WHO WILL BE THE 2006 JOSEY WORLD CHAMPIONS?

The Josey Ranch in Marshall, Texas is geared up for Spring and getting ready to host three exciting events.

The first is the 13th Annual Josey Reunion Round-Up Barrel Race, April 28th – 30th and what an event it is! This competition invites all former Josey students, over 80,000 of them, to compete in an exclusive barrel racing competition with no age limit, for cash, prizes and scholarships. The Reunion will include a Saturday night Josey Fish Fry. This year’s special guest will be Miss Rodeo USA, Stacy Jo Johnson. The barrel race will be run in the 4 D format with $5,000.00 added money. Contestants will be running hard to pull home a beautiful Big Tex/Cimarron Trailer and the winner of each division and the highest placing senior in the 4-D will receive a trophy saddle. There will also be a scholarship in memory of Bill Utsey for the barrel race.

The second event is the 25th Annual Josey Jr. World Champion Barrel Race, open to competitors age 20 and under, scheduled for May 5th – 7th. The Jr. World includes two divisions, the Jr. Division for age 13 and under and the Sr. Division for age 14-20. Check in will be on May 4th. Special guests for this year’s Jr. World will be PBR World Champion Bull Riders, Mike White and Chris Shivers. With $5,000.00 added money, a beautiful Big Tex/Cimarron Trailer and an estimated $150,000.00 in cash, prizes and scholarships for 2006, this year’s event is expected to be spectacular. This year, a very special scholarship will be awarded in memory of Shelah Aiken of Purina Mills. Festivities will begin Thursday evening, May 4th, with the Famous Josey Fish Fry. An action packed first go round of barrel racing will begin early Friday morning, ending with the Annual BBQ Banquet Friday evening. Special awards will be presented at the banquet including the Mom Arthur Award, in honor of Martha Josey’s mother, Best Dressed Cowgirl and Cowboy, Best Decorated Horse and the Purina Horse Management Speech Contest winners. An action packed second go round will begin Saturday morning. Sunday morning will begin with a Cowboy Church Service, followed by the Top 50 in each division setting their sights on that perfect run! Scholarships will also be awarded to Josey Jr. World contestants. In over 20 years, the Josey Jr. World has awarded contestants over TWO MILLION DOLLARS in cash and prizes and $150,000.00 in scholarships, making it one of the longest running youth barrel races in the world.

The third is the 13th Annual Josey Reunion Round-Up Calf Roping, June 4th, with an open invitation to all former Josey students. The Reunion Calf Roping will include a Ribbon Roping Event and a Roping Contest for the younger ropers. Winners in the Jr. and Sr. Tie Down Roping contest will receive a trophy saddle. There will also be a ‘Flank & Tie’ contest for the Skip Gatlin Scholarship.

Corporate sponsors represented at both events include, Big Tex/Cimarron Trailers, Circle Y, Eagle Valley ABM, EZ-ALL, East Texas Ford, Josey Pro*Kold, Oster, Priefert, Purina, Rambo, Roper, Thoro’bred, Troxel and United Vet. All three of these events are open to the public and provide a lot of entertainment for the entire family.

For more information on Josey Clinics, the Josey Reunion Round-Up or the Josey Jr. World Champion Barrel Race, please call 903-935-5358 or visit our web site at: www.barrelracers.com.