Riding back

This isn’t the Johnson family’s first rodeo.

In fact, the essence of their rural Union City business, 3 Bar J Rodeo, started at a rodeo more than five decades ago when Marcia and Mike Johnson met for the first time. 

Mike quickly lassoed Marcia’s heart. About a decade later, they decided to try their hand at running rodeos with family.

Their business, 3 Bar J Rodeo, will return Tuesday to the grandstand at the Jay County Fair.

The rodeo scene has always been in Mike Johnson’s blood. In his younger years, he was a competitor.

“I started riding bulls when I was 13 and just always liked it,” he said.

Mike Johnson’s riding career started with shows in Richmond. After graduating from Jay County High School, he began traveling across the United States, Mexico and Canada. 

“Just, when you rodeo, you go everywhere,” he said.

He also orchestrated junior rodeos in his youth. About 35 to 40 years ago, Mike Johnson and his family decided to take life by the horns and venture into the larger-scale rodeos. Thus, 3 Bar J Rodeo was born.

Its name is twofold: the 3 and J symbolize the three “J’s” involved in the family — Mike and Marcia Johnson and their daughter, Mary (Johnson) Hanes — and the Bar demonstrates the symbol used in branding animals.

Mary Hanes’ husband, Joe, and their sons Quentin and Riely Hanes are also a part of the 3 Bar J crew, helping to keep the show running smoothly. Quentin and Riely Hanes participate in junior bull riding and team roping events.

“It’s fun,” said Mike Johnson. “You all get to hang together and give each other hell all the time.”

The business usually does around 32 shows per year, traveling through Indiana and Ohio, as well as occasionally venturing into Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. It also takes livestock to International Finals Rodeo each January in Oklahoma City.

“It’s very stressful, there’s a lot of hours on the road,” said Marcia Johnson. “Be sure your vet kits are all filled up in case you need something. Have all your first aid kits available, because you never know what’s going to happen … Never a dull moment.”

Mike Johnson, who turned 73 last week, still buys and sells cows, trades equipment, bales hay and works on other ranching and farming activities just south of Union City. He also cares for 3 Bar J Rodeo’s horses and bulls — he estimated he’s got probably 30 bulls and 40 horses — on his own land there.

“All my (animals) run out on pasture, and then we feed them every day in the pens,” he noted.

Rodeos slated for the coming weeks after Tuesday’s competition at the Jay County Fair include Friday at LaGrange County 4-H Fair in LaGrange, July 15 at Whitley County 4-H Fair in Columbia City, July 16 at Wabash County Fair in Wabash, July 19 at Hendricks County 4-H Fair in Danville, July 20 at Delaware County Fair in Muncie, July 23 at Vanderburgh County Fair in Evansville and July 25 at Clermont County Fair in Owensville, Ohio. Other rodeos on the schedule include Lima Stampede on July 27 in Lima, Ohio, and Union City Cowboys and Cops on Aug. 10 in Union City, as well as performances at Indiana State Fair on Aug. 15 and Aug. 16, Highland County Fair on Sept. 1 in Hillsboro, Ohio, and Dan Patch Days on Sept. 7 and Sept. 8 in Oxford, Ohio.

“This is what we call our Cowboy Christmas,” explained Marcia Johnson, pointing out that July is their busiest month. “There’s rodeos everywhere.”

The just over two-hour rodeo at the Jay County Fair offers eight categories: bareback riding, saddle bronc, bull riding, steer wrestling, tie down roping, breakaway roping, team roping and barrel racing. With more than 100 participants on the roster — 46 barrel racers alone — for the Mid-States Rodeo Association competition, the Johnsons are ready to get the show on the road. 

For them, though, it’s not just about saddling up for a good time. It’s about the experience with their family and those who have joined their inner circle.

“We enjoy it. We’ve got so many good friends we’ve made over the years. It’s like family, you know,” said Marcia Johnson, 72. “The people you meet, they’re just like family. Even in the winter months, everybody keeps touch.”