WA Ranchers Send Young Rodeo Stars to Train in the USA

When 14-year-old Aja Tito returned home to Karratha from training in America, she didn't just bring back new skills. She brought back a state championship title in breakaway roping and the confidence that comes from learning at the feet of legends.

Mark and Jo Kestel, a Wheatbelt ranching couple, have been quietly sending young Western Australian riders across the world for years, often paying out of their own pockets. In August, they made it official by launching the Double Barrel Entertainment Youth Rodeo Development program.

Mark started riding bulls at 28, later than most in the sport. That experience taught him how much young riders could achieve with the right support early on.

"You can't deny that there's something addictive about the adrenaline and endorphin rush you get riding rodeo," Mark said. Now he wants to share that rush with the next generation.

Six junior riders have been selected for the 2026 trip to train with US-based champions and compete in international rodeos. The program fills a gap left when traditional cowboy camps disappeared, giving WA's talented young riders opportunities that didn't exist before.

Aja's journey shows exactly why this matters. Only two years into rodeoing, she trained under Jackie Crawford, a 23-time Women's Professional Rodeo Association World Champion.

"Working with Jackie I got to understand how to change my swing to make it easier for myself, and how to work my horse to a higher level," Aja said. The teenager now holds the state title of All Around Cowgirl and ranks number one in her discipline.

The Ripple Effect

Every young rider who has traveled through the program has returned home measurably better at their sport. Some have even won titles while competing overseas, bringing recognition back to regional Western Australia.

The Kestels host 12 rodeos across regional WA each year, drawing thousands of spectators to small towns. Their mentoring program is creating pathways for rural kids to compete on the world stage, proving that talent from remote Australia can stand alongside the best.

Aja heads to Tamworth next to compete in the finals for breakaway and All Round Cowgirl. She's already planning her return trip to the US in 2027, armed with skills that once seemed impossibly out of reach.