The Young Pro vision came to Jeff and Carol Hogner, founders of Joshua Cowboy Ministries, Inc. (JCM), in 1996. The primary vision was to bring in the top youth team ropers to a free three-day training camp. They were to be taught how to be “Young Pros” in both a spiritual sense, as well as, through their roping talents and abilities. This was to be accomplished through inviting Christian professional ropers, along with pastors, ministers and industry professionals who could help train these students on how to compete in today’s environment, as Christian young men and women. The students that were to be invited would be the top young ropers from across the country. Because of the talent and abilities these young students posess, they will probably rope for many years and create a wide circle of friends and associates. It is the goal of the Young Pro Training Camps to instill Christian values, morals and work ethics into these students, not only for them to be successful in life, but for them to be a positive role model and influence to those with whom they come in contact.

The initial vision was shared with two World Champion Team Ropers, in the fall of 1997, and through their help and influence, the vision started to become a reality. In the spring of 1998 the first Young Pro Training Camp was held at Benbrook, Texas. Nine current and former National Finals Rodeo team roping contestants arrived and shared their testimonies and roping skills with 23 three Young Pro students. It was a consensus of all parties involved that this program should be continued. The Training Camp was moved to San Angelo, Texas to better accommodate the pro ropers on their rodeo schedule. The program has grown and the for 2002, will had fifty-five young ropers in attendance at the Training Camp at the Somerville County Expo Center in Glen Rose, TX.

The demand for more camps has grown and additional Training Camps are being planned for Arizona and Montana. In the summer of 1998 an expansion of the earlier vision started emerging. The Young Pro Tour Team began development and in the following summer the “Young Pro Tour ’99” hit the road for eight weeks and put on free team roping clinics, all from a Christian perspective. There were fifteen clinics in nine states produced and hosted by the Tour Team. These clinics consisted of instruction on roping dummies in the morning and roping cattle in the afternoon, followed by a energy packed ministry program (The ministry program involved up-beat music, humorous skits, drama and a youth to youth time of ministry). This would be the day before a major roping such as a USTRC or Booger Barter roping. The team would stay and compete in that roping and assist JCM with the Sunday morning cowboy church service before departing for the next location.