The dry heat in Vernal settles, carrying the taste of kicked up arena dust. A photographer is positioned in the Western Park in pursuit of the perfect capture, an image reflecting the raw rodeo of each cowboy’s ride. Taking the shots and doing the job, while natural, lacks the ease he once took for granted. After all, brain cancer doesn’t care about fine motor skills.
At just 23-years-old, Jake Brake Hodnett of Elk City, Oklahoma, lived his dream of photographing on a world stage, shooting all 10 rounds of the 2023 NFR at the Thomas and Mack Center, there representing the Cowboy Channel. The next year he continued his ride, traversing the nation to shoot major circuit events while sleeping in his U-Haul with only the occasional hotel stay. The road was exciting and worth the sacrifice, everything working towards his hope of being selected as an official NFR photographer for the 2024 National Finals Rodeo. Making the top 10 of photographers considered was an honor and something to fuel Jake’s next season as an ambitious young professional rodeo photographer and official PRCA Card Holder.
Then it arrived. It was early in the 2025 season. Brain tumor, Glioblastoma, grapefruit-sized. Jake is still miffed he missed the 100th year celebration rodeo in Tucson for what he calls his “health scare”. Post diagnosis, post brain surgery, there were some gains and losses when he showed up to the 2025 Greeley Stampede one year ago this week, camera back in hand. Gain: His father, Jim L. Hodnett, was now part of the crew as Jake’s Uber driver and rodeo circuit buddy(those are Jim’s words). Loss: The motor skills to quickly type and keep up with the rider data and details from shot to shot, something he’ll need an assistant for in order to stay on toward the NFR photography dream.
Winding across the country and continuing the ride, the pair made the drive over the Rocky Mountains and into Vernal, Utah, halfway through June 2026. The Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo is one of Jake’s favorites to shoot, where he says, “Everyone is laid back…Everyone works together…It’s not a big rodeo, but it actually is.” The father-son duo are celebrating Father’s Day Weekend in some of their favorite ways – with rodeo, photography(it’s a shared passion), and enjoying local spots. 7-11 Ranch and Plaza Mexicana are the favorite restaurants this trip.
Jim and Julie Hodnett brought up their kids like any real country family. They tease, they fight, they worry, they stay grateful, they get back to work. They know the facts and stats about brain cancer and focus on the miracle. Jim knows the value of these moments with his son. The same kid he once brought to tears at 5-6 years old on a family road trip. “Sorry Jake, I don’t make the rules,” as he pulled over and pointed to the sign on the side of the road: ‘No Jake Brakes In City Limits’. The reference to the story brings a smile to these cowboy faces, ones that blend in with the rodeo folk that fill the Western Park.
This could be any Colosseum of cowboys across America on any given weekend. Could be Jake and Jim sitting right next to you at the pre-rodeo dinner. In fact, the next time you’re in the stands, watching the gritty, daring pursuit of dreams happening on horses and bulls, keep an eye out for another pair of cowboys capturing moments of guts and glory, fighting for another kind of rodeo dream. At 26-years-old, Jake Brake Hodnett knows the value of the ride and has got a lot of try. Don’t be surprised to see him lined up next to future rodeo champions, where he belongs, camera in hand.
***The author, Kristin Scoffield Forbis, often gets the chance to meet interesting people while out drumming up local news. This time it seemed a shame to keep the inspiring interaction to herself. Enjoy!
PHOTO CREDITS
Jim L. Hodnett and his son Jake Brake Hodnett in the Western Park conference room before Thursday’s Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo event. Credit: Kristin Forbis
Jake Hodnett shooting the Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo 2026. Credit: Jim L. Hodnett
Action shots from the Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo 2026. Credit: Jake Hodnett
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