Cottonwood youth headed to National Finals Rodeo

Bodie Robbins, 14, and Cameron Jones, 13, both of Cottonwood have been team roping partners in the California High School Rodeo Association's District One Wrangler Division for the 2008 - 2009 season.

Both team ropers hit it off from the moment they started working together. Bodie and Cameron placed first at the district finals in McArthur before going on to the California State Finals Rodeo held May 15-17. They managed to successfully complete all of their team roping runs and qualified for the short-go round. In the short go, Bodie and Cameron made their fastest time of the three day competition with 10.5 seconds. Bodie catches the head of the steer and Cameron, the heels. They are the first team ropers in the CHSRA and CHSRA Wrangler Division to place first in the state and will make the trip to Gallup New Mexico later this month.

The Wrangler Junior High School National Finals Rodeo is held June 28 through July 4.

Bodie Robbins

Bodie will be graduating eighth grade from West Cottonwood Junior High School and is going to West Valley High School next year. Bodie's first memories of riding horses goes back to pictures taken of him riding with his parents when he was a baby.

"I can remember when Bodie was around two years old. He always wanted to be a cowboy. Bodie carried around a rope and wore his boots. Whenever the dogs saw that Bodie had his rope out, they would hide because they knew that they were going to be used as the cattle," said his mom, Amy Robbins. "Bodie loves being a cowboy and I knew that he would be successful. I am very proud of him."

Bodie began roping off of a horse at the tender age of four, then started team roping at age nine. Bodie has been participating in Wrangler Rodeo for the past two years and will be moving up to the high school level in the fall. Bodie currently competes in the team roping, ribbon roping and breakaway roping events.

Before an event Bodie goes through the run in his head about 15 times, picturing every move he needs to make - where his rope is going to go and how he is going to turn the steer for Cameron to catch the heels. So far this season, Bodie hasn't broken the barrier at the beginning of a run, nor has he missed his head catch on the steer.

In the future, Bodie would like to continue team roping and try and make something out of all of his hard work someday. After high school, Bodie would like to go to college and become an Equine Dentist. Bodie is the son of Amy Robbins of Anderson, and of Todd and Jennifer Robbins of Cottonwoood. Bodie has two brothers and two sisters.

Cameron Jones

Cameron Jones is in sixth-grade at West Cottonwood. He began riding horses at two years of age. It wasn't until four years ago that Cameron became interested in team roping. His father, Cody Jones, had him practicing roping off the ground before he began roping on horseback. Cameron practiced team roping for two years before he began competing in the event. He now participates in the events of team roping, chute dogging, ribbon roping and breakaway roping. He was named All Around Rookie of the Year for the California High School Rodeo Association District One in the Wrangler Division with a total of 135 points.

Cameron spends his time at the arena owned by his family riding and roping. Cameron also spends time roping off the ground with a roping dummy, practicing with his brothers and sister.

When asked about his first season of Wrangler Rodeo and what he thought about it, "It was awesome. I was rookie of the year," stated Cameron. "The best part of the season was catching the last steer."

When Cameron is getting ready for the team roping event, he sits on his horse Katy and thinks "I gotta catch the heels for my partner."

Cameron is a third generation team roper. First was the late Bobby Jones, for whom the arena in Cottonwood is named for, second is Cameron's dad, Cody Jones with Cameron following in their footsteps. In the future, Cameron would like to be able to someday compete in the National Finals Rodeo.

Cameron is the son of Cody and Heather Jones. He is also the brother of Justin Lee, Sammye Jones, Brianna Lee and Tanner Lee.

Team Ropers

Bodie and Cameron practice in the arena two nights a week for two hours per practice session. They can also be found roping off the ground on a roping dummy working on catching the head and the heels. Both boys are excited about their trip to New Mexico and look forward to a new experience.

At the state finals, their were many emotions felt by their families. Bodie's father Todd ran down to the arena to congratulate his son. Bodie's step mother had to let it sink in that the boys had just won first place at the state level.

"It all seemed surreal. We are very proud. All of their hard work has finally paid off," said Jennifer Robbins.

"It is exciting! We are really happy for Cameron and Bodie. They both work really hard and Cameron practically lives down at the arena. All of the hard work is finally paying off. Cody is as proud as any dad could be," stated Heather Jones.

In some ways, the season will end bitter sweet. Bodie will move up to compete in High School Rodeo and Cameron will stay down competing in Wrangler Rodeo for the next two years. The boys are hoping to compete again together when Cameron gets into high school.

"Bodie and Cameron work really well together and truly know the meaning of team work. Bodie is graduating and moving up to compete at the high school level and Cameron is just getting started. We all hope that they will be able to rope together again in high school," said Heather Jones. "For now, we are all looking towards the finals in New Mexico and want the boys to do well."