Associations
Join Rodeo NewsKansas Junior Rodeo Association (KJRA)
Phone: (620) 465-2297
Fax: (800) 672-4501
Mailing Address: 14405 S. Halstead Rd.
Hutchinson, KS 67501
Visit Our Website
Members
Meet the Members: Alexus & Hadison Hatcher
May 6, 2016
story by Lily Weinacht Alexus and Hadison Hatcher have only had eyes for horses since they could walk. The sisters from Strong City, Kan., are in their second season with the KJRA, but they began their rodeo careers right in their backyard. “Before the KJRA, we did the Rawhide Wranglers, and they put on rodeos in our family’s arena,” 12-year-old Alexus explains. She’s also started competing in the KJHSRA, but does barrel racing, pole bending,…
Read MoreMeet the Member: Estie Mina Barngrover
April 15, 2016
story by Lily Weinacht “Once you start, you really can’t stop rodeoing because it’s so fun, and you get to hang out with all your great friends who love it too!” says 11-year-old Estie Mina Barngrover. Named after both her grandmothers, the cowgirl from Dodge City, Kan., is the first of her immediate family to enter a rodeo, starting her career at age six. She’s now entering her second season with the KJRA, competing in…
Read MoreMeet the Member: Keaton Benedick
February 19, 2016
By Lily Weinacht Keaton Benedick finished the 2015 KJRA season with a bang, covering both his steers for the first time that year. The eight second buzzer had never sounded so sweet to the 13-year-old steer rider from Newton, Kan. Since then, Keaton has covered every steer he’s put his bull rope on, bringing home several checks while competing in the OKYRA winter series. He’ll start his second season with the KJRA in April. “The…
Read MoreMeet the Member: Kyla Burdick
January 22, 2016
By Lily Weinacht Kyla Burdick from Rosehill, Kan., is entering her second season in the KJRA, competing in goat tying and barrel racing. The 12 year old watched her dad compete in team roping and steer wrestling and wanted to try the sport of rodeo for herself. “My dad wanted me to rodeo, too, so I started off goat tying. I tried pole bending later, but now I just do goats and barrels,” says Kyla.…
Read MoreMeet the Member: Kamryn Prouty
December 21, 2015
story by Lily Weinacht Kamryn Prouty from Pomona, Kan., has been competing in rodeo for the last five years, and now that she is older, the 13 year old has especially come to appreciate the sport and the effort it takes to put on a successful rodeo. Though she had just one season with the KJRA in 2015 before aging out, the association gave her and the horses she is training the experience they needed.…
Read MoreMeet the Member: McKayla Miller
November 20, 2015
By Lily Weinacht McKayla Miller from St. John, Kan., is the proud owner of seven saddles and multiple buckles. She earned several of these for winning the all-around title in the 7 - 9 division during the 2015 KJRA finals. “We have buckles all over the house!” says McKayla. “If I’m practicing breakaway, I’ll wear my breakaway buckle, and if I’m exercising my pole and barrel horse then I’ll put a barrel buckle on.” McKayla,…
Read MoreMeet the Members: Tori and Brayden Kunz
October 29, 2015
By Lily Weinacht Tori and Brayden Kunz of Milan, Kan., are growing up in the rodeo arena together, the brother and sister already accumulating 15 years of rodeoing in the KJRA between them. Their mom, Jennifer, will be serving as the KJRA secretary next year, and their dad, Shaun, is a team roper. It has taken little encouragement for Tori and Brayden to develop the same love for the sport. Tori, 13, competes in barrel…
Read MoreMeet the Member – Kassidy Rambat
October 9, 2015
By Lily Weinacht Kassidy Rambat from Medicine Lodge, Kan., finished her first season in the KJRA with a flourish in August. The ten-year-old, sporting her silverbelly cowboy hat, won both rounds in the barrel racing, putting her in first place for the average and second place for the year-end. Kassidy also finished fourth in the goat tying for the season. Now moving up to the 10 - 13 age division, Kassidy is competing in barrel…
Read MoreMeet the Members: Kash and Klay Yaussi
August 21, 2015
By Lily Weinacht Kash and Klay Yaussi, ten-year-old identical twins from Udall, Kan., share not only the ties of brotherhood, but also a deep love for the sport of rodeo. Both fiercely competitive, they started rodeoing five years ago, joining the KJRA this year. They currently compete in the goat tying, steer roping, breakaway roping, pole bending, and barrel racing. And though similar in many areas, their favorite events differ. “I like breakaway roping because…
Read MoreMeet the Member: Colter Johnson
August 6, 2015
By Lily Weinacht Colter Johnson from White City, Kan., competes in sheep riding, barrel racing, goat tail untying, and dummy roping in the KJRA. But for the seven year old, grabbing a fistful of wool and riding to the buzzer is a highlight of each rodeo, and he even admits to enjoying the occasional sheep that rolls over on him. “I think the highlight for Colter is getting dressed up in all of his gear,”…
Read MoreMeet the Member – Cash Fuesz
July 3, 2015
by Lily Weinacht Cash Fuesz of Eureka, Kan., began his rodeo career when he was two, winning the lead-in event at a local fun show, though he admits that riding his dad’s best tie-down horse, and her ability to back at a touch on the reins, is what clinched his position in first place. These days, however, the 11-year-old cowboy is the owner of numerous buckles and several saddles through both his horses’ talent and…
Read MoreJoree Bentz
June 5, 2015
story by Lily Weinacht Joree Bentz of Washington, Kan., was the KJRA All-Around Cowgirl in both 2013 and 2014 in the 6 and under age group. The seven year old was awarded a custom made trophy saddle each year, and she sports one of them every time she competes in her events of barrel racing, pole bending, and goat tail untying. Joree, who has been rodeoing for the last five years, also competes in the…
Read More