The 2016 Montana Summer Rodeo Guide by Bozeman Daily Chronicle

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CONTENTS RODEO LINGO.......................................................................PG. 3 RODEO EVENTS....................................................................PG. 4 RODEO SCHEDULE...............................................................PG. 6 A BRIEF RODEO HISTORY.................................................PG. 10

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“I was a heeler, but got moved to a header and missed my loop.” Huh? “Before the dogie pancaked, the rider dallied, but then he was down too soon. So much for the short go.” Rodeo has its own language. The above quotes are from Jeb Rosebrook, screenwriter of the 1972 film “Junior Bonner,” about his rodeo experience as a team roper. HERE ARE SOME OF RODEO’S MORE COMMON TERMS & PHRASES: BRONC: A bronco, a wild or half-tamed horse. BUCKED OFF: A rodeo rider is tossed from a bull or bronc before reaching the required eight seconds for a qualifying ride. A bucked off rider receives no score. BULLDOGGER: A steer wrestler. CALCUTTA: A "split the pot" auction where spectators can bid on cowboys prior to the final go-round. The spectator who bids on the winning cowboy splits the pot with the rodeo production company. CHUTE: The gated metal boxes where riders and stock are readied before a rodeo event. COVER: When a bull rider successfully rides a bull for the eight seconds required to earn a score. DOWN IN THE WELL: An expression used by bull riders to describe a situation in which a bull is spinning in one direction and the force of the spin pulls the rider down the side of the bull into the motion's vortex. This dangerous scenario often results in a bull rider getting hung up to the bull. DRAW: The pairing of rodeo stock, particularly bulls and broncs, with riders. EIGHT SECONDS: The amount of time a rodeo rider must stay on a bronc or bull to receive a score in the sports of bareback bronc, saddle bronc and bull riding. FIRST GO: The first round or a preliminary round of bull riding competition. FLANK STRAP: A strap fixed around the flank of a bull to enhance its natural bucking motion and encourage the bull to kick its hind legs in its attempt to buck a rider. FREE HAND: The hand a bull or bronc rider does not use to grip the horse or bull during a ride. If the free hand touches the animal or rider before eight seconds, the rider is disqualified. GO-ROUND: Completed when all cowboys entered in a rodeo event, whether timed or scored, have competed. HAZER: The cowboy who rides on the opposite side of the steer to keep it from running away from the steer wrestler's horse. HEADER: The cowboy who ropes the steer around the horns, head or neck in team roping competition. HEELER: The cowboy who ropes the hind legs of the steer in team roping competition. HOOKED: When a bull rider dismounts from or is bucked off a bull, the bull sometimes goes after the rider and attempts to hook the human target with his horns. This is known as being “hooked.” MULEY: A bull with no horns. MUTTON BUSTER/WOOL RIDER: Child participants who ride or race sheep. NRA: Northern Rodeo Association PBR: Professional Bull Riders association PIGGIN’ STRING: A soft rope approximately six-feet long used by calf ropers to tie the animal’s feet together. PRCA: Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association PURSE: The money paid to the winners of each rodeo event. It equals the total of the added money and entry fees. RANK: A term used to describe a bull that is particularly ornery and difficult to ride. ROUGH STOCK: Untamed stock used in bareback, saddle-bronc and bull riding events. SADDLE BRONC: A horse ridden by a rider using a roughout saddle and a cloth rein. SHORT GO: A turn at an event in the championship round. SLACK: The overflow contestants who do calf roping, team roping, barrel racing and steer wrestling. SLAP: When a bronc or bull rider slaps the animal with his free hand. A slap results in disqualification. WPRA: Women’s Professional Rodeo Association.

RODEO LINGO

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RODEO EVENTS

ODEO IS A MONTANA TRADITION. IF YOU’VE NEVER EXPERIENCED THE THRILL of watching a cowboy ride a rank bull, then you haven’t seen the best of what the Wild West has to offer. Like any sport, professional rodeo has many nuances. Here are some of the competitions you’re bound to see at the rodeo this summer.

