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Betty Mae Jumper, Bill Osceola rodeos light up Hollywood Reservation

by Kevin Johnson -

HOLLYWOOD — The 2020 season of the Eastern Rodeo Indian Association kicked off in early February.

The series will make stops at Seminole reservations throughout the coming months.

Hollywood led off the season with two weekends of action-packed riding in the rodeo arena tucked in the southeast corner of Seminole Estates.

The annual Betty Mae Jumper Memorial Rodeo on Feb. 1 and the Bill Osceola Memorial Rodeo on Feb. 8 were held on consecutive Saturdays.

  • Blevyns Jumper is all business as he competes in calf roping at the Betty Mae Jumper Memorial Rodeo on Feb. 1 on the Hollywood Reservation. Jumper is a great-grandson of Betty Mae Jumper. (Photo Kevin Johnson)
  • With the Guitar Hotel in the background, Boogie Johns and her horse sprint toward the finish line in ladies barrel racing Feb. 1 in the Betty Mae Jumper Memorial Rodeo on the Hollywood Reservation. (Photo Kevin Johnson)
  • Justin Gopher gets a quick start out of the gate as the header in team roping at the Betty Mae Jumper Memorial Rodeo. (Photo Kevin Johnson)
  • LeAnna Billie competes in ladies breakaway. (Photo Kevin Johnson)
  • As his cowboy hat flies off, Andre Jumper, a great-grandson of Betty Mae Jumper, focuses on roping a calf during the Betty Mae Jumper Memorial Rodeo. (Photo Kevin Johnson)
  • There’s plenty of action in the pens as order is kept. (Photo Kevin Johnson)

Each featured afternoon sessions with kids ranging from age 4 to late teens, some learning the skills of rodeo for the first time while others honed their already-established talents.

Nightfall brought on the lights and brought out the adults.

For the first time at the rodeos in Hollywood, the nearby Guitar Hotel was lit up, providing an impressive backdrop for the cowboys and cowgirls.

Some of the early season standouts through two rodeos included Jaylee Wilcox, who opened the junior barrels season with a win at the Betty Mae and second place at the Bill Osceola.

Robbie Inman was a double winner at the Betty Mae as he finished first in senior breakaway and senior team roping.

Bryton Edmondson won steer wrestling in both rodeos.

Blevyns Jumper won calf roping at the Betty Mae and finished second in steer wrestling.

  • Robi Jo Treat is in good position in ladies breakaway at the Bill Osceola Memorial Rodeo. (Photo Pete Barrett )
  • Youngsters learn rodeo skills at an early age thanks to the EIRA’s kids rodeo sessions, such as this one overseen by Moses Jumper Jr. on Feb. 1 at the Bill Osceola Memorial Rodeo. (Photo Analicia Austin)
Peter Barrett (3)
Eastern Indian Rodeo Association royalty takes a lap around the arena at the start of the Bill Osceola Memorial Rodeo on Feb. 8 in Hollywood. From left, Dayra Koenes (Senior Rodeo Queen), Canaan Jumper, center, (Jr. Rodeo Queen) and Rylie Bowers, right, (Little Miss Rodeo Queen).
  • Kalgary Johns and her horse make a tight turn around a barrell during the Bill Osceola Memorial Rodeo on Feb. 8 in Hollywood. (Photo Pete Barrett)
  • Chunky Osceola shows good form during the Bill Osceola Memorial Rodeo. (Photo Analicia Austin)
  • Caden Bunch keeps his balance as he rides a bull during the Bill Osceola Memorial Rodeo. (Photo Pete Barrett)
  • It’s full speed ahead for Caden Jumper during the youth session at the Bill Osceola Memorial Rodeo. (Photo Analicia Austin)
Kevin Johnson
Kevin Johnson is senior editor. He has worked for The Seminole Tribune since 2014. He was previously an editor, photographer and reporter for newspapers in Southwest Florida and Connecticut. Contact Kevin at kevinjohnson@semtribe.com.
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