October, 2024 • The WRANGLER • 35
Through non-profit work he became acquainted with
George Veater of Veater Ranch and fell in love with
cowboy culture, whose close community bore a striking
resemblance to his Hmong immigrant background. After
learning to film rodeo at Veater Ranch events, Meng was
noticed by the late Patrick Gottsch, who invited him to
create documentaries for the Cowboy Channel. Not long
after, Meng was filming at the NFR.
The two connected over social media, united by their
passions of supporting and highlighting young people,
building community, and telling stories from innovative
angle. Meng and his wife run an after-school program in
Fresno teaching kids to film.
"That's where my soul food is, developing young minds
and seeing what kind of creative eye they're going to get
and how creative they're going to become," said Meng.
Not only has Double J Sports Media supported young
creatives like Nate Anderson and photographer Hailey
Rae, they've also signed both the leading bareback and
saddle bronc 2024 Resistol Rookies, Weston Timberman
and Zac Dallas. They are the two newest signees to the
Double J community, which already includes riders like
Brody Wells, Jayco Roper, and Jacob Lees.
"We love the boys. It's very much a family environment
and the boys, they call it being on the team, and that's not
something I came up with. Not only that, we normally get
an up-and-coming creator and we support them until they
launch," said Jade.
Double J is also the driving force behind the first-ever
Australian International Open Bronc Match in Scone, NSW,
this coming November. The match is the brainchild of
Damian Brennan, who hopes to bridge the gap between
American and Australian rodeo. Jade has done all the
event promotion and Meng has filmed promotional content
and will film an accompanying documentary.
What is perhaps their most innovative project will be the
2025 launch of Western World Network. While exact
details of the network aren't to be released until the
launch, the goal is to showcase an entirely new and more
intimate perspective on the western community.
Double J Sports Media is a grassroots organization
designed to uplift and promote rodeo cowboys and help
them pursue their career to the fullest. Meng summed up
the goals of the agency and network best:
"We'd like to give these athletes a chance to have life
after rodeo."
Follow along with the bronc match and the network
launch on Instagram @doublej_sportsmedia, @
makelineproductions, and @westernworldnetwork.
Left: Damian Brennan & Kade Bruno at Cheyenne Frontier Days 2024.
Right: Jade Johnson at the American Performance Horseman. Both Photos Courtesy: Jade Johnson