BRONC RIDING

Riders mount broncs in a bucking chute and attempt to ride for eight seconds as the horse tries to buck them off. On the first jump out of the chute, the rider must have his boot heels above the horse’s shoulders before its front legs strike the ground. Riders who complete an eight-second ride are scored on a 0-50 scale. The bronc is also scored on a 0-50 scale. Broncs that buck wildly score more points than those that buck in a straight line.

BARREL RACING Barrel racing is a timed event in which horse and rider complete a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels set in the rodeo arena. The event pits the horse’s athletic ability and the rider’s horsemanship against the clock. The racer’s aim is to complete her run as fast as possible. The clock begins when horse and rider cross the start line and ends when they have completed the cloverleaf pattern around the barrels and crossed the finish line. Riding past a barrel or out of pattern results in disqualification. If a racer or horse knocks over a barrel, a time penalty of five seconds is assessed.

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BULL RIDING Once the chute opens, riders attempt to stay on the bull for eight seconds. Bull rides are scored on a 0-100 point scale, usually by two judges. If an eight-second ride is completed, up to 50 points may be awarded for the bull and for the rider. Style points may be gained if a rider maintains enough control to spur the animal. The more rank the bull, the more points awarded.

CALF ROPING Calf roping is a timed rodeo event that challenges a rider to capture a calf by throwing a lariat around its neck. The rider must then dismount, run to the calf and tie three of its legs together. Once the tie-down is complete, the roper raises both hands to stop the clock and retreats to his horse to relieve tension on the rope. Fastest time wins, with penalties assessed for infractions.

STEER WRESTLING A horse-mounted rider chases a steer from the chutes, then leaps from the horse to wrestle the steer to the ground by twisting its horns. The event was invented by Bill Pickett in Buffalo.

BILL’S WILD WEST SHOW Out of the chute, the mounted rider chases down the steer, then leans from the horse to grasp the steer by the horns. The wrestler then leaves his horse and digs his boots into the dirt to slow the steer’s advance, leveraging momentum and weight to lift the steer’s four legs off the ground. Once all four legs are up, time is called.

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MONTANA RODEOS 2016 JUNE

JUNE 17-18 UPPER YELLOWSTONE ROUNDUP GARDINER WHEN: 6 p.m. 6/17-18; Slack: Noon, June WHERE: Jim Duffy Arena, Hwy 89 INFO: 406-848-7710, Facebook: Gardiner R

JUNE 18-19 WILSALL RODEO WILSALL WHEN: 6:30 p.m. 6/18; 2 p.m. 6/19; Slack: WHERE: Wilsall Rodeo Grounds, east of Hw Info: 406-578-2235 JUNE 18-19 LITTLE BELT COWBOYS PRCA RODEO BELT WHEN: 6 p.m. 6/18; 2 p.m. 6/19 WHERE: Belt City Park INFO: beltrodeo.com

JUNE 24-25 BIG TIMBER NRA/NWRA RODEO BIG TIMBER WHEN: 7 p.m. 6/24; 6 p.m. 6/25; Slack: 8:3 WHERE: Sweet Grass County Fairgrounds, INFO: bigtimber.com/events

JUNE 24-25 LITTLE BIG HORN STAMPEDE HARDIN WHEN: 6 p.m. 6/24-25 WHERE: Big Horn County Fairgrounds, HC 3 INFO: 406-665-1672

JUNE 24-25 MISSION MOUNTAIN NRA RODEO POLSON WHEN: 7:30 p.m. 6/24-25; Slack 9 a.m. 6/2 WHERE: Polson Fairgrounds off Hwy 93 INFO: 406-883-1100

JULY

JULY 1-2 NORTHERN CHEYENNE POW WOW & LAME DEER WHEN: 1 p.m. 7/1-2; Slack 8 a.m. 7/2 SPECIAL EVENTS: Pow Wow each day WHERE: Kenneth Beartusk Memorial Pow Hwy 212 south of Lame Deer INFO: 406-477-6284

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JULY 2-3 CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 4TH OF JULY RODEO HARLOWTOWN WHEN: 6:30 p.m. 7/2-3; Slack 8 a.m. 7/2 WHERE: Wheatland County Fairground, Chief Joseph Park INFO: Facebook: Wheatland County Chamber of Commerce

