The Hawkins boys, Logan and Wess, have tucked their first year with the Junior Southern Rodeo Association (JrSRA) under their belts and are geared for advancing their way to another finals qualification. While 12-year-old Logan quick-handed his way to a fifth place ranking in the 2014 breakaway year-end standings, 10-year-old Wess was able to capture a JrSRA buckle by concluding his season fourth in the pole bending standings with a third place average finish and worked his way to a fifth place all-around ending. “I like the JrSRA for its tough competition, good payback and great environment. It’s just an all-around good association,” said mom, Amanda.
Competing in the senior age division, Logan will expand his list of events to goat tying in the 2015 season, with an ultimate goal of becoming a tie-down roper in the future. “Roping is the only thing on his mind. It really caught his interest about two years ago and he always has a rope in his hands,” Amanda said. While Logan didn’t quite have the finals he was hoping for, he has set his sights on accomplishing his first JrSRA year-end buckle. “Nerves really interfered at the finals, but I think that he will be a little more settled this year. He plans on working harder to get that finals buckle,” Amanda said.
Wess will continue to contend within the junior age division as a five-event cowboy. Working both ends of the arena, Wess claims action in the breakaway roping, barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying and calf riding. “If you ask him, he always says that he really likes them all, but I am not personally fond of the calf riding and Wess didn‘t enter as much in the event, as the rest,“ Amanda said. Able to qualify in four of the five events, Wess finished 11th in the 2014 year-end breakaway roping standings and ninth in the barrel racing standings after grabbing a hold of fourth place in the aggregate race. Having had success in his rookie year, Wess has set out to finish even higher in his event standings. “He wants to continue to climb to a higher caliber contestant and keep going. Wess can be very competitive and once he gets to his mind set, he’s down right tough,” Amanda said.
The sibling pair each started out in the Foothill Youth Rodeo Association (FYRA). While Logan competed in various timed events for one year, prior, to becoming a JrSRA member, he has plans on expanding his association list by returning to the FYRA this year. Wess has worked his way up from his first rodeo as a 4-year-old and was able to capture the FYRA peewee reserve all-around title. He has progressed to competing within the South Carolina Youth Rodeo Association and the National Barrel Horse Association, where he is a two-time Youth World qualifier, and finished as the 2014 FYRA pole bending champion.
Outside of the arena, Logan is a seventh grader at Palmetto Middle School, where he enjoys baseball and golf. “He loves them and is planning on trying out for the school teams,” Amanda said. Wess is a fourth grader at Spearman Elementary, and while he has played baseball, his main focus remains on rodeo and barrel racing. “Wess definitely would like to continue a future in all of his events,” Amanda said.
Residents of Williamston, S.C., the brothers obtained their competitive edge and equine knowledge from their parents. Their dad (Nathan) is a former bull rider and barrel racer and continues to rope on the heading side when he gets the chance. Amanda has put her horse showing and motivated riding aside to devote her time toward her children. “We’ve both always had horses, grew up around them and even traded them and have passed that along to the kids. It is not a surprise to us that they have gotten into rodeo, because all we’ve ever done, has to do with horses,” Amanda said. While Nathan owns and operates his own welding business, Amanda works within Diamond H Tack. Both are taken on the road in their operations, but Amanda is able to set booths up at various rodeos and barrel races. “From various tack, jewelry, clothing, boots, horse shoes…we have a little bit of everything,” Amanda said.
Meet the Members Logan & Wess Hawkins
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