By KARI KRAMER | East Texas Edition

With years of rodeoing experience already under their belts, Jhett (left) and Jake Jackson of Quitman handled the Four States High School Rodeo Finals competition with ease. The brothers competed in goat tying and breakaway roping. Kids of various ages competed in events ranging from barrel racing to bull riding.  -- Staff photo by Kramer

June 15, 2006 - Jake and Jhett Jackson just might have been born to rodeo.

The boys, the son of Tracie and Jerry Jackson of Quitman, come from a rodeo lineage. Their maternal grandfather, Bill McCain if Idabel, Okla., still team ropes, and their parents met while rodeoing.

“My husband and I both rodeoed when we were younger,” recalled Tracie. “I always kind of hoped the boys would.”

As mom had hoped, the rodeo gene survived another generation. Jake, now 11, has been rodeoing competitively since he was 6. Jhett, now 9, started when he was only 4.

“Our dad got us into it and he knows a bunch,” said Jhett, who also shows chickens with his 4-H group.

Jhett Jackson, 9, gets some help from dad Jerry before the breakaway roping event begins. Jerry met his wife Tracie during rodeo competitions many years ago. -- Staff photo by Kramer

Both boys said their parents have never pushed them to rodeo, but have always been very supportive and helpful, even when the boys don’t do so well.

“They try and tell us what we did good,” said Jake.

Lately, they have been doing good. Going into the recent Four States High School Rodeo Association Finals competition at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center, Jake was ranked third all around in the 10-and-under division, third in goat tying, and second in breakaway roping. The younger Jackson, Jhett, was ranked 10th in goat tying and seventh in breakaway.

With all of the competitions (Four States held nearly 20 this year), there are bound to be some bad days, and Jake said handling a defeat can be difficult.

“The hardest part is being a good sport,” admitted Jake.

In addition, this year, the boys had to compete against each other. Jake, though now 11, was only 10 when the season started and compete against Jhett in the 10-and-under class. It created only a bit of uneasiness between the two.

“It’s kind of weird because we want the other to win, but then we want us to win,” explained Jhett.

Jake Jackson, 11, rides out of the arena following his turn at breakaway roping. Both boys are well adjusted to the challenges of competition, and caring for their horses at the events and at home. -- Staff photo by Kramer

But, “it hasn’t been too bad,” according to their mother. And, the two boys still practice together and offer each other advice.

Together, the boys have comfortably grown into the rodeo lifestyle of traveling on the weekends and mingling with younger and older children. In fact, they said they enjoy the experience, for different reasons.

“They have a lot of friends and a lot of fun,” said Tracie.

Jhett agreed that meeting people and making friends is his favorite part of the rodeo lifestyle.

Jake said more than that, he enjoys taking on the challenges each competition brings.

“I like the roping,” he said. “Sometimes it’s challenging and it makes you want to rope better.

“I just like having challenges.”

At 9 and 11, the two carry themselves like experienced cowboys: warming up their horses, loading their gear, putting their horses away. There is no awkward sense that among a crowd of high schoolers the Jackson boys are too young, too small, or too inexperienced. They are comfortable now, and later, they will be seasoned.

“A bunch of other kids don’t start roping at an early age,” noted Jake. “It’s a good thing we started young, because we’re pretty good.”

Still, both boys recognized that getting involved in such a large group like the Four States High School Rodeo Association can be intimidating. However, both said even getting a late start is nothing to be afraid of.

 “Just try your best and if you don’t like it, you’re not being forced to do it,” said Jake. “If it was easy, everyone would do it.”

 And while it has not always been easy, the demands of competing in two rodeo events, being actively involved in 4-H, and playing baseball, soccer and basketball have not caused the boys to buckle. In fact, Jhett said he plans on trying his hand in the team roping event in the next few years.

“I want to because of our Poppa,” he explained. “He’s a big team roper and I’ve always been with my mom’s side of the family a bunch.”

Regardless, both boys said they plan to continue rodeoing for a while.

“It gives us something to do besides laying around all day,” said Jake. 

Besides, it is going to take a lot of point money to buy that go-cart they’ve been eyeing.