Where Gold Buckles Are Made

The Josey Ranch is known for many things, outstanding barrel racing clinics, their impressive youth barrel race, The Josey Jr World, and their Reunion Roundup for former students. But, perhaps the most notable accomplishment of the Josey Ranch Legacy are the Summer Schools, which have earned the title of the longest running rodeo school in the world running since 1967.

“The Rodeo School is what got us started,” World Champion Barrel Racer Martha Josey explained. “R.E. and I were winning, and everyone wanted to know what we were doing to win. So we decided to go home and have a Josey Rodeo School! The students stayed for two weeks, we fed them and their horses and rode all day long. It was so much fun that we just never stopped.”

Martha and R.E. made an iconic duo in the barrel racing and calf roping events that would span through several decades of professional competition. Even though they were on the road competing they always made it back to Marshall, Texas to teach their rodeo school. Today the Josey Ranch continues the tradition the first week of June making this the 58th year of their legendary Josey Barrel Racing and Calf Roping Schools.

This year the Josey Ranch was gifted with 77 barrel racers and 47 Calf Ropers plus their families and friends for a full week at the Josey Ranch. The Ranch had students representing 15 different states including a student who traveled all the way from Brazil.

“I love all the experiences and the environment,” explained Maria Netto from Brazil. “All the instructors, they have helped me a lot to help understand all the new skills I have learned.”

Not only did Maria Netto travel from Brazil, but she also rode and competed on a Josey horse for the first time at the clinic. She placed in the clinic winning a Josey halter, also taking home new information and knowledge to compete in her home country.

Students of all ages and experience levels attend the Josey Schools, whether they are catching their first calf or preparing for a big competition everyone is here to learn and improve.

Notably, returning Josey student Harper Nuckles, from Jonesboro, AR, attended the barrel racing school to prepare for an upcoming trip to Mexico. Knuckols has been selected to travel to Mexico on the Youth USA team for the World Barrel Horse Association (WBHA) competition. She is attending this week long school to prepare for her trip this coming August.

During the week students learn in both the arena and classroom settings. Ropers practice both on horseback and with roping dummys to improve their technique and accuracy in their throw. They also spend some time with the Josey instructors talking about mental game and how to improve as a competitor.

Barrel Racers work through different classes with slow work, horsemanship, video review, saddle fitting, and equipment/nutrition demonstrations. The combination of theses classes gives barrel racers all the tools they need to improve in their skills at any level of competition.

Students worked and improved all week with the help from the talented team of Josey Instructors.The Josey roping staff is composed entirely of former students who travel from several states to attend the school. Chad Henry and Jeb Barney, lead the calf roping along with 3x NFR Qualifier Kincade Henry, Spence Barney, Bryce Barney, Troy Aucoin, Keely Henry, Cougar Rocca , Jacob Rodgers, Keith Yazzie, and Kaitlyn Heath. Many of these instructors are actively competing on the pro-rodeo circuit themselves.

In the barrel racing arena Martha Josey leads with help from her nephew Gary Arthur, and Ty Mitchell, 4 time Josey Jr World Champion. They are closely assisted with long-time friends and trainers Terry Thomas, Pam Randall, Lisa Mitchell, Elaine Lambino, Whitney Bettis, Ashley Schenck, Landin English, Cindy Durham, Kara Moore, Kim Williams, Lyndsay Beck, and Faith Gilbreth.

Throughout the week students are given the chance to showcase their new skills with timed runs competing for prizes. The ropers compete in a tournament roping on Thursday while barrel racers get to compete in a team match barrel race on Wednesday night, and a 4D barrel race on the final day.

This year in the calf roping there was a Priefert calf chute donated by Priefert of Mount Pleasant, TX, two saddles donated by the Davis Fence Company of Carthage, Texas, Shea Michelle Buckles, and other great prizes on the line.

Woodrow Harris from Carthage, TX, was the breakaway roping champion, Thomas Arnold from Sparta, TN, was the tie down roping champion, Peyton Murphy from Jonesboro, AR, was the ribbon roping champion, and Eli Elfert from Iowa, LA, claimed the All Around Championship. Rhett Fonenot from Ville Platte, LA, won the tournament roping and took home the Priefert Calf Chute.

After the roping, barrel racers made their way into the arena for their final runs, competing for a New Martha Josey Circle Y Lightspeed saddle, Shea Michelle Buckles, and more great prizes.

Alicia Ray and her partner “Hogan” from Bertrand, MO, won the barrel race with a 16.939. The 2D was won by Makayla Lycka, from Richmond, TX, riding “Cowboy” with a time of 17.508. The 3D Champion title belongs to Britt Mendez riding “Corona” from New River, AZ, with a time of 18.137. The 4D title was claimed by Victoria Mendoza from Sutherland Springs, TX, riding her horse “Major” with a time of 19.184.

Each year entries open for the 2026 summer schools during the current event. Before students left the Josey Ranch entries were already full for the 2026 Calf Roping School.

With the conclusion of Barrel School I and the Calf Roping School the Josey Ranch staff goes to work prepping for their next two summer events. The Summer 3 Day Barrel Clinic starts June 10th - 12th followed by Barrel School II and The Breakaway School June 15th - 21st.

“We have the greatest staff in the world that come to help teach at our schools,” said NBHA, AQHA, and WPRA World Champion Barrel Racer Martha Josey. “They work hard to help these kids and love to see them improve. That’s why the Josey Ranch is where gold buckles are made.”

Josey Instructors left to right: Keith Yazzie, Jacob Rodgers, Cougar Rocca, Kincade Henry, Troy Aucoin, Jeb Barney, Bryce Barney, Chad Henry, Spence Barney, Gary Arthur, Martha Josey, Lyndsay Beck, Kim Williams. Second Row: Kaitlyn Heath, Keeley Henry, Faith Gilbreth. Not Pictured: Ashley Schenck, Elaine Lambino, Cindy Durham, Terry Thomas, Cheryl Rosser, Suvoy Rosser, Ty Mitchell, Lisa Mitchell, Pamella Randall, Landin English, Whitney Bettis, and Kara Moore.