Barton qualifies to compete at world’s largest junior high rodeo

Connor Barton, eighth-grader at Cameron Junior High and son of Monica and Jason Barton, has earned a position on the Texas Team and will be traveling to the National Junior High Rodeo Association Finals in Huron, S.D., from June 23-29.

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, NJHFR contestants with 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.

Barton competed at the Texas Junior High Rodeo Association state finals this past week in Gonzales. He competed in Chute Dogging and Breakaway Calf Roping.  

Contestants from 10 regions across the state competed at the state finals where each event had 100 contestants to compete against. Each contestant competes in two go-rounds and the top 15 in the average come back to the short round.  After the short round, the scores are totaled and the top four cowboys/cowgirls in each event qualify to represent Team Texas at the National Finals.  

Barton roped his three calves in 3.3, 3.4, and 3.5 seconds to earn him the title of Reserve Champion Average Breakaway roper and third place overall Breakaway Roper in the state of Texas.

The National Finals will be aired on www.RidePass.com and performances will be at 7 p.m. and 9 a.m. each day.

Other Cameron Rodeo Team competitors at the junior high state finals included: Corley Callahan, Macie Vaculin, Curtis Todd, and Ann Warrick.  

Cameron is always well represented and has very talented cowboys and cowgirls.  

Brooklyn Balch and Mason Vaculin will compete at the Texas High School Rodeo Association State Finals in Abilene June 9-15.