Welcome to the Fabulous Lazy E!
And, welcome to the 2024 Cinch World Championship Junior Rodeo presented by Montana Silversmiths! The fourth annual WCJR will make history this month with an estimated $400,000 payout one of the richest youth rodeos in history.
Hosted by The Lazy E Arena and WCRA Division Youth (DY), we’re happy you’re here with us. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the families of our contestants for your support. Part of our Mission Statement is to help grow and perpetuate the Western Industry by providing additional opportunities for the youth of today to become the legends of tomorrow. A special thank you to our sponsors who all share the same passion. Quite simply, none of this would be possible without your tremendous support.
When we created WCJR, our goal was to create a contestant -friendly event that’s an additional opportunity for youth and junior contestants. Athletes in the youth and junior divisions have the opportunity to compete in a professional style rodeo format offering – Bareback, Ladies Breakaway Roping, Saddle Bronc, Steer Wrestling, Team Roping Heading and Heeling, Tie -Down Roping, Ladies Barrel Racing, Ladies Pole Bending, Ladies Goat Tying, and Bull Riding. (Roughstock events are Junior Divisions only.)
The innovative format we’ve chosen for the Cinch World Championship Junior Rodeo gives every contestant multiple ways to win money and advance to the finals. By our partnership with WCRA, you can qualify via the DY Leaderboard, or you can enter the Open Entry Qualifying Rounds. In addition, if you go out in the first round, you can still qualify for the Semi -Finals from the second round or from the Buy Back Round.
In addition, the WCJR is the only qualifier for the 2024 Jr Ironman which will again be held in conjunction with the Cinch Timed Event Championship here at the Lazy E the remaining five contestants qualify by way of the National Little Britches Rodeo Association. We wish you all-around cowboys the best of luck in your pursuit of earning an invitation to participate in the prestigious Jr Ironman.
When you come to Lazy E, we want you to make it your home away from home. So, enjoy your stay here at the E and we wish each of you the best of luck!
Thanks again for your support,
Dan Wall
Lazy E General Manager
Friday - October 18th
Arena 1 & 2 - OKR | Arena 3 - Million $ Breakaway
8:00 AM: 10 & Under Breakaway 9:00 AM: MILLION $ BREAKAWAY QUALIFYING ROUND 1
10:00 AM: 15 & Under Girls Breakaway
1:00 PM: 12 & Under Breakaway
4:00 PM: 19 & Under Tie-Down
7:00 PM: Bonus Round Showcase Opening Ceremony & Intros
Saturday - October 19th
Arena 1 & 2 - OKR | Arena 3 - Million $ Breakaway
8:00 AM: 12 & Under Tie-Down
9:00 AM: MILLION $ BREAKAWAY QUALIFYING ROUND 2
11:00 AM: 15 & Under Tie-Down
2:00 PM: 12 & Under Girls Breakaway
4:00 PM: Open Tie-Down - Arena 1 - 100% Payback - $1,000 Entry Fee - Limit 40 5:00 PM: 10 & Under Double Mugging (Arena 2)
KIMES RANCH OKLAHOMA’S RICHEST SHOWCASE PRESENTED BY AMERICAN HAT CO 7:30 Start Time Live Band in the Cantina | Opening Ceremonies & Intros 10 Head Tie-Down Match then 10 Head Breakaway Match Featuring Riley Webb VS Haven Meged Josie Conner VS Shelby Boisjoli Meged Showcase in order listed: 12 & Under Girls Breakaway Bonus Round (Top 5) 12 & Under Tie-Down Bonus Round (Top 5) 15U TD Bonus Round (Top 5) 10 & Under Double Mugging Bonus Round (Top 5) Open Tie-Down Finals - Top 10
Sunday - October 20th Arena 1 & 2 - OKR | Arena 3 - Million $ Breakaway
8:00 AM: Believers Arena Church Service 8:30 AM : 19 & Under Breakaway - Arena 1 & 2 9:00 AM: MILLION $ BREAKAWAY QUALIFYING ROUND 3 1:00 PM: Open Ladies Breakaway - Arena 1 $5,000 Added Guaranteed (*$10,000 Added if max entries) 2 Head & Finals $500 Fees (Limit 150) 3:00 PM: Challenger Breakaway (enter 2x) - $2000 Added - Arena 2
WCJR WORLD CHAMPS LOOKING TO DEFEND THEIR TITLE
What’s better than earning a World title before you’ve even graduated high school?
