The Josey Jr World concluded its 45th year of competition on Sunday, May 11th, with returning Champion Rylee Jo Maryman holding her title for the second year in a row.
In 1980, Martha Josey won the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) World Championship and quickly followed that title with the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) World Championship.
Returning to her home in Marshall, Texas, Martha and her dear friend Joyce Barney set out with the goal to start the largest youth barrel race in the world, naming it the Josey Jr World. The first Jr World brought new ideas to the arena, dragging after five runners, and using three tractors at once to drag the pen.
Open to any barrel racer 20 years old and under, the Josey Jr World has grown to be one of the top youth barrel races in the country, bringing young barrel racers from across the country to compete at the 3-day event.
The competition started on Thursday night with the Josey High Stakes Race, shortly following the first High Stakes Race one week prior at the Josey Reunion. In a 2-division race with a $300 entry fee on the line, contestants battled for a spot on the leaderboard. Former Josey Jr World Champion Patton Ann Lynch, from Crawford, Texas, with her partner “Roll O Lena”, who had a time of 16.276. The 2D champion was Brynn Hinton from Waxahachie, Texas, and her partner, “Cookie”, with a time of 17.316.
The Jr World Race began on Friday, May 9th, each contestant had two chances to make the short-go finals on Sunday, as the top 20 of each division each day qualified. Friday’s Race was won by Rylee Jo Maryman and the fastest time of the weekend on “WYO Starlightspecial” with a 15.929..
After Friday’s Race, contestants prepared for another chance to compete in the finals on Sunday. The Second Go on Saturday was tough competition as last year’s 2D Champion Ava Rafferty took the win with a 16.032 on her horse “Duncans Zorro”.
Taking the top 20 barrel racers in each division each day, the short go filled to 137 barrel racers running for the $10,000 added money, saddles, buckles, and other great prizes from the Josey Ranch sponsors.
Before the finals begin, the Josey Ranch hosts Cowboy Church on Sunday morning, followed by scholarships and awards. Over the last 40 years, the Josey Ranch has given over $350,000 in scholarships to contestants and students. This year, the Josey Ranch gave three scholarships in honor of Joyce Barney, the inspiration behind the Josey Jr World, the Josey Ranch Scholarship, and George Foreman, national prize fighter and former speaker at the Josey Jr World Church Service.
Scholarship recipients are chosen after an application process based on their accomplishments and goals for their education. The applications are reviewed by a Josey Ranch committee and selected based on a group decision. Riley Jo Mearyman, from St. Francisville, LA, received the Joyce Barney Scholarship, Bergan Yazzie from Gilmer, TX, received the Josey Ranch Scholarship, and Savannah Misner from Aledo, TX, received the George Foreman Scholarship.
The Josey Ranch also gives a “Horse with the Most Heart” award in remembrance of Martha’s horse “Cebe Reed”, winner of 52-barrel races in a row and seven horse trailers. This year’s recipient was “DR Jet Rare Ghost”, owned by Gracelyn Vogt from Oktaha, OK.
Next was the Josey Jr World “Purina Horse of the Year” award. As a long-time partner of the Josey Ranch, Purina Horse Feeds partners with the Ranch to award 500 lbs of Purina Horse Feed to one horse at the Josey Jr World each year. This year’s “Purina Horse of the Year” went to “Jozi Brigadier 102” and his owner, Macy Corey from Beulah, MI..
The last award to be given was the annual “Mom Arthur” Award in honor of Martha Josey’s Mother and given on Mother’s Day every year. Josey Instructor and 3x Josey Reunion Champion Whitney Bettis was this year’s recipient of the annual “Mom Arthur” award, nominated by her children Addy Kate and Bradley Bettis.
After the Church Service and awards ceremony, excitement filled the air as contestants made their final runs of the weekend, running to see who would take the Championship.
For the second year in a row, Rylee Jo Maryman crossed the finish line with a sub sixteen-second run to win the Josey Jr World. She and her red roan partner “One Cup O Tees Sis” crossed the timer with a 15.990
The 2D was won by Lacey Koehl, from Inez, Texas, riding “JM MS Flashy Sparks” with a time of 16.509. The 3D Champion title belongs to the Marquez, Texas contestant Kaylee Brown riding “Dual Rey Hickory” with a time of 17.020. The 4D title was claimed by Riverlyn Rawlins from Midlothian, TX, riding her horse “Barbiel” with a time of 17.990.
With the conclusion of the Josey Jr. World, the Josey Ranch staff is preparing to move into their summer school season, which is the original barrel racing and calf roping school that started in 1967.