She has Dan but I haven't!!! Here's one of the press releases:
May 5, 6 & 7, 2006
Marshall, TX
Get-R-Done was the motto at the 25th Annual Josey Jr. World and that is just what returning Josey Jr. Division World Champion Mesa Leavitt, of Blue Grass, Iowa did. The 10 year old straight A student riding her 12 year old gelding, Juniors Genuine Doc, came into the prestigious short go of the Jr. Division, (13 & under), Barrel Race in 2nd place with a total time of 32.045 in two runs. The Jr. Barrel Race Short Go is run from the slowest to the fastest average on two runs, dragging the ground after every runner.
Mesa knew what she had to do and she did just that. She ran a 15.620 added to her two other runs of 16.125 and 15.920 to win the average and the entire best time of all 287 contestants from the US and Canada. Her total time was a 47.665. For her accomplishments she won a three horse goose neck trailer by Cimarron/Big Tex Trailers presented by Randy Domino and Mitzi Long, a beautiful trophy saddle and so many other prizes she couldn’t carry them all out of the Award Ceremony. Mesa qualified on two horses and won $6,926.86 on Junior and San Jo (the horse she won the 2005 Championship on). The Josey Jr. Reserve Champion was Abby Pursifull from Arthur City, TX riding Meradas Packing Six, a five year old mare that she trained herself. Her mare stayed consistent for the entire weekend.
Mark Burt, MVP – Mark’s Video Productions of Weatherford, TX, our professional videographer who recorded the entire event said, “that was one the toughest barrel races I have ever been to. There were five 15’s run in the short go (two with down barrels) and anytime you break that 16 second barrier in this pen you are flying! It was tight, tight, tight!”
Winning the Senior Division Championship (14 to 20) title was another returning Josey Jr. World Champion (2002) Whitney Gibson, a college student of Vernon, TX on a 12 year old gelding named, Tipo Teddy. Whitney took the Championship title after running a 16.347 in the finals added to 16.367 in the first go and a 15.954 in the semi-finals for a total of 48.668. Whitney won $4,022.06 in prize money, a beautiful saddle, and many, many prizes.
The Josey Sr. Reserve Champion was Dusty Gilder, one tough cowboy, from Whitewater, MO riding a great horse called Jets Easy Honor. The barrel race was tough as nails as many of the Top 20 seniors had previously won the Jr. World title including Tanya Steinhoff, Jordon Peterson, Whitney Gibson and Dana Haas. The fastest run of the weekend was made by Mesa Leavitt riding “Junior” with a sizzling time of 15.620.
One Top 20 contestant, Jimmie Smith of Elgin, TX, rode at her first Jr. World at the age of 2 and at the old age of 9 has ridden at the Jr. World 7 straight years. Martha made the comment, “A winning barrel racer is an achiever and wins at everything they do.” The prestigious Cebe Reed “Horse with the Most Heart” award, donated by Sigal Heart Center, went to a 20 year old gelding named Breeze Fuel by Oklahoma Fuel and out of SkippinTheBreeze ridden by 13 year old Abigail Manning of Delton, MI. This horse had competed at the Jr. World with 4 other Jr. World Competitors. Thirteen year old LaRae Porterfield of Sparta, MO made the short go on her 22 year old horse, Ima Cool Bar “Sioux”, a previous Horse With The Most Heart honoree.
The youngest contestant to make the short go was 8 year old Shiloh Leavitt on her paint gelding “Cowboy”. Shiloh proudly rode and won all weekend in her Troxel helmet after an accident in 2005 when she and older sister Mesa hit a tree while they were riding their ATV Gator in their pasture. She was airlifted to a hospital where she underwent several head surgeries. Mike Collier, of Olin, N.C. an airplane pilot for Dale Earnhardt Racing, Inc. and grandfather of 2 contestants, won the drawing for a beautiful Frontier sponsor buckle.
Kenneth Springer, of Ft. Worth, TX, was also there to photograph every run made. The barrel race is open to contestants 20 years old and younger. Contestants ran for over $60,000.00 in prize money, a beautiful trailer, twenty saddles and many other great prizes. In the past 25 years the Jr. World has paid out over $1,000,000.00 in prize money, $1,000,000.00 in prizes and $185,000.00 in College Scholarships. This years Scholarship Recipients were Kyndal McCormick, Kristen Adams, Mackenzie Trask and Leah Sigal.
Hosts R.E. and Martha Josey said the sponsors who attended were very impressed with the caliber of contestants who competed from 25 states and Canada. Other great events included a fish fry, barbeque banquet and an auction to raise money for the scholarship fund. PBR bull riders Mike White and Chris Shivers along with Katie Woods, former Miss Rodeo USA, and Auctioneer Jack Dillard, helped make the auction a huge success. The bull riders auctioned off their shirts, hats and other great items. They helped with the entire auction and then they signed autographs for all the contestants. The Exceptional Rodeo for children, a special highlight of the Jr. World, was sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Rusty Howell.
The Cowboy Church Service was motivated by Thomas Mitchell, with Cowboy Minister, Coy Huffman and gospel music by the Southern Harmony Boys. Mr. Thomas Mitchell, father of Ty Mitchell a four time Jr. World Champion, commented “It was the most exciting barrel race in the world and we had a Ranch full of great kids, super horses and parents that were proud of them.”
Martha and R.E. said, “We couldn’t do it without the great support of all our sponsors and the help of our staff, tractor drivers and EVERYONE that helped make this event possible-A Big Texas Thank You to all that helped.” There were 20 Championship Trophy Saddles by Billy Cook, Circle Y, Jerry Beagley and Pish Saddlery that were given by saddle
sponsors, and supporters.
Thanks to our great Corporate Sponsors, Big Tex/Cimarron, Circle Y Saddles, Eagle Valley ABM, East Texas Ford, EZ-All, Oster, Priefert, Josey ProKold, Purina, Rambo Blankets, Roper Apparel, Thoro’Bred, Troxel and United Vet Equine.
The 26th Annual Josey Jr. World will be May 4th-6th, 2007 and will be very special. Plan on attending or being a participant NOW! For more detailed information on the Josey Jr. World and Josey Enterprises, Inc. please visit the Josey website at
www.barrelracers.com.
