains barrel horses and competes when she’s not hauling me and my brother to rodeos. She won 3rd at this year’s WPRA Divisional Circuit Finals. She video’s my runs and encourages me all the time. She has helped me become a better rider by letting me help her with her horses. Jaxon, Jayton and Lola have also helped me, as well as all my friends at the CJRA who cheer me on, and I cheer them back!”
Moving up to the Jr. Boys Division next year will be exciting and challenging for Juddy. “I’m sad cuz I won’t be able to barrel race – that’s my favorite event, but excited to do some new events. I will be team roping with my friend Dillon Lewis, breakaway roping, ribbon roping and goat tying. I really like the CJRA because of all the great friends I have made, the rodeos are good and they pay good and have great prizes and awards. I also like the fact that they offer the different age groups and all the different events. Being part of rodeo is a huge honor.
When not competing at rodeos, Juddy keeps busy between school, riding horses, practicing his events and doing chores. “I rope the dummy a lot, we have steers, calves and goats so I can practice those events. I also like going to barrel races whenever I can. We own 25 horses, 2 goats, 5 steers, 4 calves and Jaxon and I help feed and take care of them all. It is team work and when we all pitch in – all 6 of us – we can really get a lot done.”
Juddy has the spirit of an old sole and his enthusiasm towards life is catching to all that meet him. The future does indeed look bright for this young cowboy.
