Rodeo by the Numbers!
Huge crowds of people and animals will be converging at the Ward Agricultural Center for the National Junior High Rodeo Finals from June 19 – 25, 2016. Besides the expected 50,000 competitors and visitors, you might be surprised to find out that hundreds of livestock are required for the competition. Here’s the breakdown from the organizers of the rodeo, the National High School Rodeo Association:
- 80 Bulls
- 100 Chute Dogging Cattle
- 90 Tie-Down Calves
- 180 Break-a-way Calves
- 200 Goats
- 80-100 Team Roping Cattle
- 100 Bareback and Saddle Bronc Steers
Reigning THSRA Queen Summer Weldon, an 18-year-old from Martin, TN, will be reporting from the competition, showing you the action, excitement, and fun. Summer has been competing in barrel racing, pole bending, and ribbon roping since she was ten, so she will be uniquely qualified to give you the inside look as your behind-the-scenes reporter at the National Junior High Rodeo Finals. You’ll see updates from Summer as the excitement builds before the finals and during the competition, at www.visitwilsoncounty.com.
The National Junior High Finals Rodeo consists of seven days of rodeo competition with more than 1,000 young people from sixth, seventh, and eighth grades vying for college scholarships. The event is expected to provide a large economic boost to Wilson County and surrounding areas, with about 50,000 attendees and nearly $10 million dollars in economic impact.
About the NHSRA’s National Junior High Division
Created in 2004, the NHSRA Junior High Division was established to bring the excitement of the sport to 6th, 7th, and 8th graders and to serve as a feeder system into the high school ranks of the Association. Today, all 48 states and provinces that belong to the NHSRA also produce a Junior High Division as well, with over 2,500 members in total now competing. Junior High Division students compete in a variety of events, including barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying, breakaway roping, tie-down roping, chute dogging, team roping, ribbon roping, and junior bull riding, bareback steer riding and saddle bronc steer riding.
Each summer, the “best of the best” from each state and province qualify for the National Junior High Finals Rodeo. Approximately 1,000 competitors show off their talents in the event and compete for thousands of dollars in scholarships and prizes. For more information, visithttp://www.nhsra.com.
50000 competitors and visitors expected, Rodeo By The Numbers