Young Breakaway Roping Phenom Leaps to No. 1 in the World Standings

If you have been around the rodeo world in the last decade, you have likely heard of the name, Josie Connor. Josie, who is almost 21 years old, has undoubtedly made herself known as one of the greatest breakaway ropers to ever play the game. 

Connor has sat comfortably in the top 15 all year long, but recently made a leap to the No. 1 position after winning the Ellensburg Wash. PRCA. In an interview afterwards with Cowboy Channel and Katy Lucas, Connor explained that being No. 1 is one of the biggest accomplishments for a rodeo athlete but she says, “There’s a lot of year left so we’re just going to keep the gas on and do what we can do and let them total it up at the end of December." 

She gives a lot of credit to her horsepower. Josie said, “A lot of that confidence comes from my horse. I wasn’t roping to try to beat three flat or not beat it. I just was trying to make the best run I can and my horse puts me in that position almost every time."

Most recently, at the New Mexico State Fair, Connor roped an incredible 1.8 second run which is still in the lead there in Albuquerque. 

The legendary Jackie Crawford has been sitting in that No. 1 position nearly all year. Entering Ellensburg, Josie was less that $3,000 behind Crawford. She was a 7.8 on three calves, securing that championship, and dethroning Jackie from the top of the standings. 

2024 will be her third trip to the National Finals Breakaway Roping in Las Vegas. In 2022, she was the Rookie of the Year and qualified for her first NFBR. Last year was her second qualification, and she finished 13th in the final world standings. This year, Josie has proven that she is going after that gold buckle come Vegas.

Over the Fourth of July run, known as Cowboy Christmas, she was the highest money earner in the breakaway roping. She won over $15,000 that week alone. The last month or so has been extremely successful for Connor as she won several of the biggest rodeos in the Northwest; including Kenneick, Wash., Killdeer, North Dakota., and Caldwell, Idaho.

Eyes have been on the Iowa, Lousi. talent for some time. Before she turned 18 and hit the pro rodeo trail, she had many years of unparalleled success in the junior ranks. Her 8th grade year, she won the National Junior High Finals Rodeo followed by a reserve world championship her sophmore year of high school. In 2021, she was the WPRA National Breakaway Champion as a junior member. She bought her WPRA permit on her 18th birthday, and the very next day she filled it and was able to purchase her card. Since then, she has not slowed down. Before this year, her career earnings were well over $200,000. 

As the year of rodeo begins to wind down, keep your eyes on Connor as she chases her first gold buckle!