By Lily Weinacht
Jacobi Larson won her first state title at the CJHSRA finals this summer, returning to her home in Fowler, Colo., with her 2015 CJHSRA Pole Bending Champion saddle and a ticket to the NJHFR. “I was sitting first in the pole bending for a long time, but the people in second and third were pretty close to me,” says 13-year-old Jacobi. “In the end, I didn’t know if I would win or not – it was pretty close!” Yet Jacobi and her trusty pole and barrel horse, JJ, held on to their lead, taking the pole bending title and placing third in barrels. They competed in the NJHFR for the second time, and though her runs didn’t go as well as she had hoped, Jacobi is already anticipating another trip to Lebanon, Tenn., in 2016.
Jacobi, who started competing when she was five, was first inspired to rodeo by her sister, Jessica (20), and brother, Blaine (18). The first of their family to rodeo, the siblings and their parents, Eric and Jennie, leapt unreservedly into the rodeo world. Although Jessica no longer rodeos, she coaches Jacobi, while Blaine is considering college rodeo. “Jessica has helped me a lot, and my parents and Blaine always give me a hand,” says Jacobi, who also competes in breakaway roping and ribbon roping as the runner. “I like that I get to do rodeo with my family, and the people I rodeo with have become really good friends. It’s fun, and it’s pretty much my life!” In addition to the CJHSRA, she has also competed in the NLBRA and CJRA, winning the year-end in the CJRA twice in pole bending and once in barrel racing.
The Larson’s ranch is 15 minutes from Fowler, and Jacobi is a skillful ranch hand. “We raise cattle and we have a feedlot, plus pastures, so we’re always working and gathering cattle. I also like to help with the branding,” Jacobi adds. She does much of her ranch work on JJ, her rodeo horse out of Frenchmans Guy. The mare has been with the Larsons for nearly nine years, while Jacobi’s roping horse is a gelding named Snowman. The ranch is also home to several cats, and four dogs, which often accompany Jacobi to her rodeos. “We have three Border Collies, Molly, Dodge, and Mr. T, and a new English Mastiff puppy named Winston,” she describes.
Although rodeo and practice requires much of her time, Jacobi also loves to play volleyball and basketball. This summer, she went to several camps in Fowler for the two sports, while she plays on her school’s team, in addition to running track. Jacobi will be an eighth grader at Fowler Junior High School this fall, and though she enjoys school, she admits to wishing the school year were shorter. The remainder of her time goes to spending time with friends, playing with her dogs, or in the wintertime, skiing as much as she can with her family. In July, she also went to Pueblo to watch her friends compete in the NLBFR.
Jacobi is looking forward to starting high school rodeo next year, but at the same time, she is savoring junior high rodeo. She particularly enjoys the CJHSRA rodeos that have been in Eagle. “I like to location, and it’s a really fun rodeo!” Jacobi explains. “My goal is to rodeo in college and compete in the NFR, and hopefully win a title at Nationals one year!”
