Jhett Fueled For Finish

Most animals brought to Cheyenne for the timed events out of Chute 9 are fresh – meaning this is their first rodeo. Not so in team roping. This bunch of horned critters has been out at Colorado rodeos a lot recently, including the Greeley Stampede and the recent tour stop in Colorado Springs. Close to 150 teams roped today as the first go-round in team roping was staged throughout the afternoon. Casper team roper Jhett Johnson sprang into the top 15 for the first time this season, this week.

Johnson knew it could be a rough go today because the Frontier Days arena is long and narrow. Many of the steers would be runners since they know what is up now and they get a head start of over thirty feet in Cheyenne – twice as long as other rodeos. Still several teams got the job done in under nine seconds. Jhett and partner Keven Daniel were out of the money at fourteen seconds for their run. They will hope for better luck in round two. The pair did well in both Greeley and Colorado Springs earlier this month. Jhett is on the heels, Keven the head. Johnson says they picked up $9,000 over the Fourth of July turning around the season completely. “The last two weeks saved our chances to make the finals,” said Jhett.

Johnson is set for horses. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had two world-class heel horses. They have to be tough to get hauled in a trailer for eight or nine hours and then get out to perform at their best. Just like any pro athlete they’re on the edge and give 100 percent every time,” Jhett remarks.

My pal Rick Carpenter was shooting still photos of Jhett today and we heard him talking to a couple of old friends about heart. The conversation bears repeating. There is a life lesson here. A transcription follows:

Young guys will come in and win right off the bat and they think ‘Man, I’m going to do this forever. It’s fun. I love it.’ But once their luck changes - and this is for everybody whether it’s me or Speed Williams (current header standings leader) – there will be a dry spell and that’s the time you say ‘Do I want to do this?’ It’s money out of your own pocket (the entry fee at Cheyenne for example is $400). It’s wear and tear on everything. And you’re tired. You haven’t won and it doesn’t look like you are ever gonna win again. You have to ask yourself ‘Is this what I want to do?’ Some will fold and some will keep going. That’s when you find out what you’ve got. The easy way is to head to the house and regroup. And just never come back. You see that a lot.

Jhett Johnson could have given up this season. He started it with an appendectomy. His partner quit on him the week Johnson healed. “I lost my partner and I lost my appendix. It looked pretty gloomy,” he said. The bad luck didn’t stop there. The next partner’s horse went lame. “I thought that was about par,” said Jhett. But then Keven Daniel asked if Jhett would join him. “I always look for another light,” Johnson says.
The road to the national finals won’t be easy but if attitude counts for anything, Jhett is going to make it. His tank is always half full.