How about earning a second title? Or a third?
That’s the task ahead for a handful of the country’s best youth competitors when the fourth annual Cinch World Championship Junior Rodeo (WCJR) kicks off inside the famed Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma on July 22, 2024.
The WCJR is the season culminating event for the Division Youth series
and is a joint venture of the Lazy E and the World Champions Rodeo Alliance (WCRA). In 2023, the WCJR hosted more than 1,000 competitors and paid out over $400,000, making it the most lucrative junior rodeo event on the planet.
Cash is always cool but what’s even better is the opportunity to earn DY World Championships, complete with cash bonuses and all the swag at rodeo’s end, an opportunity absolutely unique to the WCJR.
With two age groups and eleven individual event disciplines, plus All Around
champs for both boys and girls, there were plenty of World Champions crowned in the inaugural year of the program last summer. And while some have ridden on to fame and riches in the adult realm—think PRCA leading All Around Rookie Wacey Schalla and 2024 PBR Reserve World Champion John Crimber— most of the 2023 champs are saddling up for the chance to repeat.
Two competitors hungry for the repeat are Junior World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider Jasper Frost and Youth World Champion Pole Bender Drew Ellen Stewart.
Frost captured the World title in 2023 after finishing second in the WCJR.
“I’d never competed there before,” Frost, 17, said of the Lazy E Arena, though he accompanied older brother Jacek when the latter competed at the National High School Rodeo Finals there in 2020. Frost came into the
competition second for the World title with a bye into the Semi-Finals but took the opportunity to compete in the Qualifying Rounds, a move that ultimately led to his championship.
“I did the Qualifying Rounds and that helped a lot,” Frost admitted. “I had just gotten a new saddle right before we went there and I was able to get a feel of it before the short go.”
The Browns Valley, California cowboy grew up
immersed in cowboy culture thanks to his father, Jason, who steer wrestled for many years. The youngest Frost competes in the steer wrestling himself in high school rodeos and the California Cowboys Pro Rodeo Association where he is leading both the saddle broncs and the All Around races.
“I followed in Dad’s footsteps in that I steer wrestle too. Jacek is built for bareback riding, he’s 5’4” and I’m 6’1’,” he noted of his brother, a California
Circuit champ. “I tried bareback riding but it was not my deal. And ever since I saw saddle broncs, I wanted to do that, it just clicked for me.”
Frost got instruction in his specialty from Northern Cal neighbor and former Wrangler National Finals Rodeo cowboy Jeff Shearer. Having just graduated from “Frost Academy,” the homeschooled cowboy is turning eighteen just prior to the WCJR and planning a summer of ProRodeo with his brother.
But first things first . . . a chance to repeat in Guthrie.
Frost is sitting number one thanks to efforts by mom Judy to nominate his high school and regional rodeo efforts but will take the same approach that bagged the title a year ago.
“We’ll go in the Qualifying Rounds again,” both Mom and Jasper noted, with a two-fold purpose behind the move.
“It gives the judges a chance to see what he can do,” Judy said and Jasper added, “plus, they let us pick our short go horses so I’ll be able to keep an eye on them and see what I like.”
Horsepower was one of the highlights for Frost a year ago.
“They had really good horses,” Frost said. “Plus, I got to ride with my buddies, Cooper Lane (2023 WCFR Event Champ), Jase Stout, Heston Harrison. It was fun to rodeo
with them.”
“It was a good deal.”
With the same game plan, Frost is physically and mentally ready for the task ahead.
“I’ve been really messing with my saddle,” he said. “Besides that, I’m just going to do what I can on the horses I draw and see what happens when the last one bucks. It’s in the judges’ discretion then.”
For Stewart, the 2023 World title was not on the radar as the 2023 WCJR kicked off.
“I was only seeded in the goat tying so I had to go through the Qualifying Rounds in everything else,” Stewart, 15, explained. “Especially in the pole bending, I had zero points.”
Stewart and her powerhouse horse, LuLu, captured a round win and the average before running out to two straight second place finishes in the Semi-Finals and
Finals to vault to the top of the standings.
“To come from zero points and end up winning it, that was cool,” Stewart said. In fact, Stewart was the high money winner across the Youth Division in 2023, racking up $7,735 for the event.