Rodeo

: 1 p.m. 6/18 wy 89

JULY 2-4 LIVINGSTON ROUNDUP PRCA RODEO LIVINGSTON WHEN: 8 p.m. 7/2-4 SPECIAL EVENTS: Parade, 3 p.m. 7/2; Kiddie Rodeo 3 p.m. 7/3; Slack: 3 p.m. 7/1; Fireworks 7/2-4 WHERE: Park County Fairgrounds, 46 View Vista Dr. INFO: livingstonroundup.com/tickets; 406-222-3199 JULY 2-4 HOME OF CHAMPIONS PRCA RODEO RED LODGE WHEN: 6 p.m. 7/2-3; 3 p.m. 7/4 SPECIAL EVENTS: Parades, Noon 7/2-4 WHERE: 101 Rodeo Dr. INFO: redlodgerodeo.com; 406-446-2422 JULY 3-4 ENNIS 4TH OF JULY RODEO ENNIS WHEN: 8 p.m. 7/3; 6 p.m. 7/4 SPECIAL EVENT: 4th of July Parade, 10 a.m. 7/4 WHERE: Ennis Home of Champions Rodeo Grounds, 25 Fairground Rd. INFO: ennischamber.com/rodeo

30 a.m. 6/25 McLeod St.

& NPIRA RODEO

Wow Grounds,

JULY 4 CHOTEAU AMERICAN LEGION NRA RODEO CHOTEAU WHEN: 2 p.m. 7/4 SPECIAL EVENT: Steak Fry, 11 a.m., Choteau City Park WHERE: Choteau Fairgrounds INFO: 406-205-8151 JULY 7-9 WILD HORSE STAMPEDE PRCA RODEO WOLF POINT WHEN: 7 p.m. 7/7-9; Slack 9 a.m. 7/7, 8 a.m. 7/8 SPECIAL EVENTS: Parade 1 p.m. 7/7-8; Pancake Breakfast 7-11 a.m. 7/9; Art in Park 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 7/9; Car Show 1:30 p.m. 7/9 WHERE: Marvin Brookman Stadium, Rodeo Rd. INFO: 406-653-1770; wolfpointchamber.com JULY 8-10 EAST HELENA VALLEY RODEO EAST HELENA WHEN: 7 p.m. 7/8-9; 2 p.m. 7/10; Slack 9 a.m. 7/9 WHERE: East Helena Rodeo Grounds, Main St. INFO: Facebook: East Helena Valley Rodeo Association

JULY 9-10 DRUMMOND PRCA RODEO DRUMMOND WHEN: 1 p.m. 7/10; Slack 9 a.m. 7/10; Parade Noon 7/10 SPECIAL EVENTS: July 9 Community Events include Garage Sale, Art Show, Duck Races WHERE: Drummond Rodeo Grounds, 500 S Hwy 1 INFO: drummondmontana.com; 406-288- 3479 JULY 12 DARBY ELITE BULL CONNECTION DARBY WHEN: 7 p.m. 7/12 WHERE: Richard Cromwell Rodeo Grounds, Rodeo Rd. INFO: giftmontana.com/darbybullriding.org; 406-451-9138 JULY 14-15 BEAR PAW ROUNDUP CHINOOK When: 7 p.m. 6/14-15 Where: Blaine County Fairgrounds, 300 W. Cleveland Rd. Info: blainecountyfair.net; 406-262-3185 JULY 15-16 THREE FORKS NRA RODEO THREE FORKS WHEN: 7 p.m. 7/15-16 WHERE: Three Forks Arena, 1-90 Frontage Rd. INFO: threeforksrodeo.com; 406-539-4488 JULY 16-17 CHARLES M. RUSSELL PRCA STAMPEDE STANFORD WHEN: 1:30-5:30 7/17 SPECIAL EVENTS: Music Fest 3 p.m., Kids Rodeo 4 p.m., BBQ, 5 p.m. 7/16 WHERE: Judith Basin County Fairgrounds, 91 3rd St. INFO: cmrstampede.com, 406-566-2422 JULY 21-23 MARIAS RIVER STAMPEDE PRCA RODEO SHELBY WHEN: 7 p.m. 7/22-23 SPECIAL EVENT: Elite Professional Bull Riding, 7 p.m. 7/21 WHERE: Fairgrounds, 619 W. Marias Fair Rd. INFO: mariasfair.com; 406-434-2692 JULY 22-23 KOOTENAI RIVER PRCA RODEO LIBBY WHEN: 7 p.m. 7/22-23 WHERE: J. Neils Park, Off Hwy 37 INFO: 406-293-4167 JULY 22-23 TOBACCO VALLEY RODEO EUREKA WHEN: 8 p.m. 7/22-23 WHERE: Lincoln County Fairgrounds, 66121 MT-37 INFO: lcfairmontana.com; 406-297-0518

