For six decades, World Champion Barrel Racer Martha Josey and her team have built more than champions. As the longest running rodeo school in the world the Josey Ranch, in Marshall Texas, has built a community unlike any focused in the roots of horsemanship, education, and the future of barrel racing/rodeo. Alongside the iconic Rodeo schools and clinics the Josey Reunion and Josey Jr World Barrel Races continue to reflect that enduring legacy.
While the Josey Ranch became widely known for its outstanding rodeo schools and clinics, the vision for creating opportunities in the barrel racing industry extends far beyond the practice pen. In 1980, after winning the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) World Championship, Martha Josey and friend Joyce Barney returned home inspired to create something the industry had never seen before, a youth championship event for the next generation of barrel racers.
That vision became a reality in 1981 with the first-ever Josey Jr World Barrel Race, an event open to contestants 20 years old and under. At a time when youth barrel racing opportunities on that scale were rare, the Josey Jr World quickly became a flagship event, drawing many of the nation’s top young competitors to the Josey Ranch each year. More than four decades later, the event continues to uphold that same prestige, recently crowning its latest class of champions after celebrating its 46th year.
As the Josey Jr World continued to grow, the Josey Reunion Barrel Race was later added to create a back-to-back celebration of competition, education, and community at the Josey Ranch. These two events now welcome contestants from across the United States and several countries, bringing generations of Josey students and barrel racers together for one of the most anticipated events on the Josey Ranch schedule.
Hosted annually the first two weekends of May each year, the Josey Reunion is where the competition begins. Announced by Randy Adams and livestreamed by Marks Video Productions, thousands of spectators tune in each year to watch these two prestigious events.
“The Josey Reunion is open to any Josey Student,” explained Martha’s nephew Gary Arthur. “No matter if you attended the first ever Josey Clinic in Connecticut in 1966, our first school here in Texas in 1967, or our last one two weeks before. Once you have been to a clinic you are eligible for life. That’s what makes this race so special, it’s truly a reunion of all the students who have come through the Josey Ranch. After 33 years we are at the point of bringing up the third generation of some families.”
From longtime Josey students to first-time competitors, contestants traveled from across the country to compete for over $70,000 in prize money, championship titles, saddles, and prizes provided by generous event sponsors.This year the competition brought 272 contestants from 16 different states.
Competition kicked off Friday morning as contestants entered the first go-round in hopes of earning a spot in Sunday’s championship short go. Claiming the top spot in Friday’s race was Ava Rafferty of Joaquin, TX aboard “Duncans Zorro” with a time of 16.502.
As the weekend continued, the competition only intensified during the second go-round on Saturday. Courtney Boyd from Homer, LA captured the win aboard “FF Three Of Kind” with a time of 16.347, setting the stage for an exciting championship Sunday.
Taking the top 20 contestants from each division into the finals, the short go once again filled with talented competitors all chasing a Josey Reunion title. By Sunday morning, anticipation filled the arena as contestants, families, and spectators gathered following Cowboy Church for one of the most anticipated moments of the weekend.
Beyond the competition itself, the Josey Reunion continues to represent the heart of the Josey Ranch with education, encouragement, and giving back to the next generation. Over the last 40 years, the Josey Ranch has awarded more than $400,000 in scholarships to students and contestants pursuing their education.
This year, the Josey Ranch awarded scholarships in honor of Callie Durbin Hebert. Scholarship recipients were selected through an application process reviewed by the Josey Ranch committee based on academic accomplishments, future goals, and community involvement. This year’s recipients included twin sisters Emma and Ava Wegley.
The Josey Ranch also presented the Horse with the Most Heart Award in honor of Martha Josey’s legendary horse “Sonny Bit O’ Both,” the only horse in history to win both the AQHA and WPRA World Championships in the same year. This year’s recipient was “Duncan’s Zorro,” owned by Ava Rafferty of Joaquin, TX.
Another special award was presented Sunday morning as the Josey Reunion Purina Horse of the Year was announced. As longtime partners of the Josey Ranch, Purina Animal Nutrition awards 250 pounds of feed each year to one outstanding horse at the Josey Reunion. This year’s Reunion Purina Horse of the Year was “JRS Miss Sugar Chip,” owned by Madilynn Spoonemore of Paris, TX.
As the flags entered the arena and the short go officially began, contestants gave it their all in front of a crowd filled with cheering friends, family members, and fellow competitors.
When the dust finally settled Sunday, it was Maggie Lee riding “DH Sal Leta Fame” who captured the Josey Reunion Championship with a winning time of 16.126. The victory marked another major milestone for Maggie Lee, who also claimed the Josey Reunion Championship title in 2024, making this her second Reunion championship victory in just two years, both times riding in her Martha Josey Saddle and bit.