Stewart was riding before she’d crossed a year on this Earth, thanks to lead line and her mother Dena. She quickly moved into speed events and added goat tying at age seven.
“I just kept picking up events and rodeo was the place I could do them all,” she said.
She’ll be a major threat for multiple World titles this time around — she’s leading the Youth All Around with nearly 18,000 points and is first in the pole bending, second in the goat tying and ninth in the barrels.
The number one seed in poles is crucial, giving her a bye into the Semi-Finals which she’ll gladly take to save runs on the 21 year-old LuLu.
“She’ll be making a bunch of runs before then,” Stewart noted as she’ll compete at the National High School Finals Rodeo in Wyoming the week prior to WCJR. Stewart claimed goat tying, pole bending and All Around titles during the Texas High School Finals Rodeo last month.
“[Having the bye into the Semi-Finals] gives me the chance to save her for when it really matters,” Stewart said.
LuLu is special, a borrowed mount from Carly and Miranda Staggs. She took Carly to the National High School Finals as well and ran one of the fastest times at the 2023 WCJR for Stewart.
“She’s crazy,” Stewart laughed. “I’m very blessed to get to run her.”
For goat tying, Stewart has fifteen year old Jack.
competitor about to age out and tracked him until the family was ready to sell. “He’s great. I won my first state title on him.”
With multiple events and horses to ride, time can run short for Stewart but she has one stipulation, no matter how her day stacks up.
“I definitely tie every day,” she said, “whether I get a goat out or just tie the dummy. I make sure to get my hands on a string every single day.”
goat tying as long as possible.
“I’m keeping my options open,” she said. “But I have to goat tie in college but that’s where that ends. It’ll be my last four years to do it, unless something new comes along.”
Goat tying is definitely at the top of her long list of events, which also includes breakaway roping and cutting, at least at the high school rodeos.
“He’s actually a pony,” Stewart admitted. She spotted him under the saddle of fellow youth
Still just an incoming junior at Normangee (Texas) High School, Stewart doesn’t have big future plans except one . . . keep
“I like the adrenaline of it, going full speed and getting off, making quick decisions,” she said. “Plus, I like the community of goat tyers. They are some
of the most humble in the sport and really support each other.”
It’s clear that Stewart likes a challenge. In addition to goat tying, she’s a top hurdler too, another event that requires tenacity and athleticism.
“Yea, I picked a lot of everyone’s worst events,” she laughed. Named to the Texas High School Coaches Association’s Girls Track and Field Super Elite Team last year, Stewart trains year round for track, specializing in both 100 meter and 300 meter hurdles.
Last season, she ran cross country and played basketball too.
“It was a handful,” she said. “I get a lot of help from my mother and my family.”
Stewart enjoyed her first trip to the WCJR a year ago and is ready to return as a defending champ.
“The facility is so nice and it’s definitely more organized than some events,” she said. “They have a really good production.”
“I loved it—that’s why I nominated all year long and I love that they have options of the point system or the open entries where you can just show up and compete. It’s very cool.”
With four events and a solid lead for the All Around World title, Stewart is ready to go.
“I’ll approach it the same way as last year,” she said. “Take it one run at a time and try to come home with the same wins or more.”
National Day of theCowboy
Join us in celebrating that classic Western icon — the cowboy — at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum’s commemoration of National Day of the Cowboy! Honor cowboy culture and pioneering heritage while embracing your inner cowboy/girl. Throw on your cowboy duds — children can come decked out in cowboy gear they created during Summer Round-up (see p. 10) — and enjoy music from Oklahoma Opry, participate in family-friendly activities and crafts and get your face painted.
Kent Rollins Schedule: 11:00 a.m.
Chuck Wagon Cooking: Then and Now
Noon
Meet-and-Greet
1:00 p.m.
Food on the Trail
Free for members or with Museum admission. Activities available while supplies last. Seating for Kent Rollins will be first available.
Join special guest Kent Rollins , cowboy cook, storyteller and humorist, for two presentations plus a meet-and-greet. Be sure to purchase Rollins’ cowboy cookbooks and products in Persimmon Hill. July 27 • 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
ALLI AUTREY LEAVES 2023 WCJR IN VICTORIOUS FASHION
BY: JULIA DONDERO
6.25 seconds doesn’t seem like a lot of time, but it can feel like a lifetime in the rodeo world. In 6.25 seconds, dreams can be brought to life, and history can be made. For Alli Autrey, 6.25 seconds was all it took to take home the hotly contested Youth Goat Tying race. This run also secured the coveted Youth All Around Cowgirl title at the 2023 CINCH World Championship Junior Rodeo presented by Montana Silversmith.
