Bernard Stephens
A faithful phone call came from a friend, asking if he would be interested in participating in a 4-man team relay race. “It’s something you have never done before, but you love running horses and a good challenge to hand off a baton while riding a horse at the fastest speed you can muster up.” That was Bernard Stephens’ first rodeo event.
The relay team competition is usually comprised of six to eight groups with four riders on each team. You round the ring one time, then at a designated section, you pass the baton off to the next rider.
The decision to compete was an easy yes. Stephens considers himself born and raised in the saddle, learning all he knows about horsemanship from his uncle Herman Stephens. Stephens shares, “As a child, my uncle would take me riding and I would come back sleep in his arms. He bought me a pony when I was five years old. I started out riding on a Shetland pony, but each year as I grasped horsemanship and enhanced my riding skills, I graduated to larger horses. I have had horses all my life.”
Newlywed Bernard Stephens is 46 years old, married just 3 years ago to Nicole Stephens. He has two daughters, twenty-year-old Dymond Smith and thirteen-year-old Oliyah Stephens. Both his wife Nicole and youngest daughter Oliyah are avid horseback riders. Nicole enjoys pleasure riding, while Oliyah is training to compete in barrel racing. Spending time on his 10+ acre ranch with his horses is what Stephens loves, in addition to the excitement of riding in the rodeo. He also gives back to his community, serving as Dean of Discipline at New Direction Academy, a private school with a unique emphasis on academic achievements for students with learning and emotional disabilities. He can also be found working as a private investigator, bail bondsman, and drummer at St. John Missionary Baptist Church.
Stephens believes a good or great rodeo person picks up the best traits from other professionals, making sure they know their craft and practice, practice, practice. He shares one of his career highlights:
“Ahhh man! You have 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th leg. I was the 4th leg and one of the guys dropped the baton. I was able to pick the baton up and still win the race. We counted ourselves out when this happened, but the race is not against the team, it’s all about timing. I was able to get the baton and finish the race with the best time!”
When asked what makes your team different from other rodeo teams, Stephens replies, “I don’t know what the other rodeo teams would say, but I know for us that we are called the (Blessed Brothers). We all hold positions in our churches: two of our guys are ministers, I’m a drummer and I have been playing drums for my church for 32 years. We pray before we ride and we pray after we ride, so I just think God brought us together. We are all from different cities and different backgrounds but it was God’s way of bringing us together; we are uniquely bonded. There were cowboys where we all lived but we were not drawn to them. With (Blessed Brothers), we are uniquely bonded.”
Elder Nolan Jones
While listening to a couple of cowboys talking about the Bill Pickett Rodeo and how they have a team relay race at their shows, the Gus Trent Rodeo began to incorporate the four-man relay team at its events. Nolan, his son Kelan, Bernard Stephens, and Bernard Black got together through a social group called (CowBros) and decided to compete. They joined forces with positive attitudes under a common goal and began practicing. Thus, the team was formed.
Jones believes a good rodeo person must first have a positive attitude and the ability to have fun, but when competing, “go for the win”. A real good rodeo person accomplishes the goal for which they have been training and working so hard.
Nolan Jones attends a bucking stable to train and polish his skills, riding five or six bulls a night to get his balance and hold for the 8 seconds needed to qualify. He works out, paying close attention to his legs and core, and maintains a strict diet of chicken, fish and turkey. This program helps him to ride to the best of his ability.
Jones feels his group of (Blessed Brothers) sets itself apart by abstaining from heavy drinking and drug use. Its members are all of the faith and hold positions in their congregations, putting God first in their lives. He wants audiences to know a true cowboy is not reckless or foolish, nor does he participate in self-destructive, dangerous habits. A real cowboy’s goal is to hold a higher standard, be skilled and conscious, project a positive mindset, and take care of animals and the land.
“As a licensed, ordained Elder at Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church of Bradley, Florida, I serve as the music director, worship leader, Sunday School teacher, and assistant to my pastor Dr. Eugene T. Kendrick. I am 33 years old and married to Jacinda Jones seven years. We have three beautiful children: one son, Kelan Durn, and two daughters, Kalan and MaiKayla. After being a man of God, husband, father and working a full-time job, I still incorporate the time to spend with our horses, participate in bull riding and relay team racing, and maintain our own business.”
The Experience – “We take our horses to birthday parties and other special events to let clients ride. I have always had a passion for horses and bull riding since I was a child growing up in Houston, Texas. I have been riding horses since the tender age of 5. Riding with our relay team, (Blessed Brothers), is a joy, especially when it allows me to spend more time with my son. I broke my first horse at the age of 12 and it has never left my heart. Although I love riding horses, bull riding gives me a drive that I can’t explain. It will never overpower my preaching the word of God, but I love the rodeo. Bull riding makes me work a little harder and keeps me going.”
Jones really took it to task about 3 years ago and won’t stop until he is either PBR, NFR or PRCA champion, unless God changes that. After spending time with God and family, he continues to pass along his passion and legacy to all of his children. He prays that they will, in turn, carry on the tradition for generations to come. “As long as I keep God first, I know that everything will fall in line”, as he quotes his favorite biblical verse Philliphians 4:13. “For I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me.”
Kelan Durn
The son of Nolan and Jacinda Jones, this 16-year-old is a sophomore at Kathleen High School located in Lakeland, Florida. He is a member of the FFA (Future Farmers of America). This organization helps the next generation develop their own skills and talents in a range of agricultural careers. Nolan Jones showed his first pig at the Hillsborough State Fair in the 2015/2016 school year. Kelan Durn’s passion for and enjoyment of riding horses was passed down from his dad and began when he was 9 years old. They have a special relationship where they act more like best friends, but Kelan knows when to draw the line. After graduating from high school Kelan plans to become a welder and hopes to continue riding with his dad as life goes on.
Minister Bernard J. Black, Jr.
A native of Tampa, Florida, Bernard J. Black, Jr. is an entrepreneur but a true horseman at heart. His passion for horses began when he was a young buck while watching his uncles interact with a few horses they owned. His dream was to own a horse one day and that dream became a reality 15 years ago. He purchased a retired thoroughbred race horse and named the mare (Queen). Since then, he has acquired two additional horses. Desire, a foal of Queen, and Desire. Desire’s name was derived from Psalm 37:4 “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Minister Black is currently the Leading Pastor of Faith Tabernacle of South Tampa and is a mature believer committed to Jesus Christ. His love for people and his passion for horses make him a true black cowboy.