Ep. 54 - Our FIRST Barrel Racing Guest - Jimmie Smith

(September 30, 2020) - She's the 2019 Texas Circuit Champion barrel racer and the 2018 WPRA Resistol Rookie of the Year, a Texas Cowgirl that has won A LOT of money on her special horse, "LenaOnTheRocks" or "Lena." Today's guest is Jimmie Smith whose illustrious rodeo career started long before the 2018 Rookie title… She's a three-time CPRA finalist, was the 2018 Puyallup PRCA Champion and placed third at the Ellensburg (Washington) rodeo. 

Advice to the Youth Today

“I have never seen a group of youth competitors as tough as they are right now,” says Jimmie who believes that the youth members could compete at the college or professional levels at the drop of a pen. It has rolled over into the barrel horse industry as well as everything continues to develop and get better. “I would just keep working at it - they are obviously under the right coaching and it’s absolutely amazing to watch. Now is definitely the time to invest and work in breakaway roping.” 

College Rodeo

Jimmie competed at Texas A&M with barrels, goats and breakaway roping and she felt that the region in the south was so tough that it forced her to hit the practice pens hard every day.

“If you aren’t working hard at it, somebody else is and they’re going to out do you that weekend,” says Jimmie. She encourages anyone interested in the next level to keep working hard and get through college.

Jimmie, with her experience, believes that college rodeo has adequately prepared her for the professional rodeo world. Whether it is the college finals, the utilization of directors, or the set-up, college rodeo gives you a little bit of an edge when it comes to prorodeo set ups and fees. 

Breakaway Roping

As breakaway begins to become more saturated, Jimmie believes that there are more breakaway ropers now than there ever has been. When she was a rookie, Jimmie put breakaway on the back burner, but, just like it was in college and high school, it has become something that she can’t ignore - the money to be won is just too good.

“As a breakaway roper myself, that had to retire after college, because there was nothing I could go on too,” says co-host Katy Lucas. 

“I remember that first year… it’s awesome to be a part of it. I think the American is what gave breakaway ropers the platform - they have set the stage for all other events to be able to include us,” adds Jimmie.

For women who rope, you can now hit an entire rodeo season breakaway roping. Jimmie is doing just that, as well as qualifying for her first NFR qualification in the barrels. 

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