New Mexico Junior High School Rodeo Association (NMJHSRA) Archives

Associations

New Mexico Junior High School Rodeo Association (NMJHSRA)

Email: nmhsra@gmail.com

Visit Our Website

Members

Meet the Member Kye Saulsberry

story by Lindsay King “I wanted to learn how to rope because it was something that my dad (Todd) enjoyed and then I ended up really liking it too,” said Kye Saulsberry. Her dad was a professional tie-down roper in his younger days. He’s probably taught Kye the most about roping, riding and rodeo. The 14-year-old was only four when she started running barrels at local playdays. “I was probably eight when I started learning…

Meet the Member Ike Cline

story by Lindsay King Pietown, New Mexico: if you blink, you’ll miss it. At least that’s how Ike Cline describes his hometown. It’s the type of place where K-12 are educated in the same building and all of his classmates go out for all of the sports teams. It’s quiet, it’s western, it’s perfect for this 13-year-old. It’s also where the Ike’s family has ranched since the 1913. “I come from a long line of…

Meet the Member Braxton McKinley

story by Lindsay King Braxton McKinley grew up watching ropers from the sidelines until he decided to join in on the fun. “My whole family has roped forever and I just like that I get to follow in their footsteps. My dad (JD) used to have roping clinics at the house and I always liked watching them until I got to jump in there and I fell in love with it,” said the 13-year-old about…

Meet the Member Jorgia Nixon

story by Lindsay King Jorgia Nixon might be riding hand-me-down horses, but she’s more than just a passenger. As a six-event rodeo competitor, it takes a lot of skill to constantly switch horses. “I was born on a ranch, so I have ridden for most of my life,” said the 12-year-old. Forever referring to the past nine years. At six years old Jorgia began her rodeo career in the barrels and poles at play days…

Meet the Member Rylee Strickland

story by Lindsay King Thirteen-year-old Rylee Strickland is a six-event athlete in rodeo. This Artesia, New Mexico, cowgirl even has one horse for each event: heading, breakaway roping, ribbon roping, barrels, poles and goat tying. It’s difficult balancing school and rodeo, but Rylee wouldn’t trade it for the world. She gets a lot of help from her parents, Jody and Jessica, as well as her 12-year-old brother, Hayden. “My dad was a team roper, so…

Meet the Member Laramie Martinez

story by Lindsay King Laramie Martinez was privy to swinging a loop from the back of a horse long before he got to do it on his own accord. “I was team roping at a USTRC jackpot when I was six months pregnant with Laramie and I didn’t know it. As soon as he was born he wanted to be bareback on a horse,” said Monteal, Laramie’s mom. As soon as Laramie could hold something…

Meet the Member Cade Figg

story by Lindsay King “Going into state finals I was on the bubble and then I had two really good rounds. I was in third and all I had to do was get my short round calf tied,” said Cade Figg. In an instant, Cade’s dreams of his first trip to Nationals in his favorite event were dashed. “I missed my short round calf, I think because of a lack of focus and determination. It…

Meet the Member Cooper Wood

story by Lindsay King It was on the back of a five-year-old mare that Cooper Wood hand-picked himself that he roped his way to a state championship and a trip to nationals. “My grandpa and I went to a horse sale Clovis to look for a horse and I told him we needed to look at this one, but he didn’t like that she was a mare. I went back and took some videos of…

Meet the Member Kadin Jodie

story by Lindsay King Crownpoint, New Mexico, cowgirl Kadin Jodie proved she is wicked fast with a rope both aimed at a calf and a steer. At state finals she took third overall in the breakaway roping and fourth in the team roping for her inaugural trip to junior high nationals. This isn’t her first trip to nationals per say, but it was the first time Kadin got to compete on the stage. “I was…

Meet the Member Dawson Gurule

story by Lindsay King Dawson Gurule was first introduced to rodeo through its agricultural roots. He is an avid sheep showman, among other things, in his local 4-H club and judges pasture rangeland with his FFA chapter. Privy to a buddy’s chute dogging practice, Dawson got the idea he should try to wrestle at least one steer since he was there. “I ended up giving it a try and I liked it. And now here…

Meet the Member Cole Northcutt

story by Lindsay King In Hobbs, New Mexico, Cole Northcutt can usually be found on the back of a horse swinging a loop. The 12-year-old lives and breathes the western way of life and rodeo. Growing up on a ranch all but required it. “Ranching with my parents (Chris and Julie) is fun. I get to go out and be around cows every day.” Branding in the spring is easily his favorite part of it…

Meet the Member Jordyn Wamel

story by Lindsay King Blazing through the poles at a blistering 21.3 seconds is Jordyn Wamel in her favorite rodeo event. The seventh grade NMJHSRA competitor from Las Cruces, New Mexico, also runs barrels, ties goats and snatches ribbons. As soon as Jordyn starts weaving through the poles, she is at home. “I get kind of nervous barreling down the arena because I am worried about hitting a pole. As soon as I make the…