Story by Heidi Geesen
Some things you probably didn’t know about the CJRA
The CJRA has been innovative since its inception in 1994. It forced other associations to add age groups, give year-end saddles to every event winner, and pay out cash instead of prizes at every rodeo. They are the poster child for junior rodeos. Here are some things that maybe you didn’t know about the CJRA that will hopefully help you decide to come and compete in the association.
The dues for the Colorado Junior Rodeo Association are $85 individual, $135 family, Each CJRA member is required to secure $200 in donations before the finals though.
In 2021 the CJRA gave out over $75,000 in awards at the finals alone. At the CJRA finals, contestants compete at 100% of their event entry fees, plus the CJRA adds money in every event. That makes for a big pay day for contestants at the end of three rounds. Each contestant receives a coat with their names and events embroidered on it when they check in at the finals. Quality high end prizes are awarded in every event to year-end placings 1st through 5that the conclusion of the finals. Every event winner in each division receives not only a saddle, but also a scholarship for $100. The runner-up also receives a $100 scholarship to go with the prize they receive. The winner of the All-around in each division receives a $200 scholarship, and the runner up receives one for $100. Last year seniors were awarded over $10,000 in additional scholarship money, on top of what they received over their careers in the CJRA.
The CJRA board of directors is currently exploring new options for the upcoming 2022 rodeo season to make it better for contestants. Some ideas that have been proposed are making the senior open and mixed team roping pick one draw one. Replacing the junior and senior ribbon roping with the option to enter the calf roping or breakaway roping twice, as well as making the goat tying in the junior and seniors enter twice. Idea being that the more runs we can provide the kids, the better they can hone their craft.
2022 will see the entry fees increase $5-$7 depending on your division. This will increase the payout in an event with 20 entries by $100, making first pay $34 more than before. It will also boost entry fee money you run at from 50% to roughly 65%, making it better for contestants. If you enter 4 events with 20 contestants entered, you could pocket an additional $136 a day, $272 a weekend, and $1632 over the 6 weekend CJRA rodeo season. That’s a pretty darn good return on your $7 increase in fees.
The CJRA was built by rodeo competitors, for future rodeo competitors, and even though Presidents and board members change, it keeps true to the foundation it was built on. If you have any ideas that you think would make the CJRA better for its contestants, please reach out to a board member and discuss it with them so it can be discussed at an upcoming board meeting.
God Bless!!
