Southeast Idaho cowboys and cowgirls compete in National Junior High Finals Rodeo

The National Junior High Finals Rodeo was June 23-29 in Des Moines, Iowa.

It featured more than 1,000 cowboys and cowgirls from all across the country, including several who were representing Southeast Idaho. And one of them, nearly won a national championship.

Malad City's Bronson Smith took second in the saddle bronc riding. He finished with 197 points after scoring a 68 in the short go-round finals Saturday. But it still left him just a half point behind Iowa’s Westin Clemens, who ended up winning it all.

Smith also made the short go-round finals in bareback riding. He was actually the final qualifier and took 14th overall with 164.5.

Smith competed in bull riding, as well. He didn’t make the short go-round final and was 33rd (108) out of 89 riders.

Montpelier’s Kenlee Kunz (ribbon roping), who was last year’s reserve national champion (runner-up) in girls goat tying, made the short go-round finals, too. She did so with partner Cinche Pope, who is from Cokeville, Wyoming, but rodeos in the Gem State

Hayden Buttars (boys breakaway roping), a Garland, Utah native who trains with Idaho’s District 8 team, and Grace’s Hayley Pertain (rifle), both joined them in the short go-round finals in their respective events.

Pertain placed 14th (611), Kunz/Pope 15th (15.88 seconds) and Buttars 19th (7.66). Kunz was also 125th in goat tying.

The other local athletes to compete were:

Grace’s McKinley Yamauchi (girls breakaway roping), Dingle’s RidLee Ream (barrel racing), Montpeiler’s McKade Crane (boys goat tying, boys breakaway roping), District 8’s Denali Keetch (barrel racing), Montpelier’s Kyzer Smith (boys goat tying), Blackfoot’s Gator Boyd (bull riding), Malad’s Rawzen Munns (chute dogging), Holbrook’s Oak Smith (chute dogging, tie-down roping), Preston’s Hannah Bingham (girls breakaway), Montpelier’s Jaycee Smith (girls goat tying), Pingree’s Baylen Hales (girls goat tying, pole bending), District 8’s Kase Thompson (bareback) American Falls’ Kelsee Evans (pole bending), Arbon’s Raegen Jorgensen (ribbon roping), Blackfoot’s J.T. Tibbitts (ribbon roping), Blackfoot’s Phoenix Baldwin (ribbon roping) and Holbrook’s Steelee Smith).

“Rodeo teaches you so many amazing life lessons,” Yamauchi said. “One of the biggest lessons I have learned is, making quick decisions under pressure to benefit my run. I know this skill will help me in all areas of my life as I grow up. My run has taken me years to be able to duplicate. I have put in countless hours of hard work to get my run to where I want it. I want to continue to put in the hours, so I can make it really far in the sport of breakaway roping that I love so much.”