Teagan Trujillo Goat Tying/Courtesy photo
Reed Trujillo Goat Tying Courtesy photo
RODEO NEWS
Teagan Trujillo and Reed Trujillo, cousins that both reside in Abiquiu and just completed the 7th grade at Los Alamos Middle School, have each earned a position on the New Mexico state/provincial National Junior High rodeo team and will be traveling with fellow teammates to Perry, Georgia June 18-24 to compete at the 18th Annual National Junior High Finals Rodeo (NJHFR) in Girls Goat Tying and Boys Goat Tying competitions, respectively. Teagan is the New Mexico Junior High State Champion in Girls Goat Tying and Reed came in 4th in the Boys Goat Tying. The top four competitors in each event qualify to compete at the National level. Teagan also finished in the top 12 for Girls Breakaway and Ribbon Roping and also participated in Team Roping. Reed finished up the year in 5th place in the Light Rifle competition, 8th in the Chute Dogging, and also participated in Boys Breakaway and Team Roping.
At the state level, other local students that participated in 16 rodeos this school year and at State Finals at the junior high level were Aleyana Baca, Paige Trujillo, Waylan Valdez and Maison Chavez. Aleyana is a Los Alamos Middle School 8th grader who resides in Espanola, NM, she finished in the top 12 Girls Goat Tying in the state and also participated in Girls Breakaway and Barrel Racing. Paige Trujillo, of Abiquiu, is a 5th grader who goes to Aspen Elementary School in Los Alamos finished in the top 12 in Girls Goat Tying and participated on a Ribbon Roping team. Maison Chavez a 5th grader at Pojoaque Valley Intermediate School from Medanales, NM, participated in Boys Goat Tying and Team Roping. Waylan Valdez a 5th grader at Pojoaque Valley Intermediate School from Medanales, NM participated in Boys Breakaway, Boys Goat Tying and Team Roping.
When Teagan and Reed compete at Junior High Nationals, they will be two of among some 1,200 contestants from 43 U.S. States, 5 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, NJHFR contestants will also be competing 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 go-rounds to advance to Saturday evening’s final round. World champions will then be determined based on their three go-round combined times/scores. Added money for the optional jackpot has increased to $100,000 and is available to everyone at finals who enters the jackpot in their event.
Again, this year, the Saturday championship performance will be televised nationally as a part of the Cinch High School Rodeo Tour telecast series on RFD-TV. Live broadcasts of all NJHFR performances will air on: https://www.cowboychannelplus.com/ . Performance times are 7 p.m. on June 18 and 9 a.m. & 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 Golden Spur Ministries, and shopping at the NJHFR tradeshow, as well as visiting area attractions as Perry hosts the NJHFR this year. To follow your local favorites at the NJHFR, visit www.NHSRA.com daily for complete results.
Good luck to Teagan & Reed Trujillo in Georgia!
Aleyana Baca Goat Tying. Courtesy photo
Paige Trujillo Goat Tying. Courtesy photo
Maison Chavez Team Roping (header). Courtesy photo
Waylan Valdez Team Roping (heeler). Courtesy photo