story by Lily Weinacht
Tie-down roper Josh Jennings has been competing in the RMPRA since its inaugural year in 2008. He grew up junior and high school rodeoing in Elko, Nevada, but when his parents moved to Utah in the late ‘90s, he followed suit. “Mom and Dad both rodeoed, so I was brought up doing it,” says Josh, 39. “My dad roped calves and rode bulls, and my mom ran barrels and queened. I team roped a little bit and I steer wrestled quite a bit through high school and college, and now I’m just tie-down roping. I think it’s the hardest event to master – there’s so many things that can go wrong. There’s not a lot of guys that do it anymore, and in my opinion, it’s the hardest one to get figured out. I know I can only do it for a few more years, so I’d like to do it while I can. I have a good horse, and I feel I’m still competitive against these young guys.”
Josh’s dad was his main coach, and he also attended several schools, including ones with tie-down roping legends like Dean Oliver and Joe Beaver. Once he moved to Utah, he filled his PRCA permit on the Wilderness Circuit and went to jackpots before joining the RMPRA. He admits that no rodeo is very close to his home in Glendale, Utah. “But I like how the RMPRA sets up their slacks and their rodeos to help the cowboys out. It’s more convenient for us to get to more of them in a weekend.” Josh has competed in the RMPRA finals several times, but he faces the challenge of his rodeo season being cut short. As a professional hunting guide for Color Country Outfitters in southern Utah, he starts work in mid-August guiding mule deer hunting trips, and every weekend is booked. “It’s a little tough to watch your name get bumped down in the standings, but it’s what I do. I’ve been lucky to have enough won to make it a handful of times to the finals.” On the flip side, Josh says he gets to work in one of the best hunting places in the world. “It’s a good atmosphere, and I’ve gotten to meet some really neat people over the years. They let me come hunt with them all over the country.”
Josh’s main rope horse is Country, a 17-year-old gelding he purchased from Justin Brinkerhoff. “He’s the horse that Ryan Jarrett won the world on in 2005. He rode him at the finals several times, and Country’s been awesome. He’s one of the horses that can fit in any pen. I can ride him in Nampa one night and Cheyenne the next and he’s going to be outstanding anywhere.”
A rodeo in southern Utah brought Josh and his wife, Marla, together, and they have a daughter, Jane (8), a son, Jack (4), and another son on the way. Marla breakaway and team ropes and enjoys training horses, while Jane and Jack are junior rodeoing. “Marla and I team rope a little bit, but when I get older and quit roping calves, we’ll probably start team roping more together,” says Josh. “The kids like to ride and rope, and so far rodeo seems like something they want to do. A lot of times I can be home when they rodeo.” The family also enjoys fishing and golfing together.
Josh’s rodeo goals include making the RMPRA and Wilderness Circuit finals in the next few years. “I want to thank my wife – she’s always willing to run the chutes and untie calves, and she’s really supported me,” he finishes. “Trampus Quarnburg, my traveling partner, is always real good about cheering me up and encouraging me, and I want to thank the Brinkerhoff family in Corinne, Utah, for letting me stay and put my horses up and rope. They take good care of us.”
