Saddle up for the ride
of your life with High School Rodeo.

by Lyn Larsen, National Rodeo Shooting Sports Coordinator

How's That, Pardner?
The National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA) is an international non-profit organization founded in 1949 by educator and rodeo contestant Claude Mullins. After 60 years, it now boasts over 10,500 members from 41 states, five Canadian provinces and Australia. NHSRA promotes sportsmanship and education, and is dedicated to helping
kids keep the traditions of the American West alive. In NHSRA (for high-school-age kids) and NHSRA-Wrangler Division (for junior high-age kids), kids compete in rodeo and shooting events at the state and national level.

Who Can Join the Posse?
Students must be under 20 when the rodeo season starts; we welcome anyone from grades 6 through 12. Students must also be in good standing in school to become members. Public, home school, private school, religious or correspondence schools are all eligible as long as the school is recognized and approved by the state/provincial board of education where the student is applying for membership. Students in grades 6 through 8 join the Wrangler (junior high) Division; students in grades 9 through 12 may join the high school division of the NHSRA. If you live in a state or province that is not a member of the NHSRA, you can join in the state or province closest to where you live. You don't have to compete in a rodeo event to become a member—"non-competing" members receive a monthly subscription to the NHSRA Times and the opportunity to become involved with local and national association activities.

Saddle Up!

Competitors can enter many different rodeo events:
Bareback Riding: Rough Stock Event. Contestant must have own one-handed bareback rigging, glove, mouthpiece and protective vest. (HS only)
Barrel Racing: Timed Event. Contestant must have access to horse. No two girls may ride the same horse and Western-type equipment must be used. (HS and Wrangler Division; Girls only)
Breakaway Roping: Timed Event. Contestant must have access to horse, rope and Western-type equipment for this event. (HS and Wrangler Division)
Bull Riding: Rough Stock Event. Contestant must have bull rope with bell, glove, protective mouthpiece and protective vest. (HS and Wrangler Division)
Tie-Down Roping: Timed Event. Contestant must have access to horse, rope, pigging string and Western-type equipment for this event. (HS and Wrangler Division)
Chute Dogging: Timed Event. No special equipment requirements, although contestant may opt to wear protective vest and mouthpiece. (Wrangler Division only)
Cutting Horse: Judged/Time-Limited Event. Contestant must have access to horse. No two boys or girls may ride the same horse. Western-type equipment must be used. (HS only)
Goat Tying: Timed Event. Contestant must have access to horse and pigging string or leather thong. Western-type equipment must be used. (HS Girls and Wrangler Division)
Pole Bending: Timed Event. Contestant must have access to horse. No two girls may ride the same horse. Western-type equipment must be used. (HS and Wrangler Division; Girls only)
Queen Contest: Judged Event. Contestant must have access to horse for Horsemanship portion of contest. (HS Girls only)
Ribbon Roping: Timed/Mixed Team Event. Contestant must have access to horse and rope (tied on). Western-type equipment must be used. (Wrangler Division only)
Steer Wrestling: Timed/Boy's Team Event. Contestant must have access to horse. Western-type equipment must be used. (HS only)
Saddle Bronc Riding: Rough Stock Event. Contestant must have halter, plain rope rein and committee saddle. (HS only)
Team Roping: Timed Event/Boy's, Girl's or Mixed Team Event. Contestants must have access to horses and ropes. Western-type equipment must be used. (HS and Wrangler Division)

Nice Shootin'!
We had a great turnout for the 2008 Shooting Sports competitions for both the Wrangler Division Rodeo (WJHFR) and High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR), in New Mexico! It has amazed me how well shooting sports complement our Western lifestyle. From the size of the turnout and the results we received in 2008, I think it's a pretty safe bet that next year's events will be even bigger.

Wrangler Junior High Finals Rodeo:
Gallup, N.M. (Light Rifle)
First Place: Kentucky
Lane Shelley (196/200)
Wesley Carter (195/200)
Second Place: Wisconsin
Ryan Meyers (182/200)
Matthew Keller (179/200)
Third Place: Virginia
Nikki Thompson (180/200)
Zane Armentrout (186/200)
Fourth Place: Missouri
Logan Dowd (185/200)
Cotton Wheeler (170/200)

A total of $3,000 in scholarships, Gist belt buckles to the top two teams and over $1,100 in other prizes were awarded for this event.

National High School Rodeo Finals Rodeo:
Farmington, N.M. (Light Rifle)
First Place: Missouri
Kelsey Connelly (189/200); Cody Gregory (197/200)
Second Place: Michigan
Dustin Stickler (190/200); Emily Hill (192/200)
Third Place: Nevada
Cody Kiser (197/200); Joe Harper (183/200)
Fourth Place: Illinois
Hannah Wort (180/200); Morgan Russell (194/200)
Fifth Place: Ohio
Jarred Tucker (180/200); Mark Winters (193/200)

First-place team members were awarded Gist buckles, $1,000 scholarships and a $100 Cabela's Gift Card, second-place received Gist buckles, $750 scholarships and $50 Cabela's Gift cards, third-place team members received $500 scholarships, $50 US Rodeo Supply Gift Cards and $25 Cabela's Gift Cards, and the 4th and 5th place team members each received $250 scholarships.

National High School Rodeo Finals Rodeo:
Farmington, N.M. (Trapshooting)
First Place: Indiana
Scout Nickell (23/25); Damon Lepley (22/25)
Second Place: Idaho
Cy Eames (24/25); Montana Barlow (20/25)
Third Place: Ohio
Jarred Tucker (20/25); Mark Winters (23/25)

Awards for the Trap competition were divided exactly as they were for the Light Rifle competition.

Thanks to the NRA Youth Programs team for all their help as the match sponsor in planning, facilitating and executing these events: Chip Lohman, Claudia Olsen, Larry Quandahl, Barry Ranney, Don Sipes and the newest member of the NRA team, Samantha Olsen. Thanks also go to John and Frank Mraz from the Gallup, McKinley County range. NHSRA would like to offer our sincerest thanks to all the volunteers from Gallup who took time out for RSO training to help make this event so successful.