State high school rodeo finals to kick off Thursday

COLUMBIA – The best high school rodeo competitors from across Missouri will be participating in the Missouri High School Rodeo state finals starting at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Boone County Fairgrounds.

Fifty-two high school students will be participating in at least one of the 11 events. The students qualified for the finals by competing in the 10 Missouri High School Rodeo competitions held throughout the year. The competition is to take place Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Competitors will accumulate points for finishing in their events. The  students with the top four point totals in each event will advance to the national finals in Farmington, N.M.

Rock Bridge High School students Brady Chasteen and Tory Chasteen will be competing in the team-roping event and cutting event. Brady Chasteen also will be competing in the calf-roping event.

Team roping involves two riders trying to take down a steer. One rider ropes the head of the steer, and the other ropes the back legs. The team that can rope the steer the fastest wins.

In cutting, a competitor rides his horse and attempts to separate a cow from its herd. After separating the cow, the rider lets the horse keep the cow from returning to its herd.

Other scheduled events include bareback and saddle bronco riding, pole bending, breakaway roping, bull riding, steer wrestling, goat tying and barrel riding.

Admission to the rodeo is $6 for ages 5 and up and is free for children younger than 5. Parking is also free. There will be concession stands and vendors selling souvenirs and horse accessories. People can also participate in raffles for prizes including quilts and a colt donated by a family from Harrisonville.

A barrel-riding jackpot will also be scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Boone County Fairgrounds. That event is free for spectators.