Jan Youren (born 1943 in Boise, Idaho) is an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

former professional

rodeo Rodeo () is a competitive equestrian sport that arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain and Mexico, expanding throughout the Americas and to other nations. It was originally based on the skills required of the working va ...

cowgirl. She rode bareback horses and bulls, competing for 51 years and winning several world titles. She rodeoed until the age of 63, when she retired with five world championships in

bareback bronc riding Bronc riding, either bareback bronc or saddle bronc competition, is a rodeo event that involves a rodeo participant riding a bucking horse (sometimes called a ''bronc'' or ''bronco'') that attempts to throw or buck off the rider. Originally ba ...

, 13 reserve championships in bareback, and 15 reserve championships in bull riding. She was inducted into the

Cowgirl Hall of Fame The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame is located in Fort Worth, Texas, US. Established in 1975, it is dedicated to honoring women of the American West who have displayed extraordinary courage and pioneering fortitude. The museum is an educ ...

in 1993. She was inducted into the

Idaho Rodeo Hall of Fame The Idaho Rodeo Hall of Fame is a rodeo cowboy hall of fame. The hall of fame was established in 2013. History The Idaho Rodeo Hall of Fame was established as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization on May 6, 2013. Lonnie and Charmy LeaVell are th ...

in 2015.

Life

Jan Youren was born in 1943 near

Garden Valley, Idaho Garden Valley is an unincorporated census-designated place in Boise County, Idaho, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 394. The mountain setting and recreation opportunities attract visitors from the Boise area. Life there du ...

. Youren's father was a rodeo competitor. He competed in

, bull riding, and wild horse racing. Youren was riding calves when she was about five years old, mostly at the Cattleman's convention. When she was 11 years old, her father came home saying that he had seen something she would really like. He explained about the girls riding bareback broncs and horses who were competing in a rodeo the same way men did. Sterling Alley, her father, put on his own rodeo for Youren just so she could ride. For Idaho, it was one of the first. “He entered me in every event. I’d never even seen a barrel race at that time,” she said. “I would have done anything for my dad, anything to get a little higher in my daddy’s eyes.” Regardless of her age and inexperience, she won the bareback brong riding and the cowriding events. Youren became dedicated to the bareback bronc riding event since her first ride. She won her first prize at the age of 11, in one of Idaho’s first rodeos for women.

Career

Youren and some others established the Idaho Girls Rodeo Association. She also joined the Girls Northwest Rodeo Association when it was formed in 1957. In the beginning, Youren competed locally in a 600 mile radius. Starting in 1975, she joined the association that became today's Women's Professional Rodeo Association. She started competing in trips up to 1,500 miles long. While still competing, she got married (four times total). She bore 15 children. Youren has eight children, seven stepchildren, 64 grandchildren and over 100 great grandchildren. Her children sometimes traveled with her.

Retirement

She rodeoed until the age of 63, when she retired with five world championships in bareback bronc riding, 13 reserve championships in bareback bronc riding, and 15 reserve championships in bull riding.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Youren, Jan 1943 births Living people Bareback bronc riders Bull riders American female equestrians Cowgirl Hall of Fame inductees 21st-century American women