Jackson Schmidt – Little Wrangler All-Around and Barrel Racing World Champion
story by Lily Weinacht
Jackson Schmidt of Sedalia, Mo., started rodeoing in 2014, and the cowboy never leaves home without his striking taco hat, and sports a pair of brown and white cowboy boots with crossed pistols. He was wearing both when he took home the Little Wrangler all-around and barrel racing world champion titles following six days of competition at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., the new home of the NLBFR. “It feels good for all the hard work I’ve done, and I feel great for my horses,” he says. “The barrels were very close all week, and the all-around came down to me and my best friend in the Little Wranglers, Karlee Boots. She has been my biggest competition all year!”
The new world champion names his mom and step-dad as his biggest supporters, and calls family friend and PRCA tie-down roper, Tyson Durfey, his hero. He also gives much credit to one of his horses, Uno, who only has one eye. “He’s a small horse with a big heart. I had to have some troubles throughout the year to get to the World Championship – you learn from your mistakes – and I’ll be moving up to junior boys this year!”
Ethan Parr – Senior Boy All-Around World Champion
story by Lily Weinacht
Ethan Parr of Mitchell, S.D., finished out his final year in the NLBRA with not one, but three world titles, ranging from the team roping and ribbon roping titles with partner JR Dees, to Senior Boy All-Around World Champion. “I was expecting to get another saddle, but I never thought this (all-around) would be achievable,” says Ethan. “I’m pretty stoked, and a little shell shocked!” In addition to his roping events, he competes in the steer wrestling. “The jackpots were very well set up, and the arena was mind-blowing,” he says of the Lazy E. “I think it fits this rodeo perfectly.” A sophomore at University of South Dakota, Ethan plans to rodeo in the NIRA this fall, and has used several Little Britches scholarships, including this year’s, for college. “I’m going for pre-med, so last year I just wanted to get a feel for school.” He also wants to pro rodeo, while his roping partner, JR, is working to qualify for the WNFR this December. “I have no doubt that he’ll make it,” says Ethan. “He’s the biggest member of my rodeo family. He’s very talented, and if he sees something I need to work on in my roping, he tells me. My parents, grandparents, and the Zancanella family are big supporters, and most importantly, God.”
Kolby Stelly – Junior Boy All-Around and Goat Tying World Champion
story by Lily Weinacht
Sulphur, La., native Kolby Stelly won his first two world titles – Junior Boy All-Around and Goat Tying World Champion – during the 2016 NLBFR. His hard work in six events – breakaway roping, goat tying, team roping, flag racing, bull riding, and ribbon roping – was well rewarded. “It feels good, and it means a lot to know that I’m the best goat tier out there right now,” he says. Kolby’s favorite event is bull riding, since he doesn’t have to bring a horse, but he plans to ride saddle broncs in the senior boys division this fall and continue bull riding in the LJHSRA. He’ll keep team roping and ribbon roping in Little Britches as a senior boy, and add steer wrestling and tie-down roping to his events. “My mom and dad, Linda and Tom, help coach me, and Mrs. Stacy Elias Martin helps me with goat tying. She’s in the alleyway every time I run. I’m motivated by everybody telling me I can do it, and now I’ll try for another world title in the seniors!”
Kaytlyn Miller – Senior Girl All-Around World Champion
story by Siri Stevens
Kaytlyn Miller took her fifth All Around title in the National Little Britches. All Around Senior Girl from Dameron Valley, Utah, took home more than $13,000 in scholarships from her accomplishments at the Lazy E. She came back to the short go in poles, trail, ribbon roping, and goats. Kaytlyn hauled five horses to Oklahoma from the family ranch in Nevada, where she has spent the summer. “It’s in the middle of nowhere, and then further,” she said of the 1 million acre ranch her family owns. “Its 86 miles long, 15 miles wide, and 30 miles from the nearest town.” Her days on the ranch begin at 4 a.m. “We push cows for ten miles or more, brand around 200 calves at a time, and head home around lunchtime, take a nap, and get up around 6 p.m. to practice.” The 16-year-old has twin brothers, 5 (Weston and Wyatt), and Mitchell (9), and an older brother, CJ (20) who comes back from his mission trip in November. Along with winning the All Around, Kaytlyn won goat tying and trail, was reserve champion ribbon roper and seventh in the poles. She is headed to Gillette to defend her All Around title there.
Logan Wilson – Junior Girl All-Around World Champion
story by Siri Stevens
Logan Wilson from Louin, MS, is the 12-year-old Junior Girls All Around for the National Little Britches. This is her seventh year in Little Britches and she competes in all seven events – barrels, poles, goat tying, ribbon roping, team roping, trail, and breakaway. “I practice breakaway, goats, and poles the most,” she said. Logan started competing when she was five. She got her start from her older brother, Dean, who still competes in the USTRC. She competes on three of his horses. She has four horses in her herd, turning a calf horse into a trail horse, training her pole and breakaway horse, and her barrel horse was her brother’s team roping horse. Neither of her parents competed; Michelle was an endurance rider and Dean rode horses on the ranch. The family farms corn, soy beans, and hay, and raises cows and chickens. The four chicken houses raise broiler chickens. Logan will be a seventh grader at Sylva Bay Academy, and would prefer to rodeo and ride than go to school. She is hoping to be a vet or vet tech and college rodeo. “This is the highest honor I could get and I would like to thank Jadi Gibbs and Haleigh McNeil, my best friends, who high school rodeo. Jadi and Haleigh have really good sportsmanship and I have learned a lot from them.”
