DIVISION: NATIONAL 9 / EARNINGS: $100,000
Jace Johnson
At only 15 years old Jace Johnson of Newtown, N.D., had never won
more than $1,000 at a single team roping event. Things changed for him substantially after winning the National 9 Finale and his half of the $100,000 that was guaranteed to first.
“My dad actually takes all my winnings and puts them into a trust fund for me,” Johnson explained, when asked about his plans with his profits. “I will get all of that money when I turn 25, so I can pay off college or buy a house.”
Johnson rides an 8-year-old sorrel gelding he calls “Milkshake,” a horse he bought about a year ago from multiple-time NFR Qualifier and 2005 PRCA Rookie of the Year, Brandon Beers.
“Milkshake is the best horse I’ve ever had,” Johnson said. “I can’t remember ever getting along with a horse better than this one.”
Johnson is known by his family and close friends for his calm demeanor and ability to perform well under pressure—traits that undoubtedly paid off as he backed in the box at Rancho Rio at one of team roping’s highest paying divisional ropings of the year. To add to the pressure, Johnson had never met his heeler, Tyler Jiron, until they ended up draw partners in the National 9.
“Tyler roped really well, I just had to go out and turn them and he took care of the rest,” Johnson said. “I just tried to do my best and put the rest in God’s hands and it worked out."
Tyler Jiron
Tyler Jiron of Bosque Farms, N.M., works by day as a ranch hand for the
Comanche Ranch in New Mexico, but any time he has the chance he is team roping.
“I was a little nervous at first, but after the first steer I knew we were going to be okay. Jace handled the steers really nice, and gave me really good shots all day.”
This year marked Jiron’s first trip to Wickenburg, and while he had entered quite a few times during the week things didn’t work out until the National 9. Now that he’s had a taste of the big payouts up for grabs he’s confident he’ll be back for more.
“I really like going to the NTR events, but there are only a couple that are close. Every year we go to the Labor Day and Memorial Day ropings at Mormon Lake, but now that I had the chance to go to the Finals, I am going to make sure I qualify to go back next year and every year after that.”
Jiron rides a 9-year-old gelding that he purchased three years ago from the horse sale in Clovis, N.M. Though he had been started in the heeling, Jiron finished “Iced Tea” and got him where he wanted the horse to be to fit his style.
“To get ready for The Finals, we just tried to rope as often as possible,” Jiron said. “I tried to really focus on roping fast and roping smart in practice. It really paid off this time.”
“I JUST TRIED TO DO MY BEST AND PUT THE REST IN GOD'S HANDS AND IT WORKED OUT.”
-Jace Johnson