Anticipation filled the Fabulous Lazy E Arena come the Final Round, and championship hopefuls began to set their sights on the final run that would determine their fate. With a record-breaking payout on the line, the electrifying environment presents nerves many young athletes are not yet used to experiencing. However, for the 15-year-old cowgirl from Abilene, Texas, this opportunity created the perfect storm of adren-
tors, Autrey has gained the mental edge essential to success in high-pressure, short-go situations.
“My family is my biggest support system. From the wins to the losses, they are always there for me”, explained Autrey, who also accredits her 13-year-old sister Acey for being a consistent source of support and competition in the practice pen.
aline and determination to capture the title.
“I love high-pressure environments like the WCJR. I love being surrounded by friends and the excitement shortround Saturday at the Lazy E creates,” said Autrey.
Autrey also expressed how she has grown up with a love for high pressure because of her parents, who are no strangers to the mental game of rodeo. With both parents being veteran competi-
This love for the sport propelled the young cowgirl to the top of the Youth Goat Tying leaderboards with a blazing 6.25-second run in the final round atop her main horse, “Freak.” Confident and booming equine partnerships are essential in any rodeo event, particularly in the world of goat tying.
“Having confidence in a goat horse is everything. ‘Freak’ is my heart horse, and I owe him everything,” explained Autrey, who trained “Freak” to become her number one mount in goat tying and
led her to several significant wins, including a Texas Junior High State title.
This success in the goat-tying extended Autrey’s lead in the Youth All-Around race and secured the title. Autrey entered the WCJR atop the Youth All Around Cowgirl leaderboard with her sights set on maintaining her position.
“Winning was a sigh of relief. It was so great to see all of my heart work pay off,” explained the All-Around Cowgirl, who explained focusing on the mental
game and visualization has been her key to success.
As the sun sets on the 2023 WCJR, Autrey is already looking forward to her next victory. Autrey is already back in the practice pen with her sights set on qualifying for the Rodeo Carolina’s Division Youth Showcase.
“The WCJR has been an incredible opportunity to compete on a large stage with a great payout. I am already looking forward to the next event,” said Autrey.
BRIAR WHITE CAPTURES YOUTH ALL AROUND, TIE-DOWN ROPING TITLES
BY: JULIA DONDERO
Entering the 2023 CINCH World Championship Junior Rodeo (WCJR) presented by Montana Silversmith, Briar White had his eyes set on taking home only two WCJR titles. After months of consistent nominations, White was determined to take home the titles he had diligently worked towards.
Throughout the week, White stuck to his plan of making clean, consistent runs. Before the WCJR, White explained his mindset was to focus on each go at a time.
“I am going just to do
ously. In the following days, White continued to dominate the pack, and with a repeat victory in Round 2, he found himself atop the average leaderboard when the dust settled.
this win home. I’ve worked hard all year to nominate, and it feels great to accomplish my goals,” said White.
grow. White explained, “He does the same thing every time and makes my job a lot easier; he’s a great, reliable horse.”
my best to rope and tie my calf at hand and see how it all plays out,” explained the 15-year-old Oklahoma native.
With a commanding 8.00 seconds to take the Round 1 win, White continued to play his cards right and left the Lazy E Arena victori-
“The week went as I had hoped. I just took it one round at a time, and it feels great to have this win,” White explained as he reflected on maintaining his lead throughout the competitive pack of Tie Down Ropers.
This commanding performance in the youth tie-down roping also furthered his lead in the all-around race. With the conclusion of the 2023 WCJR, White writes his name in the history books, taking home both the All Around and Tie Down Roping titles.
“It feels great to take
The calm, cool, and collected cowboy left the Lazy E Arena as a top money earner atop his trusted calf horse, “Bucky.” White and “Bucky” have spent much of their careers together and now work together like clockwork. The duo has been unstoppable for the past nine years and has only continued to
Looking forward to the upcoming Division Youth nomination period, White already has his eyes set on the next event.
“I plan to continue to nominate, and I can’t wait for the next Divison Youth event. The WCJR week was great, and I look forward to competing here again.”
