18-year-old Josie Conner, from Iowa, Louisiana, won the 2022 WCRA Days of ’47 Rodeo and broke the arena record with a 1.85-second run during the Gold Medal Round on Monday, July 25, 2022.
“Breaking the arena record just happened to be the icing on top,” Conner said. “I’ve been wanting a WCRA title for a long time. I’ve been nominating for a year or two for the WCRA and I’ve been No.1 on the leaderboard a lot, and it’s just never really worked out for me yet. I finally got my first WCRA win at Salt Lake City. I won second at Kansas City at the first WCRA I ever went to and ever since that happened I just wanted to win first. It was something that I wanted to have as an accomplishment. Then it happened to be at my favorite rodeo, the Days of ’47. It has been my favorite rodeo and they give us such cool prizes. It was all bittersweet, it just was so much fun.”
How It Went Down
Having topped the DO47 leaderboard, Conner earned her spot in the Gold Medal round against world champions and NFBR qualifiers who qualified by topping their respective semi-final rounds.
Taylor Hanchey made a 2.42-second run to take third place and the bronze medal, while Jackie Crawford made a 2.36-second run to take second place and the silver. Conner was the last to rope in the round and her 1.85-second run earned her the championship, gold medal, and $25,000 cash prize, and even broke the arena record that was set by Jackie Crawford earlier that week on the same calf.
Horsepower
For the win, Conner rode her sorrel gelding, Dutch, that she purchased at the end of 2021.
“He’s just been one of the greatest blessings,” Conner said. “I don’t really get on a horse and do well with them very fast, but it didn’t take Dutch and I very long to get a lick with each other. I think that he’s so much like the other horse I ride, Tonka. He just hardly makes mistakes and he’s been so great. He gets us to the calf fast and he stays out of my way. I can see and almost dominate the run at all times, he never really overpowers me even how strong he is and stuff, just the way he moves and God gave him those athletic talents. He’s a real special horse.”
What’s Next?
Conner, who ranks No.16 in the WPRA World Standings, will be out for 3-4 weeks with a broken foot and sprained ankle, and she hopes to return by the end of August to chase a Top-15 finish in order to qualify for the NFBR in November.
Conner is also set to compete in the WCRA Cowtown Christmas Championship in Fort Worth, Texas on December 14-17, which is the fourth WCRA Major Event and final stop of the 2022 Triple Crown of Rodeo tour.
WCRA Utah Days of ’47 Gold Medal Round Results:
1. Josie Conner, Iowa, LA, 1.85 seconds, $25,000; 2. Jackie Crawford, Stephenville, TX, 2.36, $12,50; 3. Taylor Hanchey, Carmine, TX, 2.42, $6,000; no other qualified times
Gold Medal: Josie Conner
Silver Medal: Jackie Crawford
Bronze Medal: Taylor Hanchey
