“I love to announce. You get to be up close and personal. There is nothing like watching a three-year-old riding a sheep and then watching him at nine years old riding a steer,” said Jody with a smile. Jody believes with announcing as a job, she is able to see the riders and rodeo personnel on a more intimate level than the audience might. “When I announce, I am in tune with what I am doing and other distractions don’t seem to bother me,” said Jody.
Even though Jody’s main passion in an agricultural setting is announcing, she still has plenty of other activities she must tend to. Jody has been around horses most of her life. She started into the business riding Hunter Jumpers (the type of horses that jump gates in competition). In more recent years, she has been riding her Quarter Horse, Donnie. Donnie is a son of stallion Doc’s Little Bit and is exceptional as a cutting horse. “He (Donnie) is getting ready to do Ranch Horse shows,” stated Jody. Ranch Horse shows are new to southwest Missouri. “From what I have seen of Ranch Horse shows, they like the horse to look natural. They (the judges) are not interested in saddles with a bunch of silver decorations on it,” stated Jody.
Jody, her husband Kurt, and their daughter Jacy, currently live on about 40 acres near Strafford, Mo. They rent another 400 acres for hay and pasture land. Besides the eight horses they own, the Lawsons also have several longhorn roping steers. Kurt is prominent in the team roping venue and they recently put in a roping arena with a sand floor. “The new arena is nice because Kurt doesn’t have to go anywhere to practice,” smiled Jody.
Jody’s love for animals goes beyond horses and rodeos. She currently raises service dogs for people with disabilities. She has about eight female Golden Retrievers and several males. “I raise them for a lady in California. I raise them and she trains them,” said Jody. The dogs are trained to use the telephone and help with various other tasks. In some cases, the dogs are used as seeing eye dogs. “I really enjoy helping people and this is one way I can help. It is exciting to get feedback years later about dogs I raised,” smiled Jody.
The agricultural setting is important to Jody not only because she enjoys it, but she uses it to teach Jacy, who is two and a half years old. Jody and Kurt have kept Jacy on the farm for several reasons. “I’m happy to raise my family on the farm. It teaches Jacy hard work, life, death and safety. I don’t have to worry about a drive by shooting, but maybe a snake,” Jody stated of farm life.
Aside from all of these things, Jody also works a full time job at a hair salon. “Underneath the Carharts and the boots, I’m actually a girly girl,” laughed Jody. With all of these priorities to keep in check, Jody can’t help but realize that spring is just around the corner. With spring and summer comes the rodeos. Jody’s voice will be heard again, only this time, hopefully, some people can put a story with the voice.
