Elam to compete in junior high rodeo

Brooklynn Elam, 12, a seventh grade student at Coal City Middle School, has earned a position on the Illinois state/provincial National Junior High rodeo team and will be traveling with fellow teammates to Huron, SD June 23-29 to compete at the 15th National Junior High finals rodeo in the pole bending, barrel racing and breakaway roping competitions.
Elam is the daughter of Taushia and Brian Elam, of Mazon.
Featuring roughly 1,000 contestants from 44 states, five Canadian provinces, Australia and Mexico, the NJHFR is the world’s largest junior high rodeo. In addition to competing for more than $80,000 in prizes contestants will also be vying for more than $200,000 in college scholarships and the chance to be named a National Junior High Finals Rodeo World 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. World champions will then be determined based on their three-round combined times/scores. New this year is a $50,000 added money, optional jackpot, available to everyone at finals who cares to enter.
Again this year, the Saturday championship performance will be televised nationally as part of the Cinch High School rodeo Tour telecast series on RFD-TV. Live broadcasts of all NJHFR performances will air on www.RidePass.com. Performance times are 7 p.m. on June 23 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 Huron hosts the rodeo this year. Go to www.NHSRA.com to follow local favorites and to see results.
For ticket information and reservations visit www.sdstatefair.com.