ProRodeo Sports News - August 2, 2019

JUNIOR WORLD FINALS

Junior World Finals. “It is such a good event because it has speed, finesse and horsemanship. There’s just a lot to it. A good pole run is amazing to watch. I would like to see pole bending grow, and this is a great way to start.” The roughstock events (bareback, saddle-bronc and bull riding) will be featured during the first five days of the Junior World Finals, while the timed events (barrel racing, steer wrestling, pole bending, and breakaway, tie-down and team roping) will take center stage during the final five days. With pole bending providing young female athletes with another oppor- tunity to compete, Las Vegas Events has added an all-around title to the mix, with the top boys’ and girls’ point scorers winning a horse trailer along with a coveted Montana Sil- versmith’s buckle. As always, contestants in each event will

“I feel really strongly about keep- ing every aspect of these kids’ Junior World Finals experience first class, from bringing in the best possible cattle to suit their stage of develop- ment to making the competition as fair as possible to raising the stakes on a new record payoff every year. Records were made to be broken, and that goes double when it comes to [rodeo winnings]—at every age. I’m proud to partner with the same crew in Las Vegas that produces the National Finals Rodeo, because they share my competi- tive attitude about constant improve- ment across the board.” Whether its steer wrestling or any of the other eight Junior World Finals events, fans can expect nonstop action filled with edge-of-the-seat excitement as young athletes try to take advantage of an opportunity of a lifetime—and

perhaps begin establishing a legacy that might someday lead to them competing in the Wrangler NFR. “Three of our cowboys won more than $10,000 at last year’s Junior World Finals, so they have a lot of incentive to work hard,” Berry says. “That kind of money can help a young cowboy do everything from go to college to upgrade his horse herd. “Meanwhile, families get to experi- ence something similar to what the families of the big boys experience down the road at the Thomas & Mack Center. Similarly, rodeo fans get to see the future of our sport duke it out by day, and the best of the best battle it out by night.” For more information about the Junior World Finals, visit NFRExperience.com.

compete for prize money, awards and scholarships. “Junior rodeo in Las Vegas continues to grow and evolve,” says Pat Christenson, presi- dent of Las Vegas Events. “The Junior World Finals is an op- portunity for Las Vegas Events to take the competition to another level.” From the perspective of leg- endary Wrangler NFR steer wrestler Ote Berry, it’s all about doing right by the kids. “Our goal is always to continue raising the bar on the opportu- nities available to young steers wrestlers,” says Berry, who organizes the Junior World Finals’ steer wrestling event and runs the Ote Berry Junior Steer Wrestling World Cham- pionship Tour. “The chance to compete on as big of a stage as the Junior World Finals in Las Vegas is something I wish I could have done when I was these young guns’ age. It will do nothing but make them tougher competitors in their careers.

NFR legends like Ote Berry oversee Junior World Finals events

Photo: Tom Donohue.

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Photos: Tom Donoghue, Steve Spatafore.