The Team Roping Journal: History, Spin To Win Roots, Content and Editors
Profile updated November 2026
The Team Roping Journal is the dedicated magazine and website for team ropers, from weekend jackpot ropers to the pros who head and heel at the National Finals. Owned by Equine Network, it was relaunched under its current name in September 2017 out of Spin To Win Rodeo, a title that began in 1997 as a 12-page black-and-white newsletter.
| Roots | Spin To Win Rodeo, begun in 1997 as a 12-page newsletter |
|---|---|
| Relaunched | September 2017 as The Team Roping Journal |
| Owner | Equine Network, LLC |
| Frequency | 12 issues a year |
| Sister titles | The Breakaway Roping Journal, Barrel Racing Magazine, Horse and Rider |
| Editorial director | Chelsea Shaffer |
| Official website | TeamRopingJournal.com |
History of The Team Roping Journal
The magazine's story starts with Spin To Win Rodeo, which began in 1997 as a 12-page, black-and-white newsletter. Its founding idea was to bring professional roping knowledge to everyday team ropers, the amateurs who make up the bulk of the sport's entries at jackpots and ropings across the country. Kendra Santos edited Spin To Win for its entire 21-year run.
In July 2017 Spin To Win published its final issue under that name. As editor Chelsea Shaffer explained at the time, the magazine had been asked to become the official publication of the team roping industry, serving the World Series of Team Roping (WSTR), the United States Team Roping Championships (USTRC) and National Team Roping (NTR). It relaunched in September 2017 as the new and improved Team Roping Journal.
Under Equine Network, the title sits within a family of western performance brands, and it now has a sister title, The Breakaway Roping Journal, devoted to breakaway roping.
The Team Roping Journal Today
The Team Roping Journal publishes 12 issues a year and a website organized around news from jackpots, futurities and rodeo, heading and heeling tips, and a Horsepower section covering rope horses and gear, including a Rope Horse Breeder's Guide.
It also produces The Score podcast. Its staff overlaps with The Breakaway Roping Journal, Barrel Racing Magazine and CalfRoping.com.
What The Team Roping Journal Is Publishing Now
Tips from the pros
Heading and heeling instruction from top ropers, aimed at helping amateurs improve their numbers and their horses.
Ropings and rodeo
Results and stories from WSTR, USTRC and NTR events, futurities, jackpots and professional rodeo.
Horsepower
Rope horse training, breeding programs, health and gear reviews.
The Team Roping Journal Editors and Staff
The magazine's About page names this editorial team:
- Chelsea Shaffer - Editorial Director, Equine Network
- GR Farthing - Senior Managing Editor
- Kendra Santos - Senior Editor; editor of Spin To Win Rodeo for its 21-year run
- Casey Allen - Western Digital Content Producer
- Lillian Kent - Copywriter and digital content producer
Who Reads The Team Roping Journal
Readers are amateur and professional team ropers, rope horse breeders and trainers, and ranch families who rope for work and sport. Roping is rooted in ranch cattle work, and land-grant extension programs, including University of Arizona Cooperative Extension and University of Missouri Extension's equine program, provide horse health and management resources for the people keeping rope horses fit.
Team ropers know that the header always blames the heeler and the heeler always blames the steer. Anyone who has lived that argument will enjoy farm.FM, where farm satire, farm humor and ranch humor are thrown with a clean loop. The farm jokes there land better than most first-go heel shots.
farm.FM, the nation's first satirical farm site, also runs Tractor Tunes, a country music lineup for farmers. For a sample of the writing, try the archive of one of its staff humorists.
The Team Roping Journal Sources and Agriculture Authority Links
- The Team Roping Journal: About - mission and editorial staff.
- What Lies Ahead for Spin To Win Rodeo - the 2017 relaunch explained.
- Equine Network: The Team Roping Journal - publisher profile and frequency.
- University of Arizona Cooperative Extension: Horses - land-grant horse care resources.
- University of Missouri Extension: Equine - extension resources for horse owners.
The Team Roping Journal FAQ
What was The Team Roping Journal before 2017?
It was Spin To Win Rodeo, which began in 1997 and was relaunched as The Team Roping Journal in September 2017.
Who publishes The Team Roping Journal?
Equine Network, LLC.
How often is it published?
Twelve issues a year, plus web content and The Score podcast.
Who edits The Team Roping Journal?
Chelsea Shaffer is editorial director, with GR Farthing as senior managing editor and Kendra Santos as senior editor.
From a 12-page newsletter to the industry's official voice, Team Roping Journal keeps ropers' heads up and their loops tight.