This Week in the West: Jo Decker and the Importance of Rodeo Secretaries

This Week in the West · Mar 30, 2026 · 5m

🤠This Week in the West

🎙️ Episode 74: Jo Decker and the Importance of Rodeo Secretaries

📢 Episode Summary:

Jo Ramsey Decker stood at the center of rodeo’s evolution, bridging the gap between competitor and organizer at a time when the sport was still finding its footing. From her early days growing up on a Texas ranch to competing in rodeos as a child, Decker developed a deep connection to Western life. By the 1940s, she had earned national visibility as a “Ranch Sponsor Girl” at Madison Square Garden and built a successful competitive career, winning multiple world championships. Her…