The Resource January 2014 Volume 1 Issue 001 | Page 18

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ince he was ten-years old, Donovan Yazzie has been laying the
groundwork for a thriving career as
an all-around rodeo champion. In
2000, he upped the ante and decided
to compete as a professional within
the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association after competing in the local
rodeo circuits here on the Navajo Nation as a tie-down, steer wrestler and
team roper.

Yazzie is originally from
Teesto, Ariz., and now rides in Coyote
Canyon, N.M. As a third-generation
cowboy he is no stranger to the sport
of rodeo. Much of his success can be
credited to his late grandfather, James
Begay Sr., who served as the guiding
vessel for the rest of the family with
his sons James Jr. and Dennis following their father’s footsteps. By tagging
along with his uncles while growing
up, Yazzie gained exposure to the
rodeo lifestyle and it was where he
learned the ropes of roping.

It has become clear his son,
Hadley, is adding to the legacy. Last
summer his son competed in the National Junior High Finals Rodeo as a
member of the New Mexico Junior
High Rodeo Association.

“I have now become that person the younger generation looks up
to, and it is my job to ensure I set a

18

January 2014 issue 001

positive outlook on what I do,” Yazzie Turquoise Circuit. More importantly,
said.
though, he is now headed to his first

With an outstanding resume Ram National Finals Rodeo in the tiewhile competing in the local rodeo down event.”Winning the All Around
circuit, Yazzie knew that it was time Title is a great accomplishment, and
for him to compete at the professional with my performance at Payson gave
level. With that said he set out a plan me the edge and moved me up in the
with some short- and long-term goals standings pretty fast,” states Yazzie.
in mind. After purchasing his PRCA “It motivates me to enter more than
card, Yazzie’s short-term goal was to one event every time, but in order to
hit as many circuit rodeos and quali- do so I have to win every time too.”
fy for the Turquoise Circuit Finals in
“This is only the beginning
hopes of qualifyof my long term
“I have now become
ing for the PRCA
goal,”
states
Ram
National that person the younger Donovan. “It is a
Circuit
Finals
huge investment,
generation looks up
Rodeo to be held
but I am willin April 2014.
ing to take the
to, and it is my job to
His ultimate goal
chance to perseensure I set a positive vere, I have done
is to qualify for
the Wrangler Naoutlook on what I do” this all my life
tional Finals Roand have come
deo in the tie-down event.
this far, so there is no turning back,

Last October 5-7, 2013, but more importantly this is my job it
Yazzie achieved one of his goals and puts food on the table and supports my
entered the PRCA Turquoise Circuit family.”
Finals in Las Cruces, N.M. leading
Leading up to the Turquoise
the all-around race. At the conclu- Circuit finals, Yazzie won the allsion of the three-day event, Yazzie around crown at the World’s Oldest
finished in first-place in the tie-down Continuous Rodeo by placing in both
event after roping and tying three the tie-down and steer wrestling event
draws in 28.2 seconds. This win was at the annual Payson, Ariz., event in
pretty significant since it helped him August of 2013. He continued on the
win the all-around title within the rodeo trail as he garnered yet anoth-

er all-around cowboy title at AIRCA
championship finals held in Farmington, NM. He won the average race in
the tie-down event with an aggregate
of 33.4 seconds while placing third in
one round in the steer wrestling, which
earned him a spot at the International Indian Finals Rodeo in San Carlos,
Arizona. At this years Navajo Nation
Fair, he added another all-around title
to list of accomplis Y[