Article & photos by Nancy Brannon
The Show Place Arena in Memphis, TN was hopping with activity on leap year 2020 weekend, February 28-March 1, as the seventh annual St. Jude Barrel Jam attracted hundreds of folks from all over the U.S. and Canada. “It’s our biggest event ever,” said manager Katie White. This year’s Barrel Jam celebrated a momentous event with cake for everyone: since 2015 Barrel Jam has raised $1million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. While the exact figures for this year’s Barrel Jam weren’t in at press time, it was estimated that this event raised close to $200,000 for St. Jude.
Barrel racing competition got underway on Friday night, February 28, with the $2,000 added Open. The 1D winner was Bailey Belcher from Brooks, KY on Picket Coin Five with an amazing time of 14.186, which was the fastest of the weekend. Jimmie Cagle of Fayetteville, TN with Victorious Dash was second at 14.448. Belcher also won the Friday Youth Sidepot. Friday’s Adult 1D Sidepot winner was Alexandria Skipworth of Danville, AL on Perfect Definition in a time of 14.507. And Darlene Schober of Mountain Grove, MO, on Little Honory Streak, took the Friday Masters 1D Sidepot with a time of 14.763.
On Saturday – leap day – the Future Legends entered the arena at 10 a.m. with a $250 added purse. Jenna Claire Orman from Wynne, AR on Sonja took the top 1D slot over 67 other entries in 15.010 seconds.
At 11 a.m. the Mission Moment featured two families telling their personal stories of how they had benefitted from the valuable cancer/health care that St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital provided them. After some heart-wrenching moments, the $2,500 added Open competition began with over 500 entries!
Saturday afternoon’s Open attracted 547 entries and Bailey Belcher, once again, took the top 1D prize on Pocket Coin Five – this time in 14.266 seconds. Bert Skimehorn of Springfield, TN on Alice Coachman was a close second in 14.297 seconds. Belcher was also the Youth Sidepot 1D winner on Pocket Coin Five. Skimehorn was tops in the Adult 1D Sidepot with his 14.297 time. Saturday Masters 1D Sidepot winner was Darlene Schober on Little Honory Streak with a time of 14.520.
Saturday afternoon’s Michel Otten Memorial Pole Bending collected 90 entries, with Josh Morton of Jackson, TN on Redneck Wheels taking the win in 20.117 seconds. Wendy Warren of Florence, MS on Wonder Look CC was second with a time of 20.354.
Sunday started with Cowboy Church and at 9 a.m. the Future Legends were back in the arena. This day, Kally Runions of Columbia, TN rode Freckles Sunset Girl to the 1D win with a time of 14.540. Kaylee Childress of Starkville, MS and VF Famous Chrissy was second in 14.674 seconds. Taking first in the 12 and Under Average Future Legends 1D was Crystal Mason of Mt. Washington, KY on Striking Fanthom with an average time of 15.026.
Following them was the final run of the $2,500 added Open. Adriana Jones of Granada, MS on Firen The Fame won the 1D in 14.230 seconds. Adriana was also the Sunday Adult Sidepot 1D winner and Alexandria Skipworth and Perfect Definition were second in the Adult Sidepot with a time of 14.379 seconds. Bailey Belcher was second in the Open on Pocket Coin Five with 14.344 on the clock. Bailey was also the Sunday Youth Sidepot 1D winner and the Open Average winner with an average time of 14.305. Darlene Schober and Little Honory Streak were the Sunday Masters Sidepot 1D winners with a time of 14.370, and second in the Average with an average time of 14.305.
There were additional fundraising efforts for St. Jude that included a stallion auction, a silent auction, which was both in house and online, and awards to the largest fundraising individuals for St. Jude. Some of the stallions in the auction were Frenchmans Feature, Dash Ta Fame, Frenchmans Got Perks, Royal and Famous, Kickin Ta Fame, Jettastic, and more. The stallion auction raised more than $30,000 for St. Jude. The silent auction featured hundreds of horse-related items that filled several tables at the entrance to the arena. “All the money from the silent auction goes straight to St. Jude,” said Katie White. There were also T-shirts, sweat shirts, and other St. Jude Barrel Jam swag for sale. Funds raised for St. Jude were $130,968.
