story by Lily Weinacht
Jr. Boy World
Champion Bull Rider
Jack Rodenbaugh represented South Dakota and the Badlands and Northern Hills Little Britches Rodeo Associations at the NLBFR this summer, and returned home with his first world title as the 2018 Junior Boy World Champion Bull Rider. “I was actually surprised that I won—I thought the kid below me had beat me,” recalls Jack, who just started rodeoing three years ago. “On my short-go bull, I was pretty gifted on the score because he just hopped and skipped out there, and one of my other bulls turned back.” Jack, who hails from Box Elder, South Dakota, joined the NLBRA two years ago, and last season he won on multiple bulls competing in Little Britches rodeos in Colorado, Wyoming, and his home state. He usually travels with his dad, Troy Rodenbaugh, who rode bareback horses, but the whole family, including Jack’s mom, Darla, and brother, Cauy, travel to the larger rodeos together. “Every bull helps me get better, but I think the bulls are so honest in Little Britches that it helps me out a little more.”
In between performances at the NLBFR, Jack spent most of his time either at the arena with his friends, or exploring the Lazy E lake with Trevor Hartshorn, who is the 2018 Junior Boy World Flag Racing Champion. Prior to the NLBFR, Jack was crowned the junior high state champion bull rider and tied for fourth place in the nation at the NJHFR with two other bull riders. He also competes in 4-H rodeos, and is looking forward to high school rodeo and moving up to the senior boys division of Little Britches this fall. “It’s mostly my dad helping me, and some of my bull riding friends have taken it upon themselves to help me as well. I have a stationary barrel at home I practice on, and I’m working on keeping my mind on the right spot. I recently quit the football team just so I could focus on bull riding, and I think I made the right decision because I’ve been riding a lot better without having anything else on my mind.”
A freshman at New Underwood High School, Jack enjoys P.E. and uses his free time in between bull riding to ride BMX bikes or skateboard. He helps his 9-year-old brother, Cauy, who started riding steers in 4-H rodeos, and also enjoys going to watch rodeos or the PBR. This year, Jack met his rodeo idol, Stormy Wing, at a PBR in Deadwood, South Dakota. “He doesn’t overdo it, and he’s just calm and confident behind the chutes,” he explains. “I’d like to thank the NLBRA and Lazy E, and my friends and family for all they do. I want to win the National High School Finals Rodeo, or at least make it there this year, and win Little Britches in the seniors.”
