ProRodeo Sports News - October 5, 2018

RIVER CITY RODEO

Monroe, who he’s been using since Cowboy Christmas. Their first rodeo together ended in a tie for fifth and went on to be the start of Jorgensen’s best summer run. “I started a horse this winter, and she just wasn’t quite ready,” Jorgensen said. “Ringo got hurt this winter, and he offered her to me. I jumped on it because I rode her before and I liked her. We started clicking when I got her. She has lots of run, she starts quick and is easy in the box, which is awesome because I can just focus on bulldogging instead of being a horseman.” Jorgensen also credited his Omaha win to his hazer, Stan Branco. “He was a huge part of it, you can’t do it without the hazer,” Jorgensen said. “He lined him out and put him in my lap, just the way I like it. He’s one of the best hazers out there.” September was a good month for Jorgensen. He also won his hometown rodeo, the Gem State Classic Pro Rodeo in Blackfoot, Idaho, with a 3.4-second run Sept. 4. “It felt pretty awesome,” Jorgensen said of winning his hometown rodeo. “I was in slack, but I had a few family members who stayed for the late night. It’s always fun to show what I can do in my hometown.” Before winning Omaha, Jorgensen was 48th in the 2018 PRCA | RAM World Standings with $29,003. The final weekend of the season jumped the Idaho cowboy 10 spots to 38th with $37,601. The jump in the world standings has Jorgensen excited for the next season because it means qualifying for rodeos he’s never had the opportunity to enter, such as Denver and San Antonio. “I’d like to keep rodeoing hard now, but unfortunately it’s slow- ing down, so I’m ready for the 2019 season for sure,” Jorgensen said. CLIMBINGTHE LADDER Jorgensen grew up in a rodeo family and went on to compete on the Central Wyoming College rodeo team in Riverton, Wyo., while earning his farrier certificate. He’s the first member of his family to compete in the PRCA and runs his business, trucking oilfield supplies and working a 40-acre farm with 30 head of cattle. “I was just born into it and fell in love with it,” Jorgensen said. “I used to think I was a bull rider, but I started bulldogging and had some success and figured it’s a lot more fun to throw the beef around than me being thrown around. And being three seconds on bulldogging is quite a rush, it happens pretty fast. I’m quite the adrenaline junkie, I suppose. I never skydived before, but I think it’s the same as that.” Jorgensen competed on his permit while attending college, but he took the 2013 and 2014 seasons off. In 2012 he won $1,911 and won the Steamboat Springs (Colo.) Pro Rodeo in 13.4 seconds on two head. He returned to PRCA competition in 2015 and placed 26th in the permit standings with $1,739 thanks to winning the Wyoming State Fair & Rodeo in Douglas with a 4.2-second run. “He’s come a long way and has tried hard at everything he does,” Butler said. “His game has come so far in the last year. Stetson bulldogs sharp, and he works at it every day.” He went on to place fifth in the 2016 PRCA | Resistol Rookie Standings for steer wrestling and 77th in the 2016 world standings with $15,095. His rookie year was highlighted with wins at the YMBL Championship Rodeo in Beaumont, Texas, with a 4.0-second run; the

Springville (Calif.) Sierra Rodeo with a 4.8-second run and the Days of the OldWest Rodeo at Delta, Utah, with a 5.2-second run. Jorgensen took the 2017 season off when his previous bulldogging horse was unable to compete. “I decided to take a year off to get my head right and get another horse under me,” Jorgensen said. “Then my rookie year, I went hard but had a little success, and it didn’t turn out the way I wanted. And the years before that I was in college and didn’t rodeo hard.” Jorgensen will enter the Wilderness Circuit Finals in November ranked third in his circuit and plans on practicing with his traveling partner Dirk Tavenner. As he’s climbed the ranks, Jorgensen is hoping to continue to progress. “I’d like to make the NFR and win that gold buckle,” Jorgensen said. “I hope to stay healthy and keep at it as long as I can and make a living at it, so I don’t have to get a real job and do the 8-to-5. I just need to stay healthy, practice and surround myself with good people, good bulldoggers and stay positive.” Butler is confident his friend will achieve his goals. “He just needs to keep going down the road and keep a good horse under him and stay positive,” Butler said.

After ending 2018 on a high note, Stetson Jorgensen is heading to the RAM Wilderness Circuit Finals Rodeo on Nov. 1-3 ranked third in his circuit with $13,613. Kent Kerschner photo

Complete results on Page 60

SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Bradley Harter ................................. 86 2. (tie) Logan Allen ........................... 81.5 Ross Griffin .................................. 81.5 4. Two tied at ....................................... 81

TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Marty Yates ............................ 7.4 sec. 2. Shane Hanchey ............................... 7.8 3. Jake Pratt ....................................... 8.0 4. Rhen Richard .................................. 8.6

BARREL RACING 1. Tracy Nowlin ........................ 15.25 sec 2. Lacinda Rose .............................. 15.27 3. Ivy Conrado ................................ 15.38 4. Andrea Busby ............................. 15.42

BULL RIDING 1. Sage Kimzey .......................... 84.5 pts. 2. Lon Danley ...................................... 84 3. (tie) Jeff Bertus ................................ 82 Parker Breding ................................. 82

ProRodeo Sports News 10/5/2018

ProRodeo.com

31