State Director Kelly Page
Marketing Director Paddy Griffith
Meet Your Members
Washington National Barrel Horse Association
2010 State Results
By Maria Pearson,
I met Jana Isaac in 2003, barrel racing of coarse…I liked her the minute I met her, someone with a sincere spirit about her, and a will to put her life into dream mode, I didn’t know how far she would go back then, but looking at how far she has gone, now I can see why. Not to mention she has such a wonderful support system in her husband, Steve, these are two people if you don’t know them, you won’t be sorry after you do know them.I have been trying to get Jana’s story written for quite some time, but she has been so busy burning up the rodeo trail that I have not been able to catch up with her, and now that I have I am honored to share her story in a combination of her words and mine.
Enjoy!
Me: What was growing up like for you?
Jana: Well let me first just say this, who says dumb luck doesn’t happen? Every once in awhile the stars align and viola, everything seems miraculously to work. No I did not say to keep the same thing over and over again and expect a different result, that would definitely be insanity. But let me tell you a story about a little cowgirl living the dream!
My dad was a cattleman and member of the Klickatat River Cattleman’s Association as well as an Indian Stockman. He turned out at the end of March in Medicine Valley, then trailed them to Piscoe Meadows and beyond for the summer. He branded a week early so he had a calf crop in the fall. Mom cooked for the crew the morning I was born then drove the dusty bumpy 30 miles to town for proper medical attention for her first, fabulous daughter!! 18 months later my brother was born and 4 years later my brain-i-yak sister was delivered.
We had no phone or TV, but mom was a great reader, my favorite book was Smokey The Cow Pony by Will James. The rest of the time we did what country kids do, slam the screen door running in and out, bottle fed the orphan lambs and calves, shove each other off the ponies in home made mud pies, help dad chase cows, sort at the association corral and walk barefoot in the snow.
Me: So tell me what did it take for you to become a barrel racer?
Jana: Well to become a barrel racer you have to start early. How about at the age of 6 you must fall off your pony in the middle of a football game during the community’s day celebration and the neighbor kid had to ride your pony home for you. Then an aspiring barrel racer becoming must at age 10 own and absolutely beautiful grey horse with a long mane and tale and beady little black eyes. And then atop that beautiful horse help dad push cows up to Spray in the Spring as dad tells me he wanted met to hold them reins tighter, but I felt a knot under my saddle and told Dad so. He told me to get off, which I happily did and he was going to show me how to handle the “energy”. He got three quarters of the way and she planted him in the spray and cow sh&$! I can still see the spray man trying to stifle a smile. Then an up and coming barrel racer at age 12 will travel with her dad to the Hermiston Horse Sale and pick out a paint colt and the auctioneer will take the 12 year old daughter’s bid well after even dad quit bidding. A true died in the wool barrel racer will keep the horses they love until they die, and sell the ones that don’t fit them and know the difference.
Me; So tell me when did the competitive barrel racer immerge?
Jana: Well one thing is for sure I am competitive, always have been…But it wasn’t until I watched my step daughter at barrel races that it hit me in that field, I thought wow that looks like so much fun. I started trying my luck at around the year 2000. I had a grey gelding I called Champion; I really liked him but could never get him out of the 50 dollar novice. Then I ran a grade mare I called Fanny, she was nice but couldn’t clock. Then I rode another and another and again, none of them would clock. All along Steve kept telling me you aught to try Dakota, you really should run her. I kept saying, nope, I don’t want to ride her.
Me: o.k, Dakota, the famous little black mare, tell me about her?
Jana: Well in 1999 Steve went to Billings Horse Sale and picked her up as a three year old for our broodmare program, she came from South Dakota. Her registered name is Cash In On A Jet, by Texas High Dashe. She was green and I think he gave a thousand bucks for her. Steve rode her and chased cows on her and she bucked him off so many times, I thought heck I’m not getting on that mare. So when she was about 6 or 7 Steve sent her to Randy Thompson to ride. Randy played polo on her and really liked her. In the mean time I was still trying to get into the barrel racing groove and trying to clock. Also during that time a lot happened personally, set backs if you will. 2001 was a bad year for our country, but it was also for my family. I lost my dad in 2001, we had a raging fire on the home place and we lost over 20 cows, Steve had a horrible accident and broke his neck. It was time to dig down deep for the tools of cope! And digging I did. I chose to get stronger during these challenging events of my life, everyone has them, I am not different. But from that what immerged was…….ah…….a little tougher cowgirl! In along those lines it WAS time to start clocking….So in 2004 I decided it was my time to win!! I went and reclaimed my little black mare and decided she was the medicine I needed.
Me: And, just how did it start out with that little black mare?
Jana: Ha ha!! It was so much fun, she was so much fun. I started her on barrels like all the others, except she just really, really wanted to do it…She loved it. In 2004 I started out running in WBRA and won the 500 novice championship and placed in the top 10 of the open. Then in 2005 I went to Pro West Rodeos and started winning. I also got my permit that year and filled it, I won over $8000 that year and made it to Columbia River Circuit Permit Finals. I then got my card. I went to Circuit Finals in 2005, 6,7,8 and in 2009 went into leading the circuit and Brenda Mays beat me out by 1500 bucks, and that’s rodeo. Brenda and Jethro are an awesome team…..I won over $23,000 in 2009 and qualified to enter Houston Rodeo, placing in the first go and making it back for the finals. I also qualified for Dodge National Circuit Finals in Pocatello Idaho. Oh and I was second at Pendleton, real close. But the reality of it all for me, truly what brought tears to my eyes, was a moment I had at Pendleton when after my run I was back un saddling Dakota and a family came over and wanted their picture taken with me, that was when it really hit me, that this is what chasing your dream is all about, the people you touch along the way. I still to this day, get teary telling that…Me, really? I am really doing this? Dreams really do come true!
Me: O.k. now you’re getting me excited to keep trying and believing you’re such and inspiration and will continue to be. Have you always been interested in barrel racing?
Jana: Actually I am a California Polo Playing gal, haha! I played Polo from the ages 18-35. Went to Cal Poly in San Louis Obispo and rode polo horses all over California. My brother played polo as well as my dad. My dad played polo in the 1930’s, he played Indian Polo on the reservation. He played also in Boise, Spokane, Tacoma, Lake Oswego, polo was big back then and those horses are tough.
Me: Well Jana what can you possibly say in closing that this story hasn’t already said, what a great story you have to go along with such a great person
Jana: Honestly if I had to say one thing it would be that there is a little bit of everything involved I believe in chasing our true passions of life and trying to achieve our goals. The wonderful horses of Corse we are so privileged to have, the beauty of a country that allows us to do so much, the people and events that make us who we are today from a touch of fate as well as just plain keeping it real and enjoying where you are when you’re there…I love my friends and family and where I come from and am so grateful for it all. Dakota deserves so much credit, the little black mare with the heart bigger than life itself. With grit and talent and the will to win is more than one can ask for.
Me: Well I for one am so happy for you and again am so inspired by what you have done and the way you’ve done it. You have kept your spirit of kindness and appreciation alive without the process of your success and it is so wonderful to see how grateful you are. We can all get lost in the “fame” world I have seen it happen to many, but my prediction is you are one we’ll see around for a long time in this circle. You and Steve have great horses, I am proud to own two now, and you are both great people. Good luck to you always, may your travels be safe and very happy trails……………………………
