Hudspeth Girls Travel to South Carolina for Shot at Title

Sunday, July 25, 2010 - David W. Ryan

For Jordan and Bethany Hudspeth of Jena, separated by three years in age, competing against each other has seldom been a problem. From youth rodeos, play days, and 4-H competition, each claim their fair share of winning.

However, this potential rivalry will be put to the full test this coming week as the girls travel to Clemson, South Carolina to compete in the Southern Regional 4-H Finals – heads up!

This past month 12 year old Bethany won 1st in the Breakaway roping at the State 4-H Horse show held in West Monroe, La., with a blazing time of 3.244 seconds in the 13 and under age group. It was her second state title in as many years.

Meanwhile, 15 year old Jordon was flashing the rope to the tune of 2.692 seconds in the 14 and older division, good enough for second place. Moments later the Hudspeth family learned the young man who won the Breakaway event with a 1.9 seconds had a conflict with the Regional’s and the National High School Finals, which he had already made plans to attend.

His conflict meant older sister would move up to first place and move on to the Finals. In the 4-H Finals there is no age or gender separation. The Hudspeth girls will compete head to head for all the marbles.

Laying the Foundation

While their parents, Dr. Kelly Hudspeth, owner of Catahoula Vet Clinic in Jonesville, and Dave Allen Hudspeth, looked around for various rodeo coaches, they found various levels of success.

It wasn’t until Dave Allen had a conversation with Olin Young, that the foundation would be set.

Young, a strapping 6’3” outdoorsman, who lives just across the Catahoula Parish line in LaSalle Parish, was in his late 60s when Dave Allen approached him about teaching his two young girls how to rope.

Turns out, Young was a two time world champion steer roper from Lovington, New Mexico who completed on the pro rodeo circuit for 30 years. In 18 of those years he was in the Top 10 in either steer or calf roping.

“I told him to give me a few days to think about,” Young explained. “I thought about it and knew the girls would be good students; so I said yes.”

Religiously, the girls, ages 7 and 10 at the time, would show up for lessons, demonstrations, and opportunities, that Young thought would keep his young protégés always grasping for more.

Turns out the hardest lesson of all was the “tip down” which always brings laughter to the group now and which Bethany explains of the technique.

“I had my hand up (twirling the rope around with her wrist),” Bethany said as she stretched upward with her right hand to demonstrate the process, “And I knew I had the tip of my hand up! It just turns out he wanted the tip of the rope to be down.”

And so with that one lesson, the creation of a state champion was in the works starting from throwing a rope at the ground, before ever climbing on a horse for these lessons.

The duo moved on to buckets and calf heads on square bales of hay before graduating to the real thing.

Young noted the pair’s ascent was not unlike any other sports athlete, “It’s about a specific technique and repetition. You know practice, practice, practice.”

Ironically, Young said his dad taught him well but he may have learned the most from another two time World Champion calf roper, Troy Fort, who lived just down the road from Young.

When asked about the single most important thing that comes to mind from Young’s lessons, Jordon said perseverance and Bethany agreed.

“He always wanted us to be consistent and to stick with whatever we were doing no matter how much we might want to quit or give up,” Jordon said. “Do the best we could every time.”

Now, a little more than five years after those fist lessons, the Hudspeth duo, travel to South Carolina to face each other with the potential for a national title.

“We know we are competing against each other but we look at it as our family has two chances to win,” Jordan said with confidence.

While Bethany took the even more optimistic view: “We are going to hope for a tie but if that doesn’t happen, finishing 1st and 2nd would be the next best thing.”

(In the Banner is Jordon (from left), Dr. Kelly Hudspeth, Letha and Olin Young, Dave Allen Hudspeth and Bethany)

Although separated by three years Jordon, 15, (left) and Bethany will travel to South Carolina for a chance at the National 4-H Finals in Breakway Roping against each other.

Olin Young, a two time national steer roping champion, is credited by the Hudspeths for laying the foudation for their daughters' roping skills.

Jordon (left) and Bethany pose with thier coach of the last five years.

Seven year old Bethany begins her training with Mr. Young.

Jordon takes her turn as Mr. Young keeps a close eye on the girls technique.

Bethany, Mr. Olin, and her dad, Dave finishing up lessons at the Hudspeth pen.

Bethany catches her calf.

Bethany with another catch.

Bethany, who is a two time defending 4-H state champion is shown here roping in district competition.

Jordon make another successful rope.

Jordan makes another perfect throw to wrap up this calf.

Jordon prepares to rope this calf in district competition.

The last two photos show Mr. Olin Young during the National Finals Rodeo where he won his first World Championship in Steer Roping.