Steely Jordan - rodeobum.com

Meet the Member Steely Jordan

story by BreAnne Benson

“We pray for good, clean runs, that I do the best I can, and that me and my horse stay safe,” said 12-year-old Steely Jordan, “that’s my pregame.” The fourth-generation cowgirl from Ragley, Louisiana, always prays with her father Ricky before entering the arena. Her work ethic, discipline and faith have brought her much success in all aspects of life.
With God, countless hours of work and a strong support system behind her, this year Steely won the coveted “Rookie of The Year” award at the Louisiana Junior High Rodeo Association State Finals. “I knew it was going to be tough, but I knew if I just went out there and did my job I’d be in the running.” On top of this, she also ended fourth in the girl’s all-around, year-end standings. She was proud she was able to follow in her mother, Jodee’s footsteps, who also won the rookie of the year award as a freshman in the Louisiana High School Rodeo Association. Jodee and Ricky both rodeoed prior to helping Steely chase her dreams. Jodee ran barrels, breakaway roped, goat tied, and cut in high school. Ricky team roped, and while both of them are still involved, “there aren’t enough weekends in the year,” said Jodee. Although Steely is an only child, she’s kept her parents busy running to Little Britches rodeos, Louisiana Junior High Association rodeos, and until this past December, she was a dancer for the last nine years. Between competing in four events; barrel racing, breakaway roping, ribbon roping, and goat tying, she decided she had enough on her plate and that she wanted to focus on school and rodeo. However, what they’re most proud of is her determination to be successful in and out of the rodeo arena. “She’s a 4.0 student, in the gifted program, Louisiana elementary student of the year, riding several horses, and roping at least three days a week,” said Jodee, “all without having to ask.”
Getting to compete in her first Louisiana Junior High state finals was an eye-opening moment for her. “The atmosphere was more exciting than any other,” she said, “it was a little nerve wracking but super fun.” From competing along-side her friends, going to dances, and even having “tinsel” parties in their trailers (installing different colored strips of tinsel in their hair) for good luck, she credits the association for meeting so many new people and the opportunity to create great memories and friendships with kids from all over the world. Her recent trip to the National Junior High Rodeo Finals did not go as planned. She qualified as the third-place barrel racer from Louisiana, but unfortunately tipped more barrels at the finals than she has in the last year. Despite tipping barrels, she still made an impressive mark in the arena. Had those barrels not fallen she would have placed sixth in the first round and eight in the second, and although she described herself as being heartbroken at the outcome, it was inspiring to see that she could hold her own amongst some of the best in the world. “There’s always next year, I can work harder, and try to get over the nerves.”
Her shortcomings at the junior finals have not dimmed her passion for rodeo. She has her sights for the future set high, hoping to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo one day and become a public relations director so she can, “help promote the opportunities rodeo can create for people.” While for her the most challenging part of rodeoing is dealing with nerves on big stages, her mother recalled a story of when the pressure was high and Steely surpassed their expectations. She, like many others, loves the Fort Worth Stockyards. Before the first barrel run she made there, her parents prompted her with all the new challenges the area would inevitably bring. In response to telling her, “don’t be upset if nothing goes right,” she went out want placed third in the open rodeo, telling her parents after, “I told you I could do this.”

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