Justine Doka got her first taste of Turquoise Circuit Championships at the Finals Oct. 31–Nov. 1 in Cave Creek, Arizona, collecting both the Average and Year-End Championships with a time of 8.8 seconds on three head and a total of $17,015 won.

For the mother of two from Fort McDowell, Arizona, the win came together unexpectedly after a year of building with new mare Tulsa. Now, she’s looking forward to representing the Turquoise Circuit at the 2026 NFR Open in Colorado Springs alongside No. 2 in the Year-End, Macy Young.

Q: How long have you been roping on the Turquoise Circuit?

Doka: I’ve been in the circuit for a few years now. In 2021, I came close [to winning]—I was second in the average and maybe fifth in the year-end. Then in 2023, I made the circuit finals again, but it didn’t go how I wanted. This year was definitely the best by far.

Q: Did you start 2025 planning to chase the year-end, or did that develop as the season went on?

Doka: Honestly, I just wanted to make the Circuit Finals. At the start of the year, I was on a young horse of my sister’s and had only won about $900 by June. Then I bought Tulsa, the mare I rode at the Circuit Finals, and everything turned around.

She and I clicked fast. We won our first check in June at the Flagstaff Trail Rodeo, and from there it just built. I mostly circuit rodeoed and stayed close to home—I have a 10-month-old baby, Ryler, and my oldest daughter, Brindle, is 6 and in first grade—so I wanted to limit how long I was gone.

Q: Tell me more about Tulsa. How did you find her?

Doka: I bought her from Hannah Hoos in Nebraska. My best friend, Kaycee Barnes found her, called me and said, “You need this horse.” Tulsa was 11, finished, and exactly what I was looking for.

It was one of those moments where everything lined up. Tulsa fits me so well—she’s quick, free, honest, and gives me all the confidence in the world. I don’t have to worry about her; I just focus on doing my job.

Q: What were some of your standout wins with Tulsa this season?

Doka: We started with Flagstaff, then won Payson with a 1.8—that was our fastest run of the year. We also won Banning, California, and did well at Lovington, placing second in a round there. I also made the Indian National Finals Rodeo, though I had some tough luck there. Overall, Tulsa gave me the year I’d been hoping for.

Q: Going into the Turquoise Circuit Finals, what was your mindset?

Doka: My goal was just to make the Finals, but as the season went on, I realized I had a chance to catch the leaders. I had a lot of help—my grandma came down from New Mexico to watch the girls, and my mom and husband were huge supporters.

By the time the finals came around, I was leading the standings by about $300. After the first round, I was only ahead by $2, so it really came down to the last run. Everyone was telling me, “Don’t break out,” and I just focused on making a clean run. I went 3.1 in the third round to finish with 8.8 on three, and it held up.

Q: That must have been intense. What was it like waiting on that final run?

Doka: It was definitely nerve-wracking. The first few girls missed, then a few caught but broke out. It opened up for me a little. I just knew I needed to make a clean run and let things fall how they would. Macy [Young] was right behind me, so I wanted to put some pressure on her, but she drew my first-round calf—the one that ran hard left—and it didn’t work in her favor. It was definitely a close finish.

Q: You mentioned balancing being a mom of two with rodeo—what has that been like?

Doka: It’s a lot! My youngest is 10 months and my oldest is six, so this year traveling wasn’t easy. My husband, my mom, my grandma, and my sister were all incredible about helping with the girls and keeping everything running while I was gone. I couldn’t have done it without them.

It’s been really rewarding to show my daughters that you can still chase your goals, even when life looks a little different.

Q: Who else do you want to thank for helping make this season possible?

Doka: Definitely my family—my husband, my parents, my grandma, and my sister for helping so much. My dad always has the arena ready for me to rope. My traveling partners, Hailey Schaefer and Makayla Boisjoli, too—they pushed me to keep going and finish strong. And of course, Tulsa—without her, I wouldn’t be here.

Q: Now you get to rope at the NFR Open. How does that feel?

Doka: It feels amazing. This year wasn’t supposed to go this way—it was supposed to be my “take it easy” year after having a baby. But Tulsa and my support system made it possible, and now I get to represent the Turquoise Circuit in Colorado Springs. It’s really special.

2025 Turquoise Circuit Finals Results

First round: 1. Macy Young, 2.4 seconds, $2,197; 2. Bailey Bates, 2.6, $1,648; 3. Tibba Smith, 2.7, $1,098; 4. Justine Doka, 3.1, $549. 

Second round: 1. Taylor Girvin, 2.2 seconds, $2,197; 2. Hailey Schafer, 2.5, $1,648; 3. (tie) Justine Doka and Macy Young, 2.6, $824 each. 

Third round: 1. Danielle Lowman, 2.7 seconds, $2,197; 2. Justine Doka, 3.1, $1,648; 3. Taylor Girvin, 12.2, $1,098; 4. Hailey Schafer, 12.4, $549. 

Average: 1. Justine Doka, 8.8 seconds on three head, $3,295; 2. Danielle Lowman, 9.4, $2,471; 3. Taylor Girvin, 18.0, $1,648; 4. Bailey Bates, 19.0, $824.