Area High School Rodeo Stars Compete in World’s Largest Rodeo

Area High School Rodeo Stars Compete in World’s Largest Rodeo

What event has 1650 Contestants from 43 States, 6 Canadian provinces, Australia and Mexico, involves horses, goats, barrels, poles, games, fun for the whole family and a whole lot more? The National High School Finals Rodeo – making it the world’s largest rodeo.

The National High School Finals Rodeo – NHSFR – The World’s Largest Rodeo

Six of District 7’s (Ventura – SLO County) California High School Rodeo stars compete and earned a spot on the team going to Nationals, the 2018 NHSFR – the world’s largest rodeo, July 15 – 21, 2018 in Rock Springs, Wyoming.

Our local Rodeo stars compete at the National High School Finals Rodeo in their respective events for over $200,000 in prizes and $350,000 in college scholarships. All with their eye on the coveted World Champion prize.

6 District 7 High School Rodeo Stars Compete and Qualify for Nationals at the State Finals Rodeo

Qualifying for the Nationals is a feat in and of itself. The State finals were held June 15-20, 2018 in Bishop, California. High School Rodeo stars from all over California came together to compete in their respective events. Six members of CHSRA’s District 7 rose to the top and qualified for the Nationals.

Congratulations to the Six members of District 7 who accepted their Nationals qualification and are part of the California team competing at the Nationals:

    • Regan Fowler – Girls’ Cutting
    • Chance Leatherman – Reined Cow Horse
    • Ashley Lewis – Pole Bending
    • Fallon Ruffoni – Pole Bending (State Champion)*
    • Ethan Usher – Light Rifle & Trap
    • Maggie Usher – Goat Tying (State Champion)*

* Fallon Ruffoni and Maggie Usher were also their respective event champions at an invitational high school rodeo held in March, Challenge of Champions. This rodeo is sponsored by California High School Rodeo, where the top three members in the points standing for each of the 9 CHSRA districts are invited to compete.  This rodeo is held in Plymouth, CA, usually the 3rd weekend in March.

Other District 7 Rodeo contestants made the top ten in their respective events at the State Finals Rodeo. Some even won a Go-round in the event and placed top 10 in that event and/or others. A 4th place final finish and above secure a spot on the Nationals team for their District. Take a look at the High School Rodeo results of the top ten District 7 finishers at the state level.

Congratulations to these top ten CHSRA District 7 finishers at the State Finals:

.22 Light Rifle

Area High School Rodeo Stars Compete in World’s Largest Rodeo
Ethan Usher of Santa Ynez, competing at the CA State Finals Rodeo in Light Rifle, a 3-position shooting competition. He is the 2018 Res. State Champion and will compete at the National High School Finals Rodeo in Light Rifle and Trap. Photo Credit: Roxanne Usher

•          Ethan Usher, Santa Ynez, Santa Ynez Valley Union High School (Senior)

2nd place – Nationals Qualifier

•          Jared Javadi, Paso Robles, Templeton High School (Sophomore)

6th place

•          Rhett Varian, Paso Robles, Paso Robles High School (Senior)

8th place

Trap

•          Ethan Usher, Santa Ynez, Santa Ynez Valley Union High School (Senior)

4th place- Nationals Qualifier

Reined Cow Horse

Area High School Rodeo Stars Compete in World’s Largest Rodeo
Chance Leatherman riding his horse, Kodi, during a Reined Cow Horse event for California High School Rodeo Association, D7. Chance is the 2018 Res. State Champion for California High School Rodeo Association (CHSRA). He will be competing at the National High School Finals in Rock Springs, WY, July 15th-21st. Photo Credit: Suzanne Usher

•          Chance Leatherman, Simi Valley, Santa Susana High School (Sophomore)

First Go Round Winner

State Finals Rodeo Placing:

•          Chance Leatherman, Simi Valley, Santa Susana High School (Sophomore)

Reserve State Champion & National Qualifier

•          Lauren Hopkins, Somis, Newbury Park High School (Junior)

6th place

•          Sadie Noblitt, Solvang, Family Partnership Charter School (Senior)

10th place

Boys’ Cutting

State Finals Rodeo Placing:

•          Tanner Patino, Santa Maria, Righetti High School (Senior)

6th place

•          Jared Javadi, Paso Robles, Templeton High School (Sophomore)

7th place

•          Chance Machado, Santa Maria, Righetti High School (Senior)

8th place 

Girls’ Cutting

•          Sammy Massey, Parkfield, Templeton High School (Freshman)

First Go Round Winner

•          Lauren Flaherty, Santa Ynez, Santa Ynez Valley Union High School (Senior)

Short Go Round Winner (Split 1st/2nd)

State Finals Rodeo Placing:

