Wrangler Rodeo to open

Trevor Novak from Kindred, N.D., wrestles a steer to the ground during the Chute Dogging event at the 2006 Junior High Rodeo Finals at Red Rock Park. The event returns to Red Rock park Monday. [Photo by Matt Hinshaw/Independent]

By Santiago Ramos
Staff Sports Writer

RED ROCK STATE PARK — Activity is at a feverish pitch at Red Rock State Park as Gallup gets ready to host the Third annual Wrangler Junior High Finals Rodeo beginning Monday morning.

"It's really hectic," Dudley Byerley, chairman of the local rodeo committee said. "It's our third year and we're really gaining ground. The rodeo is getting bigger and bigger."

Nearly 900 junior high rodeo contestants from 39 states, along with five Canadian provinces and Australia, are beginning to converge on Gallup and Red Rock State Park. The majority of contestants will be registering for the weeklong rodeo today.

Byerley said that he is hoping that the Wrangler Executive Board will allow Gallup to host the 2008 and 2009 Wrangler JH Finals Rodeo especially since Farmington will be hosting the National High School Finals Rodeo for the second time for the same two years as well.

"We submitted our bid to keep after the Council meeting Tuesday," Byerley said. "I know they (Wrangler) are looking at other sites. It's one of those things that we want to do for two more years. Our rodeo committee is getting bigger and bigger. This is our third year and with our knowledge it's getting easier."

The financial impact that the weeklong national finals rodeo has on the local economy is huge, generating more than $1.5 million last year. Wrangler Division coordinator Katie Hollingsworth said that Wrangler is "thrilled" to be returning for the third year.

"We've had our challenges, but the city of Gallup has been accommodating our needs," Hollingsworth said. "We're thrilled to be back in Gallup. We're looking at other locations, but Gallup is one of those. We're hoping that Gallup will be selected (for 2008 and 2009)."

The city that will be selected to host the 2008 and 2009 finals will be announced the end of July, according to Hollingsworth. Hollingsworth said that next year the finals will be even bigger with the addition of two more states, South Carolina and Alaska.

Mike Hausmann, media coordinator for the National High School Rodeo Association that puts on both national final rodeos, added that increased growth is fueling the interest.

"It's grown every year," said Hausmann during a telephone interview from the NHSRA headquarters in Denver. "We wanted to hit 900 this year but we came up a little short. We'll surpass that next year with South Carolina and Alaska joining."

A total of 893 contestants will be competing during the two-a-day finals beginning Monday. Performances will be twice daily Monday through Friday at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Each contestant will be competing twice during the two go rounds. A short go finals, with the top 20 in each event competing, will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. when the national champions will be determined in junior bull riding, tie-down roping, breakaway roping, goat tying, chute dogging, team roping, ribbon roping, barrel racing and pole bending.