story by Lily Weinacht
Ketch Kelton began the 2018 NLBRA season with his eye on the junior team roping world title, tracking the goal with his friend and team roping header Jace Thorstenson. Both ropers hail from Arizona and qualified for the NLBFR in three weekends, making the seven-hour drive to compete in Logandale, Nevada, the closest Little Britches rodeo to them. They went on to win all three rounds at the NLBFR, and took home the 2018 NLBRA World Champion Junior Team Roping title. “That was my first time at the Finals, and we just did our regular thing,” says Ketch, 13. “Their stock is really good and they gave a lot of scholarship money away. I set some of that money aside for college.”
The two friends have been roping together for four years, and prior to the NLBFR, Ketch and Jace won the team roping at state finals. They competed at the 2018 NJHFR, finishing 11th in the nation and putting down the fastest time of the week with a 6.95. Ketch also finished in the top 10 in breakaway roping, and following that, he went from South Dakota to Texas, where he competed in a Roy Cooper roping before tackling the NLBFR. He’s right at home in the Lazy E Arena, where Ketch’s dad, Chance Kelton, competed in the Timed Event Championships and National Steer Roping Finals for many years. “Little Britches puts on a great nationals,” says Tammy Kelton, Ketch’s mom. “Ketch is quite comfortable at that facility, but to see it set up as three different arenas was impressive. It runs so efficiently and it’s pretty cool to see all the action happening at once.”
Along with team roping, Ketch competed in the NLBRA in ribbon roping with a draw partner whom he never met until he backed into the box, as well as breakaway roping and goat tying. He’s now team roping and tie-down roping with Denton Dunning at junior high rodeos since Jace is high school rodeoing. “I love doing it so much—that’s my lifestyle,” says Ketch. He’s inspired by his dad, who is a five-time NFR steer roping qualifier and three-time WNFR qualifier in the heading. Ketch spent his first five or six years on the road with his dad while he rodeoed professionally, and wants to pursue a career in rodeo himself. His 15-year-old sister, Kenzie, also rodeos, competing in high school rodeos and roping in jackpots with Ketch. In 2018, they won the NTR #9 Finale, splitting $30,000.
The horsepower for Ketch’s current goals is Slider, whom they purchased several years ago as a calf horse and also trained for heeling. The Kelton family lives on a ranch outside of Mayer, Arizona and run 400 head of cattle, which Ketch helps with gathering and branding. He and Kenzie are homeschooled, giving them more time to help at home and practice. “I raise some goats and train a few ponies to sell,” he says. “I often load some goats and ponies up to haul to the junior rodeos so that my friends and I have something to do at the end of the day. My grandpa and grandma, Willie and Phyllis Kelton, always come to rodeos with us, and they haul my goats and ponies.”
Ketch’s main focus is on junior high rodeos this year, along with competing in jackpots with Jace. “I want to win the Junior High Nationals Rodeo, and I want to go to the NFR one day,” he finishes. “I want to try to do it in team roping and calf roping.”
