June Holeman




Current City: Arcadia, NE

Horses:

Sparky, Hopes Money Boy, The American

Personal

Brother- Laddie Leach (who taught June how to race)
Sister- Pollyanna
Son- Donnell Holeman
Daughters- Tammy Mohr, Teresa McCormick
Granddaughter- Abby Ford
Holeman first became competitive with horses when she was four- or five-years-old. "There was a branch to the north of us who organized horse shows and a saddle club," she says. "I started out competing there. Later, I ran in junior rodeos, and eventually in the Nebraska Cowgirls Association. They would put on all-girl rodeos."
Holeman noted the association was a big group at one time, but eventually disbanded, and the Nebraska State Rodeo Association took over the barrel racing event.
Although Holeman competes in the NSRA, M-SRA and NBHA, she is most proud of being able to compete in the Prairie Circuit of the WPRA.
"I didn't join the pro rodeo as a member until the 1990s," she said. "I had won most of the rodeos in this area, so I moved on to the pro rodeos because it was more of a challenge."
After joining the WPRA, Holeman and Sparky went on to win the Prairie Circuit, which is made up of competitors in Nebraska, Kansas and Okalahoma, in 2005. That win made her eligible to compete in the NFR.
Holeman feels she owes much of that success to Sparky.
Professional
In 2005 June was the oldest person to compete at the National Finals Rodeo. That title still holds and June at 70 years young is still competing today!
Sparky has been to the NFR three times.