(1D Champion Maggie Lee)
The 2D Champion was Mackenzie Weatherholtz riding “MM Read Me My Rights” with a time of 16.674. The 3D title went to Ansley Oliver aboard “Junky Nugget” with a 17.139, the 4D Championship was claimed by Stefanie Green riding “Cross Creek Awesome” with a time of 18.163. The Senior Champion title belonged to Ty Mitchell and “Jet's Perkie Lady” with a time of 16.760. Ty Mitchell still holds the record to this day for winning four Josey Jr. World Races in a row.
Additionally one of the weekend’s standout performances came from last year’s Josey Reunion Champion Sheryl Gamboa who finished this year’s Reunion as the overall high money earner, taking home more than $8,000 throughout the course of the event. Her consistent performances across the weekend further highlighted the level of competition showcased at this year’s race. A good portion of her winnings came about on her fabulous gelding “The Bolderdash” who is out of a mare which was purchased at the Josey Ranch
Following the conclusion of the Josey Reunion Barrel Race, attention quickly turned to the next major event at the Josey Ranch, the Josey Jr World Barrel Race. Now celebrating more than four decades of youth competition, the Josey Jr World once again welcomed talented young barrel racers from across the country to compete for championship titles, added money, scholarships, and prizes.
Before the start of the Josey Jr World competition, contestants kicked off the week Thursday evening during the Open High Stakes Race, giving riders of all ages the opportunity to compete under the arena lights at the Josey Ranch. The high-energy event set the tone for an exciting weekend of competition as contestants prepared for the start of the Josey Jr World.
Gamboa’s success carried over into Thursday night’s Open High Stakes Race where she not only claimed the championship title, but also secured the second-place position, bringing home an additional $3,000 in earnings. Her outstanding performances across multiple events made her one of the standout competitors of the week at the Josey Ranch.
As the Josey Jr World officially began, competitors battled through multiple rounds of tough competition in hopes of advancing to Sunday’s championship short go.
Contestants first battled through two intense rounds of competition during the Josey Jr World preliminary go-rounds. The first go-round was won by Lola Parnell aboard “Gin In A Hurry” with a time of 16.067, while the second go-round title belonged to Lace Melancon riding “Spoonful of Cake” with a 16.180. Both rounds showcased the depth of talent throughout the field and set the stage for an exciting championship finale on Sunday.
In addition to the competition inside the arena, the Josey Ranch continued its long-standing tradition of recognizing outstanding students, horses, and families who embody the values and spirit of the Josey program.
This year, the Josey Ranch awarded three scholarships to deserving students pursuing their education. Scholarship recipients were selected through an application process reviewed by the Josey Ranch committee based on academic achievements, future goals, and involvement both inside and outside of the arena. This year the Josey Ranch gave scholarships in memory of Bella Cassel to Emorie Comer, the Joyce Barney Scholarship went to Lida Horne, and the Wanda and Willis Findley went to Sawyer Henderson.
The Josey Ranch also presented the Horse with the Most Heart Award, given in honor of Martha Josey’s legendary horse “Cebe Reed,” remembered for winning 52 barrel races in a row. This year’s applications were so good we selected two horses to recognize. The first horse was “Trudy the Treasure,” owned by Kerri Aucoin of Milam, Tx followed by “Ruby Gem”, owned by Roslyn Mize of Hugo, OK.
Another special recognition presented during the Josey Jr World was the Mom Arthur Award, a meaningful tradition held each year on Mother’s Day that gives contestants the opportunity to honor and recognize the mothers who have supported them throughout their life. This year’s Mom Arthur Award recipient was Julie Francis.
The Josey Ranch also announced the Josey Jr World Purina Horse of the Year. As longtime partners of the Josey Ranch, Purina Animal Nutrition awards 250 pounds of feed each year to one outstanding horse at the Josey Jr World Barrel Race. This year’s Purina Horse of the Year was “Be My Valentine Guy,” owned by Lindsey Berend of Moody, TX.
After an exciting championship round, it was Sawyer Wilkerson or Canton, TX riding “DMAC Hipmotize” who claimed the Josey Jr World Championship with a winning time of 16.171.
(1D Champion Sawyer Wilkerson)
The 2D title was earned by Sydni Patterson of Benton, LA aboard “Shesa Smash” with a time of 16.677. Lola Parnell of Stephenville, TX captured the 3D Championship riding “Gal Gonna Be Famous” with a time of 17.181, while Mallorie Nobles of Booneville, AR claimed the 4D title aboard “Sarg” with a time of 18.207 to round out an impressive group of champions at this year’s Josey Jr World Barrel Race.
The Josey Jr World continues to stand as one of the most respected youth barrel races in the country, carrying on the vision first created by Martha Josey and Joyce Barney more than 40 years ago. Martha Josey, the Josey Ranch Staff and all of the prestigious top 40 contestants would like to thank all of our Sponsors who you can see year round on our social media pages, website and in our arena.
With the conclusion of the Josey Reunion and Jr World Races the Ranch now shifts into preparation for the 60th year of Barrel Racing and Calf Roping and Breakaway Roping Summer Schools.