Graff following in footsteps of mentor

Jacee Graff plans to enter the nursing profession one day. 

At the moment, however, she's a little tied up—or rather, she's the one doing the tying. 

Sort of like her mentor and hero, Laremi Martino, another successful goat tyer who is now having success in the nursing field. 

"She is the one who really gave me my start in goat tying. My dad watched her tie at a jackpot one day when I was little and went up to her and asked if she'd give me lessons because she was so rank," Graff recalled. "Thankfully, she said yes, and the rest is history." 

A history that includes Graff, a member of the Weatherford College rodeo team, chasing her third consecutive appearance in goat tying at the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming, in June. She qualified the previous two seasons at Frank Phillips College. 

Graff leads the Southwest Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association in her event. She is ranked fifth in the nation. 

"I have had a great season so far," she said. "I have been really fortunate to have two great horses, Ed and SpongeBob, going down the road with me this year. They love it as much as I do, and I owe every bit of success to them. They make my job pretty dang easy, and I am sure grateful to have them. 

"It would mean a lot to me to be able to make the finals again this year wearing a WC vest. Although my goals are a little bigger than just making the finals this year, there is still always a sense of pride that comes from qualifying for the CNFR coming from the Southwest Region." 

Graff grew up competing in a variety of rodeo events, but it didn't take her long to realize that goat tying was her passion. She also roped calves and tied goats throughout her high school and half of her college career, but decided to sell her breakaway horse last year so she could focus more on goat tying and nursing school. 

"I love everything about goat tying. The speed, the physicality, the competitive nature of it," she said. "Just talking about tying goats makes my heart beat a little faster. I love competition and an adrenaline rush, and goat tying is both of those things.  

"I also think it's pretty neat to be able to have a college education paid for by doing what you love." 

Graff comes from a rodeo family. She and her brother grew up rodeoing together, and her dad is a retired team roper.  

"I'm the only one that still competes in my family, though," she said. 

She was drawn to Weatherford College and the city because "I really love the area down here." 

"I wanted to go to nursing school but didn't want to go to a university," she said. "Weatherford has a great nursing program, and they have been great to work with my rodeo schedule—it's been a perfect fit." 

Graff said she does not plan on rodeoing professionally. There is no goat tying on the pro circuit. 

"Unfortunately, college rodeo is the end of the road for us goat tyers. I love roping calves, but I'm not passionate enough about it to hit the pro rodeo trail," she said. 

She is excited about her next career move into the nursing industry, something she was admittedly a little hesitant about at first, but those thoughts are long behind her now. 

"In the beginning, I was unsure if this was the right career path for me, but I've come to love it more every day. I enjoy being in the critical care setting, and I think it's pretty cool to be able to save lives," she said. 

Before she moves on, however, there's more competition ahead, and her sights are set on Wyoming. She also acknowledges that much of her success is owed to other folks who have been by her side. 

"Nobody finds success on their own, and I have a lot of great people who have helped me through the years. I want to thank my parents, siblings, grandparents, Laremi Martino and Carly Green (fitness director)," she said. "And a special thanks to my dad—he's held more practice goats for me and made more trips to Texas than I could even count, none of this would be possible without him."