It Runs in the Family

For the Jims, life is all about ranching, family and the rodeo winner’s circle

By Dianna Troyer

At 53, Dirk Jim jokes he’s one of the “old guys” on the Western States Ranch Rodeo Association circuit.

Despite his age, the Owyhee rancher is still in his prime. He often stands in the winner’s circle with teammates of family and friends who work together precisely and intuitively under the pressure of competing in timed events—roping, branding, doctoring and trailer loading.

When WSRRA started in 2010, Dirk was supportive of its mission: “to allow the full-time and the average day working cowboy, working men and women to have an opportunity to compete in sanctioned ranch rodeo events.”

“When I started, I was among the younger guys, so I did ranch bronc riding,” Dirk says. “It’s been great to compete on teams with our sons, Steven, Daxton and Dalton.”

Dirk gets plenty of practice for ranch rodeo competition every day, doing chores on the family ranch. He and his wife, Marlyn, raise about 350 cows north of Owyhee and just south of the Idaho/Nevada border in partnership with their sons, plus Dirk’s parents, Delbert and Louise.

This fall, Dirk is teaming up with friends again to defend their 2024 titles. Last year, he was a member of two WSRRA world championship teams: the Open Team and the Old Timer Scramble for those 50 and older.

Naming themselves the Tri-State Guys, the Old Timer teammates were Dirk, Owyhee resident Ira Walker, Casey Brunson, Richard “Pook” Eiguren and Rick Maestrejuan.

In the Open Team class, the championship team, Parke Enterprises, included Dirk, Sam Saunders, Trey McFarlane, Jared Parke and Rick Maestrejuan.

They will compete Oct. 31-Nov. 2 in Winnemucca in the 2025 championship finals of those two WSRRA classes.

“The top three teams are automatically invited back with the same team members for the following year,” Dirk says.

Last year, the Old Timer event was the first of its kind. It was so popular organizers decided to offer it again. Contenders had to rope three steers then brand and doctor them.

“Before we go into the arena, we decide who will do what,” Dirk says. “It’s all fast paced, and it all went smoothly.”

The Old Timers’ fluid teamwork can still be seen through videos on social media, with Dirk and his teammates quickly executing their strategy flawlessly.

To stay tuned up for the upcoming fall finals, Dirk traveled to Oregon in May to compete in the Pendleton Cattle Barons Ranch Rodeo. Dirk won first place in the Mixed Ranch Rodeo Team competition with son Dalton, Gus King and Sam Saunders. Dalton was also on another team that won third place.

Winner’s Circle
Dirk is accustomed to being on winning teams. He also won the World Champion Open Ranch Rodeo titles in 2022 and 2018. He says putting together successful rosters comes down to knowing who has the skills for the jobs needed.

“Sometimes you might need a guy with a good cutting horse or a roper,” he says.

Dirk also relies on his competitive sons, Daxton and Dalton, to be on teams. They not only share the same birthday two years apart but also have the same highly motivated personality.

“They like to say, ‘There’s first place and last place,’” Dirk says. “First place is always their goal.”

Their older brother, Steven, used to compete, too, but now focuses on the ranch.

“With my sons, we’ve worked together all our lives so we know what we’re thinking and doing in the arena,” Dirk says. “We know the spots to be in. We plan strategy then don’t have to talk in the arena.”

In the Family Business
Dirk’s sons have also competed successfully as individuals. In 2011, Dalton won Ranch Bronc World Finals. He also earned a rodeo scholarship to Treasure Valley Community College. Daxton holds a pro card for team roping.

Considering their expertise, the Jim brothers make a living with skills they have honed since childhood.

Daxton, 35, breaks horses and flies to California to train roping horses.

Dalton, 33, lives near Heppner, Oregon, and works on a ranch with 3,000 cattle.

Just as important as winning rodeos is their love of ranching and family. Dirk encouraged his sons to learn ranching skills when they were young. They bought cattle through a loan program and made enough profit to repay the loan and buy their own school clothes and other items.

Dirk also started a family tradition to help the next generation of Jims continue ranching.

“Each grandchild gets two heifers every year until they’re 5,” he says. “By that time, they have 10. It gives them a start, and they can build from there. We want to continue what our relatives started here.”