The famed Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma, is a favorite of many western athletes, from ProRodeo world champs to weekend warriors, and you can count youth competitor Tailyn Kimble amongst the fans.

The E has hosted some of the industry’s most iconic events over its 40-plus years. For the past four years, it has been the home of the Cinch World Championship Junior Rodeo, presented by Montana Silversmiths. The WCJR is one of the world’s most lucrative youth rodeo events with an annual payout over $400,000 and is presented in partnership with the WCRA.

A bunch of that money has gone home to Clayton, New Mexico, with Kimble. In 2023 she won the barrel racing in the youth division and, a year ago, despite moving up into the junior division for older competitors, she took home second behind event champion Bella Skinner.

READ: Bella Skinner Adds to Undeniable Youth Resume with DY World Title

“Well, No. 1, we love the Lazy E,” Kimble said. “We love it, and our horses love it.”

WCJR Strategy

Kimble will be back at the E again when the WCJR rolls out July 22-26, sitting solidly in first place on the DY25 Leaderboard after nominating high school rodeos and other youth rodeo events using the Virtual Rodeo Qualifier.

“We go to a lot of barrel races, too, but only the ones with a youth or junior count,” Kimble explained, adding that the high school rodeos offer the best points.

Kimble rodeos over the state line in Region 1 of the Texas High School Rodeo Association where she is currently third in the barrels and first in the goat tying and the all-around race.

For the WCJR, Kimble’s mother, Johnna, is strategic in her nominations.

“We’re just nominating the barrels,” she explained, “and she’ll enter the goat tying and pole bending (through open entries, one of three ways to earn a position in the rodeo) and chase after that all-around.”

It’s a strategy born of necessity: 15 year-old Tailyn is the oldest of three kids, all involved in the sport that is multi-generational for her family.

“My mom grew up rodeoing and my dad team ropes,” said Tailyn, a homeschooled, high school freshman. “We’ve always had horses since I was little. I just tried rodeo, loved it and kept going from there.”

“There’s definitely been a bit of a shift in rodeo, which used to always be generational, to more kids coming in from families that didn’t rodeo. But that’s not us,” Johnna laughed. “My grandpa and my dad rodeoed, her dad, Todd, has ranched his whole life. The horses we use for competition are also part of our livelihood and are used on the ranch.”

Star Horsepower

Tailyn has two main equine partners, the veteran CL Falena, 16, who has carried her at the WCJR, and Tiger, breeding and background mostly unknown.

“He has his own little story,” Johnna said. “My dad bought him as a 3-year-old, and he was really watchy. My husband was using him on the ranch. He had a bad tooth that had to be pulled. He had a bad reaction to the penicillin, got colitis and almost died.”

Johnna took the reins when Tiger returned to the arena but Tailyn, then 10 years old, was struggling to connect with her current mount when Johnna suggested a switch before the Lance Graves Invitational.

“Her dad was like, really?” Johnna joked. “Tiger is crazy and kinda snorty. But she ran him and won there.”

“He’s really a character; he unties himself and all the other horses,” Johnna continued. “But he loves the big pens and always gives his heart.”

Tiger and Falena are their own personalities.

“Falena is more mom’s, but he’s my baby,” Tailyn agreed. “I use [Tiger] at the high school rodeos while Falena gets more of the spotlight, running at the big shows and events.”

“She comes with her own sass,” Johnna interjects while Tailyn agrees, “she’s pretty special to us.”

Horsepower is critical for the Kimbles. Not only is Tailyn a multi-event competitor but siblings Joslyn (13) and Trevin (11) are competing, too. In fact, the Kimbles will have six horses in the trailer for the WCJR with all three kids competing.

“We’re not nominating in all the kids’ events,” Johnna admitted, noting the younger kids will go the open entry route. “We have to manage it all–financially, emotionally and physically. So with the big events like this, we try to hone in where we think the kids will have the most success.”

But the opportunity to compete together as a family is one Johnna wouldn’t trade.

“We love the events where all the kids get to compete, in a family-friendly setting like the Lazy E,” Johanna said. That trend extends beyond the arena: both girls play basketball and Johnna coaches. 

WCJR Fans

No doubt Tailyn keeps busy, also competing on her track team in the long jump, 100 meter hurdles and relays, and her mother calls her a social butterfly. But rodeo holds first position and Tailyn, already a veteran of youth rodeos and major open competitions, says she loves the atmosphere of the WCJR.

“The WCRA does a great job of giving us the experience and the platform that the ProRodeo athletes get, the knowledge we can use if we get to go on (to compete at that level),” Tailyn said. “The energy and surroundings that WCRA gives us…those are memories that last a lifetime.”

“The opportunity and exposure they get through the WCRA is great,” Johnna said. “Like, Tailyn was interviewed on Western Sports Roundup on the Cowboy Channel, talking about the WCJR. That’s a phenomenal experience and as moms and dads, we love to see those experiences for them through rodeo.”

The production of the WCJR also sets it apart for the Kimbles.

“We love that rodeo atmosphere with rough stock loaded in the chutes and the guys with all their equipment everywhere; it’s chaotic,” Johnna said. “The first year, I wasn’t sure what Falena would do but it’s a super cool experience for the kids to get at a young age.”

“It has taught me as a rider too,” Tailyn added. “I had to just find a routine and trust in what I know how to do.” 

Statements like that make Johnna proud, convincing her of the good that comes from her crew participating in events like the WCJR.

“One of my favorite things about rodeo is that it teaches perseverance,” Johnna said. “It teaches them to be grateful when they’re on top and winning because they’ve also experienced the other side of that and you never know when you won’t have that good horse under you.”

“It helps them keep an attitude of gratitude and understand that these horses are such a blessing and realize not everyone gets to do this.”