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JULY 24 BOZEMAN ROUNDUP RANCH RODEO PART OF BIG SKY COUNTRY STATE FAIR, JULY 18-24 BOZEMAN WHEN: 1 p.m. 7/24 WHERE: Gallatin County Fairgrounds INFO: 406statefair.com JULY 27-28 CENTRAL MONTANA PRO RODEO LEWISTOWN WHEN: 6:30 p.m. 7/27-28 WHERE: Fergus County Fairgrounds, 1000 Hwy 191 INFO: centralmontanafair.com; 406-535-8841 JULY 27-28 PARK COUNTY FAIR FFA OPEN RODEO/RANCH RODEO LIVINGSTON WHEN: 7 p.m. 7/27 FFA Open Rodeo; 7 p.m. 7/28 Park County Ranch Rodeo WHERE: Park County Fairgrounds, 46 View Vista Dr. INFO: parkcounty.org; 406-222-4185 JULY 28-30 LAST CHANCE STAMPEDE PRCA RODEO HELENA WHEN: 7:30 p.m. 7/28-30 WHERE: Lewis & Clark County Fairgrounds, 98 W. Custer Ave. INFO: lewisandclarkcountyfairgrounds.com; 406-457-8516 JULY 29-30 BIG SKY PROFESSIONAL BULL RIDERS BIG SKY WHEN: 5 p.m. 7/29-30 WHERE: Big Sky Town Center INFO: bigskypbr.com

AUGUST AUG. 1 DANIELS COUNTY FAIR RODEO SCOBEY WHEN: 6:30 p.m. 8/1; Slack: 3:30 p.m. 8/1 WHERE: Daniels County Fairgrounds, 200 Fairgrounds Rd. INFO: 406-783-7371 AUG. 3-6 MONTANA STATE FAIR, BIG SKY PRCA RODEO GREAT FALLS WHEN: Evenings 8/3-6 WHERE: Montana ExpoPark, 400 3rd St. NW INFO: montanastatefair.com; goexpopark.com; 406-727-8900 AUG 4-5 RICHLAND COUNTY FAIR PRCA RODEO SIDNEY WHEN: 7:30 p.m. 8/4-5 WHERE: 2118 W. Holly St. INFO: richlandcountyfairandrodeo.com; 406-433-2801

AUG 5-6 SUPERIOR LIONS CLUB RODEO SUPERIOR WHEN: 8 p.m. 8/5-6; Slack: 2:30 p.m. 8/5 WHERE: Mineral County Fairgrounds, 4th Ave. INFO: 406-256-6488

AUG. 12-13 CASCADE PRCA RODEO CASCADE WHEN: 6 p.m. 8/12-13 WHERE: Chestnut Valley Arena, 400 Chestnut Valley Rd. INFO: www.rodeocascade.com; 406-799-2123

AUG. 5-6 BROADWATER COUNTY RODEO & FAIR TOWNSEND WHEN: 7 p.m. 8/5-6; Slack 9 a.m. 8/5 WHERE: Fairgrounds, Hwys 12 and 287 INFO: townsendmt.com; 406-266-9125

AUG. 13 DAWSON COUNTY FAIR PRCA RODEO GLENDIVE WHEN: Aug. 13 WHERE: Dawson County Fairground, end of N. Merrill Ave. INFO: www.dawsonfair.com

