The Josey Ranch wrapped up 2024 watching great success from students, hosting clinics and events, and traveling to the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in Las Vegas.
Barrel racing students travel from across the world to attend clinics and events at the Josey Ranch and learn from 11x NFR qualifier, 1980 Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) World Champion, and Olympic Medalist Martha Josey. Along with a team of skilled instructors, Martha teaches students about barrel racing fundamentals, helping them develop their skills and go out to compete on the highest levels.
“We teach barrel racing clinics all year,” explained Martha’s nephew Gary Arthur. “But the end of the year clinics are just a little extra special. We get to see students around the holidays, a lot of them are actually coming to the clinics because it was part of their Christmas presents, and it just adds a little more excitement to the atmosphere.”
In November barrel racers flooded the town of Marshall, TX for the annual Fall and Thanksgiving barrel racing clinics. The Fall Clinic, which was November 22-24, brought barrel racers from 10 different states. The week after the Josey Ranch once again opened the gates to students attending the Thanksgiving Clinic, November 28 through December 1. The Thanksgiving clinic brought students traveling from 9 different states.
Sunday afternoon brought improvement across the board as students knocked multiple seconds off their runs. At the Fall Clinic the race was run in a 4D format allowing students to take the chance to improve their original times from Tuesday night. Kinlee Virtue from Mountain Grove Missouri and her partner Astro took the clinic championship with a final run time of 16.838. The 2D winner was Clara Snelson from El Paso Arkansas, running a 17.397. Following in the 3D was Lizzie Ransom from Salado Texas with an 18.896, and Riley Smith from Wickenburg Arizona won the 4D with a 18.850.
The Thanksgiving race showed improvement from students as well. Kate Mitchell from Perryville Arkansas and her partner Tebow took the clinic championship with a final run time of 16.911. The 2D winner was Paige Willesden from Corpus Christi Texas, running a 17.497. Following in the 3D was Madalynn Ra from Pearland Texas with an18.974 and Taylor Wiley from Friendswood Texas won the 4D with a 19.024.
With the conclusion of the November clinics Josey Students and the rest of the rodeo community turned their attention to the NFR.
Martha traveled to Las Vegas for the10 days to watch the rodeo, meet with fans/students and meet up with sponsors. The Josey Ranch also had several students who qualified for the NFR, Barrel Racer Abby Phillips, Barrel Racer Tiany Schuster, Team Roper Tyler Wade, Tie Down Roper Kincade Henry, and Steer Wrestler Justin Shaffer.
After an eventful NFR Martha headed back to the Josey Ranch to prepare to host the Year End Clinic with barrel racers traveling from 12 different states. The students worked hard through the weekend, getting their horses seasoned and ready to run in 2025.
On Sunday students got the chance to run for prizes and to show the improvement they made over the weekend. Run in a 4D format again, students got the chance to show their improvement.
Kinley Adair from Pointblank Texas took the clinic championship with her partner Ms Dash and a final run time of 16.979. The 2D winner was Kay Maldonado from Portales New Mexico, running a 17.525. Following in the 3D was Megan Jesiolowski from Magnolia Texas, with an 18.020 and Cora Neeley from Paris Texas won the 4D with a 19.022.
While the Josey Ranch has been busy with clinics and student on site, there are thousands out competing.
When Mr. Fred Boyd brought his seven-year-old daughter Blaise Bercegeay to the Josey Ranch no one would have guessed that 20 years later she would still be adding major wins to her long list of accomplishments. December 21st, she raked in an astounding $97,353.00 at the Jingle Bell Classic Barrel Race in Perry Georgia, and then went on to add another $94,967.00 from the Legends of the South Stallion Incentive Race to her already impressive lifetime earnings. Josey Ranch is the longest-running rodeo school in the world, and Josey students like Blaise are a testament to how important Josey Ranch is to the world of rodeo.
Along with the work that the Josey Ranch Staff does to host these clinics and races, the Ranch also has a Western Store open to the public. Since the beginning of her career, Martha has worked to promote the equine industry and her sport of barrel racing by collaborating with the best manufacturers of saddles and tack, nutrition, and trailers to improve the safety and performance of both horse and rider. Keeping riders safe and allowing horses to stay healthy and sound longer has been one of the driving forces behind the Martha Josey Product Lines. Nothing receives the Martha Josey endorsement until she has used it herself and approves of its safety and function.
“We work to make each year better than the last,” explained World Champion Martha Josey. “Starting 2025 we are working to make our clinics, schools, and races better than ever and are so excited to start another year. But none of this would be possible without the support from our sponsors, and students who come to learn. We are excited to do our part in helping this sport grow.”