Keaton On Junior Rodeo Team
DENVER — Courtney Keaton, a seventh-grade student at Anderson Middle School, has earned a position on the Arkansas National Junior High rodeo team and will be traveling with fellow teammates to Lebanon, Tenn., June 19-25 to compete at the 12th annual National Junior High Finals Rodeo (NJHFR) in the Ribbon Roping competition.
Featuring roughly 1,000 contestants from 43 states, five Canadian provinces and Australia, the NJHFR is the world’s largest junior high rodeo. In addition to competing for more than $75,000 in prizes, NJHFR contestants will also be vying for more than $100,000 in college scholarships and the chance to be named a National Junior High Finals Rodeo National Champion. To earn this title, contestants must finish in the top 20 based on their combined times/scores in the first two rounds - to advance to Saturday evening’s final round. National champions will then be determined based on their three-round combined times/ scores.
Again, this year, the Saturday championship performance will be televised nationally as a part of the “Cinch High School Rodeo Tour” telecast series of RFD-TV. Live broadcasts of each NJHFR performance will also air online at NHSRATV.com. Performance times are 7 p.m. on June 19, and 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. each day thereafter.
Along with great rodeo competition and the chance to meet new friends from around the world, NJHFR contestants have the opportunity to enjoy shooting sports, volleyball, contestant dances, family-oriented activities, church services sponsored by the Fellowship of Christian Cowboys, and shopping at the NJHFR trade show, as well as visiting area attractions as Lebnon hosts the NJHFR for the first time.
To follow your local favorites at the NJHFR, visit NHSRA.org daily for complete results. For ticket information and reservations, visit wilsoncountyexpo.com.