AUG. 7-8 NORTHEAST MONTANA FAIR PRCA RODEO GLASGOW WHEN: 8/7-8 WHERE: Valley County Fairgrounds, Hwy 2 West INFO: northeastmontanafair.com; 406-263-7750

AUG. 18-20 NORTHWEST MONTANA FAIR RODEO KALISPELL WHEN: 7:30 p.m. 8/18-20 WHERE: Flathead County Fairgrounds, 265 N. Meridian Rd. INFO: nwmtfair.com; 406-758-5810

AUG. 11-13 BOZEMAN STAMPEDE BOZEMAN WHEN: 7:30 p.m. 8/11-13 WHERE: Gallatin County Fairgrounds INFO: www.bozemanstampede.com

AUG. 19-20 TRI-COUNTY FAIR RODEO DEER LODGE WHEN: 8 p.m. 8/19; 7 p.m. 8/20 WHERE: Powell County Fairgrounds, 824 East Side Rd. INFO: 406-498-8639

AUG. 11-13 MISSOULA PRCA STAMPEDE MISSOULA WHEN: 7 p.m. 8/11-13 WHERE: Missoula County Fairgrounds, 1101 South Ave. W. INFO: www.missoulafairgrounds.com; 406-721-3247

AUG. 17-22 CROW FAIR AND RODEO CROW AGENCY WHEN: 1 p.m. daily WHERE: Crow Agency off I-90 INFO: crow-nsn.gov/crow-fair-2016.html

AUG. 11-13 POWDER RIVER COUNTY FAIR BROADUS WHEN: Aug. 11-13 WHERE: Powder River County Fairgrounds, Hwy 212 at Jensen Ave. INFO: prco.mt.gov/departments/fair.asp; 406-436-2424

AUG. 18-19 MCCONE COUNTY FAIR PRCA RODEO CIRCLE WHEN: 7:30 p.m. 8/18-19 WHERE: McCone County Fairgrounds, 4 Fairgrounds INFO: 406-939-3889

AUG. 11-14 EKALAKA DAYS OF 85 FAIR AND RODEO EKALAKA WHEN: 8/11-14 WHERE: Carter County Fairgrounds INFO: 406-775-6288

AUG. 20-21 FALLON COUNTY FAIR PRCA RODEO BAKER WHEN: 8/20-21 WHERE: Fallon County Fairgrounds, 3440 MT 7 INFO: 406-778-2451

AUG. 12-13 MADISON COUNTY FAIR RODEO TWIN BRIDGES WHEN: 7 p.m. 8/12-13; Slack 8 a.m. 8/12 WHERE: Madison County Fairgrounds, 2 Fairgrounds Loop INFO: 406-684-5824

AUG. 23-24 EASTERN MONTANA FAIR PRCA RODEO MILES CITY WHEN: 8/23-24 WHERE: Eastern Montana Fairgrounds INFO: easternmontanafairgrounds.org; 506-421-5419

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AUG. 27 WIBAUX COUNTY FAIR RODEO WIBAUX WHEN: 7 p.m.8/27; Slack 8 a.m. WHERE: Wibaux County Fairgrounds, Orgain Ave. INFO: 406-796-2483 AUG 27-28 JEFFERSON COUNTY RODEO BOULDER WHEN: 5 p.m. 8/27; 2 p.m. 8/28; Slack: 9 a.m. 8/28 WHERE: Jefferson County Recreation Park, off Hwy 69 INFO: jeffersoncounty-mt.gov

