story by Lindsay King
Husband and wife rodeo duo, Justin and Jennifer Turner, agree their greatest accomplishment is their family of three. Despite their outstanding accomplishments inside the arena, the little boy, Jett McCade, standing on the rails watching his parents perform, is second to none. “My husband has been a huge influence on my life in the last 16 years. Besides my parents, he is my biggest fan. He always helps me get everything done and keeps me positive,” Jennifer said. The Vinita, Oklahoma, couple both got started in the sport thanks to their parents. They are both thankful for the opportunities they were presented because of rodeo, now and in the past. “I would not be near as successful without my wife. She keeps me going,” Justin added.
Jennifer Turner – Way Out West Photography
Both have competed in the ACRA longer than they have been together, 18 years for Jennifer and 20 for Justin. Rodeoing close to home makes juggling life outside of rodeo easier with the demands of the sport. “I also like that it’s a family atmosphere. I have never had to worry about what I was going to do with my child while I was running barrels. Someone is always willing to watch him, that has been a big relief,” Jennifer said. Jett has started competing in junior rodeos, adding to the number of events they attend each week. “I am pretty sure our life revolves around rodeo and horses. Those are basically our only hobbies.” However, their rodeo circle has shortened up quite a bit now that the weekends are shifting their attention to Jett competing more than his parents.
The rodeo road has come full circle for Justin, who used to haul Coleman Proctor as a kid. Now Justin learns as much as he can from Coleman to improve his team roping. “The roles have really reversed between Coleman and me. But my dad and Tyler Magnus have also been a big help getting me to rope at the level I am today,” Justin said. Though Jennifer’s mom never missed a time, video or rodeo, it is her dad who she credits for plopping her on a horse for life. “Dad was the horse guy. He kept me in horses and kept them tuned up for me. I lost him in 2001, I had a lot to learn after that,” said the barrel racer.
Justin Turner heading with the late Darryl Radacy – Cowboy Images
Naturally, Jennifer is a fan of a good horsewoman. For her, that is Lisa Lockhart, who is also a humble winner. However, Justin is a fan of the comeback kid. “Walt Woodard was a winner back in the day, he got his son going and now he is back winning in the team roping again,” he said. A four-time Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo qualifier, Justin has also won the prairie circuit twice in team roping. While his wife is an Indian Rodeo world champion in barrel racing. “Our goals for the year are to make the Indian Finals again and to take Jett to as many rodeos as we can. He won his first 6 and under all-around saddle earlier this year,” Jennifer said.
Justin is an avid University of Oklahoma fan, so much so that Jett has named all nine of his longhorns after OU football players. His bull is Samaje Perine. “Of course, our dream is to go to the NFR. It may be slipping away from us, but now we are dreaming of our son making the big show,” Jennifer said. In 2016, they watched the NFR for the first time in person. However, their favorite rodeo of all time is in Miami, Oklahoma. “Rodeo is simply a way of life for us. It is how we met and what we do as a family. We go to the practice pen as a family and right on down the road for rodeos too.”
