All-around champions earn redemption at Kayenta Fourth of July Rodeo

KAYENTA

The winners of the men’s and women’s all-round champions at the 2025 Kayenta Fourth of July Rodeo were seeking out redemption in their respective ways on Saturday night.

Vanderwagen, New Mexico cowboy Braydon Boyd secured the men’s all-around title by placing in three events he entered while Crownpoint cowgirl Kadin Jodie did the same in her two events.

“This means a lot because 10 years ago I broke my leg here at this rodeo,” Boyd said. “I was finally able to get some redemption tonight, and to actually come back to this rodeo and capitalize means a lot.”

For Jodie, she had a disappointing finish with her short round calf in the breakaway roping, but the 20 year-old bounced back by winning the ladies team roping average crown with heeling partner Serena Dahozy.

“The breakaway didn’t go the way I planned for it,” Jodie said. “I roped the back leg and so I wanted to get redemption from that and turn (the steer) for my partner so that she gets a chance too.”

The duo entered Saturday’s short round as the second high call back team after posting a 14.01 run in the long go, which included a 5-second penalty.

In the short round though, they closed out this year’s Kayenta rodeo with a clean 8.60 run, earning them the average title of 22.61 seconds.

“We had a slow steer, so I made sure to let him move all the way out before I caught him,” Jodie said. “I had to catch his neck because he had small horns. And when I turned him, she (Dahozy) did her job and we ended up being an 8, and we ended up winning the round and the average.”

Dahozy said they recognized the steer’s speed beforehand and they produced a game plan.

“From what we heard from the previous performances, we knew we had a slow steer,” the Fort Defiance cowgirl said. “It can be a little tricky, but we got it done and Kadin was ready for it.”

They finished ahead of the second-place team of Heather Rogers and McKenzie Gunter (27.31) as the Rogers/Gunter team won the long go with a 13.43 run. The team of Racey Blackrock and Autumn Lee placed third in the average with a 30.59 aggregate.

Dahozy, who celebrated a birthday last month, was also in the running for the women’s all-around title. But like her heading partner, she missed her short round calf in the breakaway roping as eight of the 12 qualifiers posted no times.

“I was kind of far down the line, so I was thinking everyone was going to rope up,” she said. “I didn’t think it was going to fall apart like it did and that is why I was trying to rope it quick.”

Ganado cowgirl Taniah Nez won the breakaway with an aggregate of 6.50 seconds on two heads. Sincere Ward came in second at 7.86 followed by Kayla Thomas (7.97) and Arianna Jones (8.86).

Nez won the long go with a 2.25 run while Ward placed first in the short round with a 3.68 effort.

In Boyd’s road to redemption, the 28-year old cowboy finished fourth in the average race in the tie-down, steer wrestling and team roping events.

In the tie-down, Boyd placed fourth in the long go with a 12.08 run and he followed that up with a 13.36 run for an aggregate of 25.44 seconds.

“I had a big calf and I thought he was better, but he was just a little stronger tonight,” Boyd said. “I went out there and I just tried to make the best run that I can, and I tried not to beat myself.”

Lukachukai cowboy Michael Williams won the average with a 23.44 effort on two heads. Chinle’s Gavaro Harrison took second with a 23.54 aggregate followed by Noah Haven (24.23) and Boyd.

In the team roping, Boyd teamed up with Kyle Little and after two rounds they produced a 16.18 aggregate.

“We were kind of long in the first round when we were a seven, so I just wanted to get another steer caught,” Boyd said.

The team of Chance Littleben and Trail Yazzie won the two rounds for an aggregate of 12.10 seconds

Westley Benally netted second and third in the average race with partners Hank Benally and Andre Beard, respectively, with times of 12.47 and 12.79.

Boyd added a second-place finish of 6.97 seconds in the steer wrestling short round as he was one of four bulldoggers to get drawback despite posting a no time in the long go round.

“I drew a strong steer and went out there and put the best run that I could,” Boyd said.

Sheridan Jodie emerged as the champion with an 11.66 aggregate in the steer wrestling, which included a runner-up finish of 5.79 in the long go and a first place run of 5.79 in the short round.

Matt Jodie took second in the average with a 15.76 aggregate followed by Tydon Tsosie (21.79) and Brandon Bates (32.10).

“It was pretty cool to watch him win,” Kadin Jodie said of her dad, Sheridan. “I always came here watching my dad steer wrestling and it’s really nice that we both won.”

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