J.J. Hampton

17 Time PWRA World Champion Cowgirl

JJ grew up competing in junior rodeos in barrel racing, goat tying and breakaway roping. JJ dropped barrel racing by the time she was in the 5th or 6th grades and concentrated on goat tying and breakaway roping throughout her college years. JJ competed in high school rodeo and would often win at the high school rodeos but reflecting back feels she was not as consistent catching and winning as compared to today. JJ soon found herself enrolled at Howard Junior College in Big Spring, Texas. After one semester with her grandfather getting sick, JJ felt the need to return home to Stephenville, Texas and was soon enrolled in Tarleton State University.

JJ’s rodeo coach in college was Randy Majors and she was blessed to be on a team with Schelli Creacy, Randy was a member of the 1968 NIRA Men’s Champion Team. JJ qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in 1991 and has fond memories of Shelly Creasy as a strong teammate that year. JJ still wears a buckle she won during her collegiate rodeo years when her grandfather was alive that is extra special to her. Some of her fondest memories in college is having that feeling of everyone pulling for each other and rooting each other on for the team. “Making great lifetime friends and meeting all the people I know is my greatest treasure of college rodeo,” stated JJ.

While attending Tarleton JJ had aspirations of eventually going to Law School. She graduated Tarleton with honors in criminal justice. Her first attempt at taking the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) was unsuccessful. So after graduation, JJ decided to hit the road competing in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) rodeos. Her events included: breakaway roping, team roping, and tie down roping.