Local youth competing in the upcoming Jr. High Finals and High School Rodeos at the Sonoita Fairgrounds May 7, 8 and 9 gather in front of the bucking chutes in the main arena. From left: (Front Row) Cason Scouten, Ember Hubbell, Cienna Beyer, Kaydee Zerbal, Jake Scouten, Lexie Miller, Cade Hubbell. (Top row) Serena Hubbell, McKenzie Beyer, Damian Padilla, Cole Hubbell, Sterling Miller. Photo by Marion Vendituoli

Twelve local students will be competing in two Arizona High School Rodeo Association rodeos on May 7- 9 at the Sonoita Fairgrounds. 

Middle school students Cienna Beyer, Kaydee Zerbal, Lexie Miller, Cole Hubbell, Damian Padilla and Jake Scouten will be competing in the Junior High Finals Rodeo May 7- 8. McKenzie Beyer, Cason Scouten, Ember Hubbell, Serena Hubbell, Sterling Miller and Cade Hubbell will compete in the high school rodeo on May 8 – 9.

The students participate in several events including tie down roping, team roping, breakaway roping, chute dogging (a form of steer wrestling), barrel racing, goat tying, and pole bending.

These young rodeo contestants compete monthly all over the state leading up to the finals. The High School Finals are scheduled for June 3 – 6 in Prescott. 

The top four contestants in each event at the Junior High Finals are eligible to compete in the National Junior High Finals, to be held in Des Moines, IA. The top four contestants in each event at the High School Finals are eligible to compete in the National High School Finals, to be held in Lincoln, NE.