Roping it in

ST PAUL -- History will be made this year when the St. Paul Rodeo adds breakaway roping to its rodeo.

For the first time ever, women’s breakaway roping will be one of the events featured at the rodeo, along with the other seven events.

Sanctioned by the Women’s Pro Rodeo Association , breakaway roping is a modified type of tie-down roping.

In the breakaway, the cowgirl, on horseback, nods her head when she’s ready, and the calf is released from the chute. The cowgirl ropes the calf, stops her horse and as the calf runs, the end of the rope, which is attached to the saddle horn, breaks away, signaling the end of the run. Good breakaway runs will be two or three seconds in length.

Breakaway ropers Jodi and Josie Goodrich are excited to compete in St. Paul. The mother-daughter duo, from Stanfield, are also barrel racers but both will only rope in St. Paul.

Josie, who is 22 years old and a graduate of Washington State University, is excited to see the breakaway event added to the St. Paul Rodeo.

“It’s really exciting for us, because (St. Paul) is one of the biggest rodeos in the nation, and everybody that rodeos comes here. The fact that breakaway ropers get to be a part of it is exciting.”

Her mom, Jodi, agreed. “It’s huge, and it sets a precedent for other rodeos, to hopefully follow suit next year.”

Josie competed in high school and college rodeo in both the barrel racing and breakaway roping, but in her pro career, will focus on the breakaway.

“I feel I can control my success more in the breakaway,” she said. “Barrel racing is dependent on how good your horse is. You need a good horse in the breakaway too, but you need to be just as good yourself. Breakaway is a little bit more ‘me’ focused.”

The women travel together, competing at rodeos across the Northwest and enjoying each other’s company.

“It’s been really awesome,” Josie said, of the relationship she and her mom have. “We share the same horse, and one of us ropes, then we change the stirrups, and the other ropes.

“Even though we’re competing against each other, in a way, it never feels like it. If I do well, she’s just as happy for me, and vice versa.”

The women help each other out. “As soon as one of us is done roping, then we’re helping the other one, doing all the things to make the other person’s run go smoothly.”

A young St. Paul cowgirl is looking forward to someday being able to breakaway rope in St. Paul.

Ten-year-old Sophie Price has been rodeoing for the past four years, and has ridden her pony in the St. Paul Rodeo parade since she was old enough to ride.

With her parents, Travis and Jennie, she’s volunteered at the rodeo, helping park cars and looks forward to the day she can volunteer in the concessions stands

She competes in the Northwest Youth Rodeo Association in the barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying, and, of course, the breakaway roping.

“Someday I want to be a world champion breakaway roper,” she said.

But before she’s old enough to compete, she wants to carry flags on horseback for the grand entry, following in the family tradition at the rodeo: her mom, Jennie (Drescher) Price was a 2002 St. Paul Rodeo Princess, and her aunt Julie (Drescher) Smith was a 2011 St. Paul Rodeo princess and the 2015 Miss Rodeo Oregon.

For the Goodriches, it’s a family affair. Jodi’s husband (and Josie’s dad) Brad, will compete in St. Paul, as will Gator, their son and Josie’s brother. Both are tie-down ropers. Brad has competed in St. Paul numerous times, winning the tie-down and all-around titles several times.

Josie hopes to make rodeo her career, at least for a while.

A big win at St. Paul would help, but she’s just seeing how things go.

“This summer I’ll rodeo outside the (Columbia) Circuit (the rodeos in Oregon, Washington and Idaho), and see how well I do and how far it takes me,” she said.

“For the next couple years, that will be my goal, to chase rodeo.”

The St. Paul Rodeo will be held at 7:30 p.m. July 2-6 with a 1:30 p.m. matinee on July 4.

Fireworks take place following each evening performance; the annual Independence Day parade is 10 a.m. July 4.

Rodeo tickets are available online at StPaulRodeo.com and range in price from $20 to $60.

For information, visit the website or call 800.237.5920.