Jess Pope Snares La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Title in Tucson
For Jess Pope, it’s all about the next ride. The Kansas native spends little time reminiscing.
The strategy has rewarded Pope with plenty of success, including his most recent victory Feb. 27, in Tucson (Ariz.) at the La Fiesta de los Vaqueros.
The bareback rider claimed the average title with 179.5 points and earned $7,858 at the NFR Playoff Series presented by Pendleton Whisky rodeo.
Pope secured his victory with a 90-point ride in the finals on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Nutrena’s Tic Tac. He had familiarity with his matchup.
“That’s a really, really good horse. I was excited to have her,” Pope said. “I got on her three years ago at Burwell (Neb.) and she never has the same trip. She makes you work for what you’re doing just because you don’t know where she’s going next. But she bucks hard and she’s the kind of horses I like to get on.”
In round one, Pope topped the leaderboard with an 89.5-point ride on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Pendleton Whisky’s South Suds. The ride earned the cowboy $3,304.
The recent success goes beyond Tucson. In his last six rides, he has earned money in each of them, averaging a score of 87.5 points. Pope believes he is hitting his stride.
“I feel really good,” Pope said. “I feel like I’m riding really good, and the hardest part is drawing well. I’ve been fortunate this year so far to draw really good. I’m excited to keep going forward one horse at a time and see what happens.”
Pope has fallen shy of the gold buckle each of the past two years, finishing third in 2020 and second in 2021. For a world title to come to fruition, the two-time NFR qualifier believes he needs to keep the competition inside the chute.
“I’m not competing against anyone else but myself and the horse that I’m getting on,” Pope said. “I want to win a world title really bad but I’m not competing against anyone else for it but myself.”
With his next stop at RodeoHouston on the horizon, Pope continues to keep a narrow focus.
“After I get done with one, it’s in the past and I look forward to the next one. The windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror,” Pope said. “I just try and keep things pretty simple. I worry about what’s right in front of me.”
Other winners at the $341,646 rodeo were steer wrestler J.D. Struxness (9.5 seconds on two head); team ropers Josh Siggins/Junior Zambrano (20.1 seconds on three head); saddle bronc rider Brody Cress (178 points on two head); tie-down roper Lane Livingston (17.8 seconds on two head); barrel racer Steely Steiner (34.61 seconds on two head); and bull rider Trey Kimzey (167.5 points on two head).