Jacelyn Frost is carrying on a family tradition in rodeo, and she proved it with her fast time in breakaway roping.
(PHOTO BY PEGGY GANDER)

 

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – Rodeo is more than a family tradition for Jacelyn Frost.

It’s a way of life, and she’s living it. She’s a senior on the rodeo team at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, some 18 hours south of her hometown of Randlett, Utah. While Frost is studying to be a teacher, she understands rodeo will be in her future.

“I just love the lifestyle, the community, the drive of wanting to do good every single time, having to work hard for something,” said Frost, who stopped the clock in 2.1 seconds Thursday to take the breakaway roping lead during the opening performance of the Waller County Fair’s ProRodeo. “Just growing up around it, I love it.”

That passion is what drives her to compete. She’s focused on roping calves, but she grew up competing in multiple events – that’s somewhat of a family trait. Her older brothers, Joe, Josh and Jate, have been all-around hands, so she’s following suit. She’s competing in both breakaway roping and goat-tying while in college.

Her brothers were a bit of an oddity in the sport. All three have excelled in bull riding – Joe led the way, qualifying for the National Finals Rodeo for the first time in 2014. Josh followed suit with five NFR bids in six years, closing that streak with the coveted world championship in 2024. Jate has been among the top 35 each of the past two seasons.

“It’s pretty rare to see bull riders be calf ropers and steer wrestlers, but all my brothers have always done every event,” Jacelyn Frost said, noting that the family has celebrated Josh’s gold buckle over the past several months. “We’ve watched him work his entire life for this goal. We watched every single hard day, good day, and it was pretty amazing to be there to watch him accomplish what we all dream of.”

She’s certainly not resting on her brother’s accomplishments, and she has big goals. With Hempstead’s rodeo being the first of the 2026 campaign – the ProRodeo season runs from Oct. 1-Sept. 30 – she has hopes to build off this early success. When she’s not competing for Tarleton State, she’ll hit the road, including trips toward home to compete in the Wilderness Circuit, made up of rodeos and contestants primarily in Utah, Nevada and southern Idaho.

“I want to make the college finals in both goat-tying and breakaway, then make the Wilderness Circuit Finals and hopefully make it on to the (National Finals Breakaway Roping) next year,” Frost said.

Her confidence level is high, but much of that comes with experience. Another aspect is having the right kind of horsepower, and that comes from BB gun, an 18-year-old bay gelding.

“He’s really good, and he’s really nice in all short setups,” she said. “I actually bought another one a month ago that’s hopefully going to be my second string.”

Frost will need a team of great horses to make a run for the championship. To be one of the elite, it takes talent mixed with fortitude, because the road to the National Finals is long and winding. Being the youngest and the only girl has helped bring out the best in her.

“My brothers made me tough, but they also protect me,” Frost said.

Waller County Fair and Rodeo
Oct. 2-4
Hempstead, Texas
Bareback riding: 1. Colton Clemons, 80 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Fox Hole Gunner; 2. Kash Martin, 77; 3. Blayn Hughston, 73; 4. Daxtyn Feild, 72; no other qualified rides.

Steer wrestling: 1. Cade Goodman, 5.2 seconds; 2. Cody Harmon, 6.1; 3. Heath Thomas, 6.2; 4. Denell Henderson, 6.4; 5. Justin Shaffer, 6.8; 6. Boyd Sawyer, 7.6; 7. Trevor Crainer, 11.7; 8. Ryan Nettle, 18,1.

Team roping: 1. Zane Huffman/Bryce Bunting, 11.6 seconds; 2. Gabe Williams/Gus Mosley, 19.6; no other qualified runs.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Darcy Wockner, 83 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s; 2. Rig Smith, 81; 3. Spur, 79; 4. Waitley Sharon, 77.5; 5. Tom Webseter, 74; 6. Leon Fountain, 69; no other qualified rides.

Tie-down roping: 1. Conway Thomas, 10.2 seconds; 2. Neil Dove, 14.8; 3. Trevor Crainer, 19.6; 4. Colby Holt, 20.7; no other qualified rides.

Breakaway roping: 1. Jacelyn Frost, 2.1 seconds; 2. Jenna Fulton, 2.5; 3. Audrey Cunningham, 4.2; Clair Dale, 12.2; no other qualified runs.

Barrel racing: 1. Emma Parr, 15.67 seconds; 2. Ashlyn Goven, 15.69; 3. Jimmie Smith, 15.87; 4. Kaycee Thomas, 15.98; 5. Katie Halbert, 20.36; 6. Jordynn Knight, 20.81; no other qualified runs.

Bull riding: 1. Bryce Jensen, 85 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Ringo; 2. Dylan Rice, 77.5; no other qualified rides.