For J.C. Yeahquo and Kollin VonAhn, their stint of roping together was short but one for the history books as they took home Calgary Stampede’s Rocky Mountain Cup title July 10, 2024.
Yeahquo and VonAhn were both in need of runs in Calgary, Alberta, as their regular partners, Buddy Hawkins on the heels for Yeahquo and Andrew Ward heading for VonAhn, qualified for the NFR Open together. Their quick partnership paid off as Yeahquo and VonAhn both pocketed $16,292 a man for the Calgary win.
For 23-year-old Yeahquo, 2024 has been a fairytale year, winning Houston and Calgary, and now sitting No. 1 the world standings with $106,438.33 won on the year, thanks to Calgary. While it’s a dream come true, he never imagined he’d be in the position he’s in now.
“I’ve always dreamed of being in the spot that I am now, but I don’t even think I’ve dreamed of ever being as far up as I am,” Yeahquo said. “I’ve always dreamed of trying to make the Finals, and I’ve always just prayed about it. It seems like everything’s just opened up for me. I’ve got a good partner and got a bunch of good people backing me.”
For any contestant or rodeo fan, Calgary makes the list of prestigious rodeos that just mean more to win. But for team ropers like VonAhn, who never thought they’d get the chance to join in on “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth,” it holds more significance.
“There’s 10 rodeos that come to mind, and Calgary is one of them,” said two-time World Champion VonAhn. “Really, it didn’t matter how it played out; that’s a bucket list kind of rodeo. That was also my first time I’ve ever been to it, so to get to go and win it, if I never get to go back I at least get to check the box.”
Like Yeahquo, the Rocky Mountain Cup payday helped bump VonAhn, 41, to No. 8 in the world with $70,219.08 won thus far.
Plan B
Yeahquo grew up just 40 minutes from VonAhn in Oklahoma, so the two have made plenty of practice runs together. Despite knowing each other very well, they had never entered a rodeo together. With their regular partners in Colorado Springs, they finally got the chance in Calgary.
“We’ve gotten to practice quite a few times but never even talked about roping until we needed partners for Calgary,” Yeahquo, 23, said. “We’ve never entered a rodeo together, but we’ve entered several jackpots and had a lot of practice runs together. So it’s awesome; Kollin’s an awesome guy. He’s an art with a horse and a heel rope.”
Yeahquo and VonAhn paired up for the Central Wyoming Fair and PRCA Rodeo in Casper and the Rocky Mountain Cup. Knowing J.C.’s ability to rope fast, VonAhn had no doubt they could be fast in Calgary.
“One thing about him is he’s a really aggressive roper that reaches really well, so going fast is what he does and what he’s really good at,” VonAhn said of Yeahquo. “He’s very good. I mean, he’s probably winning the world again. So, I give him all the credit for that. That kid ropes awesome. He’s a fast guy, and it’s pretty easy for me to do my job.”
Calgary setup
The Rocky Mountain Cup’s Nutrien Western Event Centre is an indoor arena set up for fast runs.
“It’s pretty friendly,” VonAhn said. “It’s a good arena with plenty of room and then the barrier’s short, good steers. It’s supposed to be pretty fast in there.”
For Yeahquo, a fast setup fits his roping style to a T.
“I thought it was perfect,” Yeahquo said. “That’s kind of my style of roping—going fast—so I just loved it. I was telling Kollin, I’ve never practiced for just catching them, I’ve always practiced for going fast.”
Yeahquo and VonAhn kicked off the Rocky Mountain Cup tying for second and third in the first round with a 4.1 for $1,711 a man. They found themselves tied again in Round 2, this time for third, fourth, fifth and sixth, after a 4.3 to pocket $1,156 each. With an 8.2 on two head, they advanced to the eight-man Semifinals.
Yeahquo and VonAhn stopped the clock in 5.2 seconds to nab second place for $925 a man and secure one of the four spots in the Showdown Round. The clean-slate round saw Yeahquo and VonAhn take the Rocky Mountain Cup win with a 4.1-second run for $12,500 a man.
Calgary horsepower
For the five-head battle, Yeahquo called on his sorrel gelding El Chapo whom he felt was made for the Calgary setup.
“He felt amazing,” Yeahquo said. “That’s the perfect setup for that horse. He’s not very big—he’s under 15 hands, and he moves his feet so good.
VonAhn also called on a sorrel gelding, one he calls Juicy. Like El Chapo, the quicker, rodeo setup fits Juicy well,
“He’s really good at that stuff,” VonAhn said. “I’ve rodeoed on that horse quite a bit, and that’s what I think he’s probably the best at—that kind of quicker kind of stuff.”
Back to normal
Yeahquo and VonAhn are back roping with their regular partners, Ward and Hawkins. While Yeahquo and VonAhn have both picked up spectacular wins, like Houston for Yeahquo, Reno for VonAhn and now Calgary for both, VonAhn knows not to get too caught up in the highs.
“The one thing about this deal is, you better not get too damn excited,” VonAhn said with a laugh. “It goes the other way fast. But I’m grateful for sure. I’ve done this long enough to understand that stuff like this, I don’t care how good you are, it doesn’t happen all the time.”
Yeahquo and VonAhn will both rope next in Cheyenne, July 14, back with their usual partners.
