International Miniature Rodeo Association (IMRA) Archives

Associations

International Miniature Rodeo Association (IMRA)

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Members

Meet the Stock Contractor D&R Mini Bucking Bulls

story by Michele Toberer D & R Mini Bucking Bulls can hardly pull into an International Miniature Rodeo Association event, without being swarmed by excited 9-to-11-year-old boys wanting to see Dirty Harry. The 7-year-old Whitepark and Hereford cross bull may be miniature in size, but he is big in reputation and has become a favorite draw at rodeos across Oklahoma. He’s one of the nearly 40 head of stock that Denise and Rick Rector breed,…

Meet the Members Braasch Family

story by Michele Toberer The Braasch family, of Rensselaer, Indiana, was excited to learn about the International Miniature Rodeo Association when they met Gus Haley of Rafter H Mini Broncs at a youth rodeo last season. Evan and Kossette Braasch started entering their 8-year-old son, Landon in the IMRA events, and couldn’t have had a better experience at the IMRA finals in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in January. “Landon rides mini bulls and mini broncs, and…

Meet the Member Rylan Stephens

story by Siri Stevens Rylan Stephens rides bulls in the senior division of the IMRA. This is his first year and he is excited to be part of it. “It looks like a good opportunity for me,” said the 15 year old from Shelbyville, Illinois. Rylan heard about the association from Keith Whooten, who produces Cowden Illinois Pioneers Day. “That’s the rodeo I grew up watching,” he said. “All it took was me jumping on…

Meet the Member Rafter H Mini Broncs

story by Michele Toberer Some were born to buck, some were born to be in the bucking business, and for Gus Haley of Rushville, Indiana, it’s a little bit of both. He grew up watching his dad, Dale Haley, working in the rodeo world as a stock contractor and rodeo producer, with a passion for raising bucking horses. His mom, Julie Haley, and brothers, Eric and Andy Talent helped with their dad’s business as well.…

Meet the Member Jake Morenic

story by Michele Toberer Jake Morinec’s story doesn’t begin with a dad and grandpa that rodeoed, passing the love of the sport down to him. But he does have parents that support the dreams of their 16-year-old son, who found a passion for rodeo on a family vacation. Mike, a mechanic, and Cheryl Morinec, an accountant, would take Jake and his younger siblings, Cami, 14, and Danny, 12 to camp at the Double J Ranch…

Meet the Member Karlee Jennings

story by Michele Toberer At just 10 years old, Karlee Jennings has gotten a taste of a level of competition that most don’t experience until adulthood. She recently competed as a barrel racer, for the second time, at the International Miniature Rodeo Association Finals held during the International Professional Rodeo Association’s IFR 49, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She was excited to leave the event as the 2018 IMRA Champion Junior Barrel Racer with the help…

Meet the Member Ryder Loeb

story by Michele Toberer All-around cowboy, Ryder Loeb, is readying himself for his fourth International Miniature Rodeo Association finals, to be held in conjunction with the International Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma at the end of January. The 11-year-old is a typical sixth-grader at his elementary school, Immanuel Lutheran, in Washington, Missouri, where he loves to play basketball, baseball, and run cross-country; and especially enjoys learning about world history. At home, he has typical…

Meet the Member Trevor Lattin

story by Michele Toberer Not everyone finds their lifelong love at 11-years-old, but for Trevor Lattin of Wynnewood, Oklahoma, the day he got on his first bareback pony at a Ward Rodeo School in Colgate, Oklahoma, a love affair started with bareback riding and he has only become more smitten in the six years since. “I fell in love with it, I couldn’t get enough, I went to every rodeo I could find that offered…

Meet the Association Wild West Buckers

story by Michele Toberer Paul Applegarth has a passion for the sport of rodeo, and after spending a lifetime competing in every rank up the rodeo ladder, he started Wild West Buckers to give back to a sport that has given him so much. Becoming a part of the International Miniature Rodeo Association was a perfect fit for Paul and his wife, Tawnya, and they look forward to continuing as a part of the growth…

Meet the Association Louisiana Miniature Rodeo Assoc.

story by Michele Toberer As the Louisiana Miniature Rodeo Association puts the youth members they serve in the forefront of every decision, the children prosper and so does the association. The LMRA offers children up to 18-years-old a venue for competing not only for state titles, but also for world titles through sanctioning with the International Miniature Rodeo Association. “We’ll be traveling to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in January 2019 for the IMRA finals, held during…

Paving New Paths

story by Cassandra Robledo The International Miniature Rodeo Association is an association specializing in miniature bucking bulls and horses that is paving the way for children who show interest in roughstock events. This association started with the goal to bring competitors back to these events. “Keith Wooten and I started the IMRA because we saw a shortage of contestants in the roughstock events,” said Mike Latting, owner of the IMRA. “The amount of entries for…

Meet the Association with Mike Latting

story by Siri Stevens The IMRA is in full swing, with Mike Latting and Keith Wooten, Wooten Rodeo Company from Glen Allen, Missouri, at the helm. “Our goal is to allow kids to be successful in rodeo,” said Mike, a former bareback and bull rider from Chicago, Illinois. “Rodeo gave me – coming from Chicago – another set of glasses to look at the world through. It allowed me to travel and meet people that…