Grace, Idaho-In her "day job" as a budget analyst at Hill Air Force Base near Ogden, Utah, Jetta Abplanalp says she "looks at a lot of numbers all day." But in her barrel racing career, Abplanalp gets to look at a better set of numbers-the ones on the checks she deposits in her checking account from winnings at PRCA/WPRA rodeos.

Abplanalp rode her great black gelding Storm to victory at the Caribou County Fair and Rodeo in Grace, Idaho, August 5, just days after finishing fourth in the average at the "Daddy of 'em All" in Cheyenne. Abplanalp is no stranger to WPRA wins; the tough cowgirl has been to three Wilderness Circuit Finals Rodeos (2005-06, 2008) and was the 2005 WPRA Wilderness Circuit rookie of the year.

In 2009 Abplanalp married R.D., a horse shoer and team roper, and the couple had a son about a year ago named Blaze.

"I hadn't run Storm outside in a year and half because of the time off to have my son last year," Abplanalp says. "We just started back in June."

In Grace, Storm and Abplanalp accomplished the incredibly tough feat of distancing the field by over two tenths. Her 17.43 posted during the second and final performance on Thursday night bested rookie Shelby Maxfield's 17.69 for the title and $1,061 in earnings. Abplanalp took another check at the Jerome, Idaho for a weekend haul of $1,133.

"He felt so good and open at Grace," she says. "He was really free. In the past, I have always hit barrels there and the announcer actually has made a joke of it, saying if I hit the third I get a hot dog.

"After that run, my dad told me, 'much better than a hot dog!'"

Jed McCormick is still a frequent traveling partner of his daughter, helping out with Blaze particularly when scheduling doesn't allow Abplanalp to travel with R.D.

"We have had a great time with Blaze," says Abplanalp. "My husband helps out a lot; we take turns watching him so the other can get ready. And both our families are good to help, too. They take him on the weekends when we go or they go with us."

The now 15-year old Storm, registered as BF In Hot Pursuit, was purchased by Abplanalp's father and his friend, Randy Marriott, when he was six years old and Abplanalp was still in high school. Storm had been a race horse but trainers couldn't do anything with him once his racing days were over. After a year of being turned out, McCormick took a chance on the gelding.

"When we picked him up, Dad and I chased him around this 20 acre field forever, trying to catch him," Abplanalp laughs. "Finally, we threw some grain in the trailer and he just went and got in."

Abplanalp and her dad trained the gelding for barrels and Storm was pushed into service when Abplanalp's other horse coliced and died. A little trial and error followed but Storm began clocking and winning during the summer after Abplanalp graduated high school.

"He is pretty mellow but does have a little attitude; I learned to get around that," she says. "He really loves to run barrels, which makes him fun to ride. He is just all heart."

Abplanalp is hoping to travel more extensively next season but is concentrating on the Wilderness Circuit in 2010.

"I definitely want to make the circuit finals," says Abplanalp, who is sponsored by Utah Trailer Source. "Our circuit is so tough that it is always an accomplishment to qualify."

She is well on her way to a fourth appearance at the Wilderness CFR, held just 15 minutes up the road from her home in Ogden. She is currently 10th in the standings with less than two months remaining of the 2010 season.

For more information on the Caribou County Fair and Rodeo, please visit them on-line at www.cariboucountyfair.com.