Ignacio mid-schooler scores NJHFR top-20
Five seconds probably cost her top-five standing on the biggest stage.
But still didn’t deny Ignacio’s Kodi Mae Rima a top-20 result at the 2024 National Junior High Finals Rodeo – and definitely didn’t dash her hopes of returning to the same site in ’25, when goings will be as exciting but yet old (cowboy) hat.
And when the Centennial State will still be seeking its first-ever winner in pole bending.
Fortunate to travel to Des Moines, Iowa, this summer in the event after finishing fourth in the Colorado Junior High Rodeo Association’s year-end points, Rima effectively became the state’s No. 1 by way of placing 14th overall. Set to begin her eighth-grade studies this fall, she earned a spot in the specialty’s 20-rider short go-round Saturday night, June 29, by clocking a combined 41.715 seconds on two tries – both ranking second within their respective performances – earlier in the week.
“I was walking across the stage, which recognized the top 20 contestants … and I was holding back the ‘happy’ tears,” Rima recalled Tuesday morning, July 9, in a phone interview. “I could not believe I made it to the top 20! And I didn’t make only myself proud, but all supporters and family and friends.”
After the first long go, Rima stood 17th with a 21.072, while Eagle Mountain, Utah’s Taytum Anderson paced all with her 20.13.
“That was a little slower,” Rima said of her pass, “but I was trying to play it safe because of how close the end pole was to the fence.”
Finding a bit more speed and control the morning of the 28th, Rima’s improved 20.643 trailed only the 20.527 of Stanfield, Arizona’s Southern Keith for the session lead, and held up for 11th in the second go as she became a buckle contender.
“I just felt a lot more confident,” Rima said. “Like, me and (my horse) together knowing how close the end pole is, and just knowing a little bit about the arena from the first day. When I went to go check myself in, I realized that this was getting real!”
Returning once more to the Iowa State Fairgrounds’ Jacobson Arena for the aforementioned short go, Rima – royalty Princess of Durango’s 2024 True Western Roundup – clocked an unlucky 17th-place 26.085 while Corah Brunson of Terry, Miss., posted a winning 19.688.
“What they do … every time that you hit a pole, they add five seconds to your original time,” Rima explained, not sounding as dejected as she did educated on how to better avoid a similar bobble in the future. “I’m hoping I can return.”
“I was really surprised I made it this far,” she continued, “especially with it being my first (NJHFR). The horsemanship I have … takes a lot, just to bond with your horse(s) and have a really good relationship with them.”
Anderson, meanwhile, emerged as NJHFR World Champion by totaling 60.302 seconds on her three successful out-and-back weaves through the sticks. Jackson, Minnesota’s Sadie Hotzler (60.477) wasn’t far behind, third place went to Reese Chaffin (61.079) of Kinder, La., and fourth to Brunson (61.524). Rima ended up posting a total time of 67.800 seconds.
Cortez’s Jayleigh Gordanier finished 57th in the average, clocking 46.632 for her two assured attempts. Olney Springs’ Gyntri Hughes (43.046/2) narrowly missed making the short go and ended up 24th, and Wetmore’s Avery Draper (47.072/2) placed 62nd – landing Team Colorado all well within the upper half of the event’s 180 finishers (hailing from Holly but representing the Kansas Junior High School Rodeo Association, Briley Seufer came in 119th), and helping the squad ultimately accumulate a fourth-place 2,160 points. All told, only Minnesota (2,405), Utah (4,020) and Texas (5,190) registered more.
On the boys’ side, Colorado racked up a third-place 4,325 points – and thereby clinched third in the combined standings with a grand total of 6,265. Texas (10,455) topped the table and Utah (8,730) was runner-up.
In the girls’ goat tying competition, two Colorado entrants both placed top-20 after reaching the Saturday short go, though Rima wasn’t one. Granby’s Sego Krempin finished ninth overall in a total time of 27.34 seconds for her three successful attempts, and Wray’s Kaycee Clark – representing Team Kansas – totaled a tenth-place 27.81.
Kenna Hodson of Hooper, Utah, won World Champion status by securing her three goats in 24.97 seconds, while Rima ended up 52nd (again out of 180) by totaling 22.31 seconds on her two guaranteed tries.
“I was not expecting to make it in two events,” she admitted. “Also, I was not expecting that many contestants!”
Thanking not only her family members for their backing – and especially her mother’s hours behind the steering wheel – Rima wished to also credit Ignacio Middle School Wrestling coach Alex Peña for his on- and off-mat motivation.
“He’s someone in my life that’s really encouraged me,” she said. “He once told me that you have to put in the extra time and effort if you want to succeed in something you love.”
EVEN MORE
Strong in tie-down roping, Kelby Oliver of Cortez, Colo. placed a solid seventh at the NJHFR by securing three head in 39.07 seconds. By comparison, Wharton, Texas’ Jeffery Hayes placed first in 29.19. Also entered in ribbon roping, Oliver and partner Mackenzie Geesen of Kersey finished 29th in the average with a two-head time of 24.23 seconds.
DID YOU KNOW
The National High School Rodeo Association’s Junior High division was created in 2004 and the first NJHFR was held in 2005, with Gallup, N.M., its host city from ’05-13. The spectacle then first moved to Des Moines, Iowa, for the 2014 and 2015 editions.