International Miniature Rodeo Association (IMRA) Archives

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International Miniature Rodeo Association (IMRA)

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Members

Rodeo Spotlight IMRA Finals

story by Michele Toberer Excitement is in the air as many cowboys and cowgirls from across the world are making their plans to arrive in January 2020, to Guthrie, Oklahoma for the International Professional Rodeo Association’s IFR50, hoping to leave from the Lazy E Arena as newly crowned world champions in their sport. Although smaller in stature, the International Miniature Rodeo Association contestants hold just as much excitement in their hearts as they plan to…

Meet the Member Trey Runge

story by Michele Toberer It all started due to a Christmas gift, and 8-year-old Trey Runge has found a passion for a sport he may never have realized otherwise. The third grader lives in Lawrenceburg, Indiana and when his dad, Gary Runge, received a Christmas gift of miniature Herefords this past December, a new world was opened up to him. “My wife, Chastity, gave me the cattle and we started playing with them and as…

Meet the Member Laramie Gibson

story by Michele Toberer The Fry family is living and breathing all things cowboy in Alaska as they raise Double Diamond Quarter Horses and follow the International Miniature Rodeo Association trail. William Fry left the lower 48 states to start working in the oilfields in 2007 and made Alaska his permanent residence when he and his son Aidan moved there in 2011. William and his barrel racing wife, Bridgette combined their families there, and they…

Meet the Member Cade Tobin

story by Michele Toberer At just 12-years-old, Cade Tobin of Cynthiana, Kentucky, has already earned a name for himself as an all-around cowboy. The Harrison County Middle School 6th grader has earned three champion and three reserve champion all-around cowboy titles in two different junior rodeo associations in the past four years. Cade started out riding sheep before he even began kindergarten, and now competes in practically every event possible for his age. He competes…

Meet the Member Cayden Mosier

story by Michele Toberer Watching bucking bulls is something Cayden Mosier has been doing longer than he can remember. Besides marathon watching of the PBR on television, the 8-year-old cowboy has celebrated his birthday at a Professional Bull Rider event in St. Louis, Missouri every February since he turned two years old. Cayden’s mom, Chelsie, explained how he got his own start in rodeo, “When he was three, we were at a small rodeo and…

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…