Find full results of the weekend’s St. Jude Barrel Jam at barreljam.com. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital continues to lead the way the world understands, treats, and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
The Show Place Arena in Memphis, TN was hopping with activity on leap year 2020 weekend, February 28-March 1, as the seventh annual St. Jude Barrel Jam attracted hundreds of folks from all over the U.S. and Canada. “It’s our biggest event ever,” said manager Katie White. This year’s Barrel Jam celebrated a momentous event with cake for everyone: since 2015 Barrel Jam has raised $1million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. While the exact figures for this year’s Barrel Jam weren’t in at press time, it was estimated that this event raised close to $200,000 for St. Jude.
Barrel racing competition got underway on Friday night, February 28, with the $2,000 added Open. The 1D winner was Bailey Belcher from Brooks, KY on Picket Coin Five with an amazing time of 14.186, which was the fastest of the weekend. Jimmie Cagle of Fayetteville, TN with Victorious Dash was second at 14.448. Belcher also won the Friday Youth Sidepot. Friday’s Adult 1D Sidepot winner was Alexandria Skipworth of Danville, AL on Perfect Definition in a time of 14.507. And Darlene Schober of Mountain Grove, MO, on Little Honory Streak, took the Friday Masters 1D Sidepot with a time of 14.763.
On Saturday – leap day – the Future Legends entered the arena at 10 a.m. with a $250 added purse. Jenna Claire Orman from Wynne, AR on Sonja took the top 1D slot over 67 other entries in 15.010 seconds.
At 11 a.m. the Mission Moment featured two families telling their personal stories of how they had benefitted from the valuable cancer/health care that St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital provided them. After some heart-wrenching moments, the $2,500 added Open competition began with over 500 entries!
Saturday afternoon’s Open attracted 547 entries and Bailey Belcher, once again, took the top 1D prize on Pocket Coin Five – this time in 14.266 seconds. Bert Skimehorn of Springfield, TN on Alice Coachman was a close second in 14.297 seconds. Belcher was also the Youth Sidepot 1D winner on Pocket Coin Five. Skimehorn was tops in the Adult 1D Sidepot with his 14.297 time. Saturday Masters 1D Sidepot winner was Darlene Schober on Little Honory Streak with a time of 14.520.
Saturday afternoon’s Michel Otten Memorial Pole Bending collected 90 entries, with Josh Morton of Jackson, TN on Redneck Wheels taking the win in 20.117 seconds. Wendy Warren of Florence, MS on Wonder Look CC was second with a time of 20.354.
Sunday started with Cowboy Church and at 9 a.m. the Future Legends were back in the arena. This day, Kally Runions of Columbia, TN rode Freckles Sunset Girl to the 1D win with a time of 14.540. Kaylee Childress of Starkville, MS and VF Famous Chrissy was second in 14.674 seconds. Taking first in the 12 and Under Average Future Legends 1D was Crystal Mason of Mt. Washington, KY on Striking Fanthom with an average time of 15.026.
Following them was the final run of the $2,500 added Open. Adriana Jones of Granada, MS on Firen The Fame won the 1D in 14.230 seconds. Adriana was also the Sunday Adult Sidepot 1D winner and Alexandria Skipworth and Perfect Definition were second in the Adult Sidepot with a time of 14.379 seconds. Bailey Belcher was second in the Open on Pocket Coin Five with 14.344 on the clock. Bailey was also the Sunday Youth Sidepot 1D winner and the Open Average winner with an average time of 14.305. Darlene Schober and Little Honory Streak were the Sunday Masters Sidepot 1D winners with a time of 14.370, and second in the Average with an average time of 14.305.
There were additional fundraising efforts for St. Jude that included a stallion auction, a silent auction, which was both in house and online, and awards to the largest fundraising individuals for St. Jude. Some of the stallions in the auction were Frenchmans Feature, Dash Ta Fame, Frenchmans Got Perks, Royal and Famous, Kickin Ta Fame, Jettastic, and more. The stallion auction raised more than $30,000 for St. Jude. The silent auction featured hundreds of horse-related items that filled several tables at the entrance to the arena. “All the money from the silent auction goes straight to St. Jude,” said Katie White. There were also T-shirts, sweat shirts, and other St. Jude Barrel Jam swag for sale. Funds raised for St. Jude were $130,968.
Find full results of the weekend’s St. Jude Barrel Jam at barreljam.com. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital continues to lead the way the world understands, treats, and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
