story by Julie Carter
Loving what they do to a depth only others with the same passion for rodeo can understand, Jana Muncy and her daughter Amber Gillreath proudly uphold the unheralded job of “rodeo secretary” year after year. This mother-daughter team have made it an art and a career.
It’s not a job that puts your name on the front page of the rodeo paper but since rodeo began it is always underappreciated and taken for granted. It’s demanding with pressure, deadlines, bottom lines and a high standard for accuracy. And still, Jana and Amber excel at it.
In 1981, Jana signed on to secretary her first NMRA rodeo. It was at the height of the newly formed New Mexico Rodeo Association that required more than a dozen secretaries to handle multiple sanctioned rodeos almost every weekend through the May to October rodeo season. A couple of veteran secretaries trained her, a few others passed on some tricks of the trade, and she was on her way. At the time, she had no idea that 40+ years later, she’d still being doing it with that same great love for the cowboys and the sport.
Along the way, Jana trained another secretary to follow in her footsteps, her daughter Amber Gillreath. Amber traveled with Jana since infancy and just naturally became part of the work that happened. Legendary stock contractor Edker Wilson hired Amber when she was 11 to be a timer, count money and receipts. “I still remember helping my mom count the money after the rodeos,” Amber recalls. “I still ask myself why we never invested in a money counting machine. I bet we’ve handled millions.”
At 16, Amber secretaried her first rodeo completely on her own. Fifteen years later, she’s expanded her resume. Making it her actual career, she is the NMRA Central Entry Secretary and also works all levels of team ropings including World Series, USTRC and open. “I just really want to emphasize how much I love to secretary rodeo,” Amber said. “It doesn’t even seem like a job to me. I will do it forever.”
Jana was born into a rodeo family. Her dad, Jerome English, was highly competitive and expected perfection. Her mom was focused on details and the best way to do things while showing great respect to everyone she met. This environmental combination shaped Jana to be the perfect rodeo secretary, excelling in all the traits demanded by the job.
Not only is Jana an NMRA Gold Card holder, in June 2022, she was honored at the Ricky Chavez Cowboy Reunion for her many years of dedication to the sport of rodeo as a secretary at with a trophy bracelet. Long time friend and cowboy Richard Slaughter listed the many reasons why Jana was a standout both in and out of the crow’s nest, including a personal narrative detailing her honesty, integrity and ability to not be bullied by any cowboy at any time. He also spoke to her dedication, recalling the time she fell quite ill while working the Gallup rodeo, but refused to leave with the EMT until she finished the payoff. “I couldn’t just leave all that money there,” she said with a laugh.
Jana retired in 2012 from the U.S. Postal Service after 29 ½ years. She said she has very much enjoyed it and her husband Tim has turned out to be a pretty good boss, so she’s not without something to do. The Muncys live on a ranch north of Truth or Consequences and run cattle on lease country in four counties. They’ve been together 22 years and if there’s a dance within driving distance, they’ll be there. “It’s still our favorite thing in the whole world,” says Jana.
Jana’s goal was to pass on her experience and knowledge to Amber. Amber recognizes the value of that. “I can’t thank my mom enough for teaching me how and training me so well,” she said. “I truly learned from the very best.”