Area High School Rodeo Stars Compete in World’s Largest Rodeo
Regan Fowler of Santa Maria, competing on her horse, Wendy, during a Cutting event for California High School Rodeo Association (CHSRA), District 7. Regan placed third during the State Finals and will compete at the National High School Finals Rodeo in Rock Springs, WY, July 15th-21st. Photo Credit: Suzanne Usher

•          Regan Fowler, Santa Maria, Righetti High School (Sophomore)

3rd place & Nationals Qualifier

•          Sammy Massey, Parkfield, Templeton High School (Freshman)

5th place

•          Lauren Flaherty, Santa Ynez, Santa Ynez Valley Union High School (Senior)

9th place

Steer Wrestling

State Finals Rodeo Placing:

•          Ethan Usher, Santa Ynez, Santa Ynez Valley Union High School (Senior)

7th place

Barrel Racing

State Finals Rodeo Placing:

•          Sadie Noblitt, Solvang, Family Partnership Charter School (Senior)

10th place

Breakaway Roping

State Finals Rodeo Placing:

•          Fallon Ruffoni, Arroyo Grande, Arroyo Grande High School (Freshman)

5th place

Goat Tying

•          Maggie Usher, Santa Ynez, Santa Ynez Valley Union High School (Junior)

Short Go Round Winner (Split 1st/2nd place):

State Finals Rodeo Placing:

Area High School Rodeo Stars Compete in World’s Largest Rodeo
Maggie Usher of Santa Ynez, competing in Goat Tying at the King City Invitational multi-district rodeo. Maggie is the 2018 Challenge of Champions and CA State Goat Tying Champion. She will go on to compete at the National High School Finals Rodeo in Rock Springs, WY, July 15th-16th. Photo Credit: Suzanne Usher

•          Maggie Usher, Santa Ynez, Santa Ynez Valley Union High School (Junior)

State Champion & Nationals Qualifier

•          Brooklyn Sitton, Bakersfield, Independence High School (Sophomore)

5th place

•          Cora Stewart, Templeton, Templeton High School (Freshman)

6th place

•          Lauren Hopkins, Somis, Newbury Park High School (Junior)

8th place 

Pole Bending

•          Fallon Ruffoni, Arroyo Grande, Arroyo Grande High School (Freshman)

First Go Round Winner

•          Fallon Ruffoni, Arroyo Grande, Arroyo Grande High School (Freshman)

Progressive Round Winner 

State Finals Rodeo Placing:

Area High School Rodeo Stars Compete in World’s Largest Rodeo
Fallon Ruffoni, Arroyo Grande, competing in the Pole Bending during a high school rodeo in Santa Maria. Fallon is the 2018 Challenge of Champions and CA State Pole Bending Champion. She will be competing at the National High School Finals Rodeo in Rock Springs, WY, July 15th-21st. Photo Credit: Suzanne Usher

•          Fallon Ruffoni, Arroyo Grande, Arroyo Grande High School (Freshman)

State Champion & Nationals Qualifier

Area High School Rodeo Stars Compete in World’s Largest Rodeo
Ashley Lewis, Templeton, CA, Pole Bending during the King City Invitational multi-district rodeo this past February. Ashley and her horse, Duke, placed third at the State Finals Rodeo in June earning a qualification for the National High School Finals Rodeo in Rock Springs, WY, July 15th-21st. Photo Credit: Suzanne Usher

•          Ashley Lewis, Templeton, Templeton High School (Freshman)

3rd place & Nationals Qualifier

Tie Down Roping

State Finals Rodeo Placing:

•          Cutter Machado, Santa Maria, Righetti High School (Senior)

10th place

Team Roping

State Finals Rodeo Placing:

•          Cutter Machado, Santa Maria, Righetti High School (Senior) &

•          Tanner Patino, Santa Maria, Righetti High School (Senior)

7th place

•          Clay Simons, Templeton, Templeton High School (Senior) &

•          Blayne Twisselman, Templeton, Templeton High School (Sophomore)

10th place


CHSRA Rodeo Queen – District 7’s Macy Obringer is the Runner-up

Area High School Rodeo Stars Compete in World’s Largest Rodeo

Macy Obringer of Fillmore, will be a 10th grader at Grace Brethren Academy. Macy competes in Barrel Racing, Pole Bending, and Goat Tying.

While competing in the Queen competition at the 2018 CHSRA State Finals in Bishop, CA, Macy had the most raffle ticket sales to support the CHSRA Scholarship Foundation, split 1st/2nd in the Personality portion of the Queen completion, and was 2nd Runner Up overall.

Photo credit: Amy Obringer


Please watch the CHSRA D7 website, Facebook page, or Instagram account:@chsrad7, for updates from Nationals. Stay information on our membership meeting for the 2018-2019 year, which will be held in August.  Jr High & High School rodeos are open to any 6th-12th graders.  District 7 is home to Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties.

Tags from the story
,
More from Sharon Jantzen
Magnificence in Life Captured in the Art of Equine Photography
Equine magnificence is captured in the Art of Equine Photography as it...
Read More

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.