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:
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- 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
• 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
• 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:
• 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:
• 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:
• Fallon Ruffoni, Arroyo Grande, Arroyo Grande High School (Freshman)
State Champion & Nationals Qualifier
• 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
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.
