Daughter living up to family name in rodeo

Eight times, Jordon Peterson watched her mom, Kristie, compete in the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in barrel racing. On Thursday, the second Peterson generation will hit the Thomas & Mack Center dirt as the 51st NFR starts its annual 10-day run to crown the season’s champions.

This year, it’s Mom, the four-time world champ, in the stands.

“I just remember Las Vegas was a blast, and the coolest town to have a rodeo in,” said Jordon, born in Colorado Springs on Aug. 9, 1988. “I’m excited to be able to go and do it myself and even more excited to know my parents will be watching, too.”

Watching rodeo’s championship event on TV seemed the most likely bet for Peterson heading into the season, her first as a full-time pro. Despite her youth, her ace in the hole is her horse, Jester, who has bloodlines to Bozo, the renowned horse that teamed with Kristie Peterson to bring world championships to Elbert in 1994 and 1996-98.

Instead, Peterson finished fifth in the regular season, winning $92,049 and among those in the hunt for the world title, based on annual earnings at the conclusion of the NFR.

“Everything I wanted to accomplish went a lot better than I thought,” Peterson said. “I didn’t think about making the NFR in my first year. For now, I just want to maintain the thought that I’m happy to be there and hopefully, take it as a learning experience, so the next time I’m back, I’ll know what to expect.”

For now, every run the younger Peterson makes links her with history, and while she can, she soaks it up.

“When I’m at a rodeo, they announce me as Kristie Peterson’s daughter,” Jordon Peterson said. “I look at it as a positive. I’m so grateful I have someone in my life like that. My mom is the main person I look up to. She’s such a down-to-earth, humble person, and I’m fortunate to have awesome horses and an awesome teacher. I appreciate everything I have.”

Kristie Peterson ended her competitive career in 2002 and left Elbert for a ranch in Chilton, Texas, located south of Waco. Jordon also moved to Chilton but many family members remain near Elbert.

For Jordon, the Peterson days are about to end, but not the legacy.

In March, Peterson will marry Justin Briggs, a former team roper at Tarleton State in Stephenville, Texas. Without hesitation, Peterson made a commitment to the future — without hyphens.

“I’ll be Jordon Briggs,” she said. “It’s time people get to know me by my new name.”