SEPTEMBER SEPT. 1-3 RAVALLI COUNTY FAIR RODEO HAMILTON WHEN: 8 p.m. 9/1 PRCA Bull Riding Event; 8 p.m., 9/2-3 PRCA Rodeo; Slack 9 a.m. 9/2 WHERE: Ravalli County Fairgrounds, 100 Old Corvallis Rd. INFO: 406-363-3411 SEPT. 1-3 SANDERS COUNTY FAIR PRCA RODEO PLAINS WHEN: 8 p.m. 9/1 PRCA Bull Riding; 8 p.m. 9/2-3 PRCA Rodeo WHERE: Sanders County Fairgrounds, 30 River Rd. W. INFO: www.sanderscountyfair.com; 406-826-3202 SEPT. 3-4 DILLION JAYCEE PRCA RODEO DILLON WHEN: 7:30 p.m. 9/3; 2 p.m. 9/4 WHERE: Beaverhead County Fairgrounds, 715 S. Railroad St. INFO: www.dillonjaycees.com; 406-683-5771 SEPT. 4-5 HELMVILLE LABOR DAY RODEO HELMVILLE WHEN: 1 p.m. 9/4-5 WHERE: Helmville Rodeo Gr SEPT. 4-5 WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS LABOR DAY PRCA RODEO WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS WHEN: 7 p.m. 9/4-5 WHERE: 401 6th Ave. SE INFO: 406-547-2192 OCT. 13-16 NILE PRCA RODEO BILLINGS WHEN: 7 p.m. 10/15, 20-22 WHERE: MetraPark, 308 6th Ave. N. INFO: www.thenile.org; 406-256-2495

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HISTORY OF RODEO IN EIGHT SECONDS

ODEO HAD ITS BEGINNINGS IN SPAIN, WHERE NOBLES WERE TRAINED in horsemanship and roping. They passed their knowledge on to the vaqueros who worked their New World ranches in Mexico and the parts of the American Southwest that were ceded to the United States at the end of the Mexican-American War (184648). The vaqueros taught the waves of Americans who headed west in the late 1840s and again after the American Civil War. The term rodeo is from the Spanish verb rodear, which means to round up. Most of the time, being a cowboy was a lonely pursuit. But once or twice a year, cowboys brought cattle to market towns, and informal skills competitions sprang up in several states wherever crowds gathered to watch. Between 1847 and 1888, Deer Trail, Colorado, Prescott, Arizona, Pecos, Texas, and Santa Fe, New Mexico, launched competitions that claim to be the first U.S. rodeo. In the late 1880s, Buffalo Bill Cody and other showmen organized touring Wild West shows that were popular across the East and Europe for 50 years. But the cowboys in those shows were performers, not competitors.

Women were a part of rodeo from the beginning, participating in relay races and trick riding, plus bull and bronc riding. After the competition deaths of two cowgirls, in 1929 and 1933, and cutbacks in all rodeo events during World War II, women were limited to participating mainly as rodeo queens. In 1948, women athletes formed the Girls Rodeo Association to promote themselves. Today, that group is the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association, overseeing 1,300 events annually, mainly focused on barrel racing. The top barrel racers compete in the 10-day National Finals Rodeo, held in Las Vegas in December. Also part of the National Finals Rodeo are the top 15 money-winners in six men’s events -bareback bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie down (calf) roping and bull riding, all overseen by the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association. There’s a single champion in each event, with the title of World All-Around Rodeo Champion Cowboy going to the man who wins the most prize money in a year while competing regularly in at least two events. Total annual NFR prize money is $10 million to the human contestants, with another $3 million going to contractors who supply the top rodeo animals. In 1992, bull riders formed their own group, the Professional Bull Riders. It awards millions more in prize money. The PRCA answered with its own Xtreme Bulls Tour in 2003.

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RODEO FINALS COUNTDOWN In the National Finals Rodeo, barrel racing is the only women’s event. But the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association hosts an annual World Finals Rodeo that also crowns champions in tie down, team and breakaway roping Oct. 20-23 in Waco, Texas. The Professional Bull Riders hold their finals in Las Vegas Nov. 2-6. The defending champion is J.B. Mauney. The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association consists of 135-plus schools competing in 11 regions. The Collegiate National Finals Rodeo, held in Casper, Wyo., begins June 12 and ends June 18. The Montana State University Rodeo program holds 8 national team titles, 32 individual national championships and a multitude of Big Sky Regional crowns. This year, the men’s and women’s teams are sending six men and seven women to Casper. The National High School Finals Rodeo is July 17-23 in Gillette, Wyo., while the Junior High Finals Rodeo, for sixth- through eighth-graders, is June 19-25 in Lebanon, Tenn.