(Cushing, Okla.) For a third straight year, the Cushing Community Rodeo Association will host one of the Oklahoma High School Rodeo Association events. This year’s event is August 18th & 19th at the Cushing Rodeo Arena. Cushing is the starting point for the fall season of the OHSRA, and the rodeo will run most of both Saturday and Sunday due to the number of contestants.
Jeff Christensen, 2012 President of the OHRSA, says the group has 192 members, and will bring even more contestants since some of the members are actually rodeo families with more than one rider. Christensen says as many as 800 people could be in Cushing for the event, one of anywhere from 12 to 20 OHSRA rodeos per year.
The rodeo itself will include Breakaway, Tie Down, Goat Tying, Steer Wrestling, Bareback, Saddle Bronc, Barrel Racing, Team Roping, Pole Bending, and Bull Riding.
Christensen Cushing has been good for the OKHSRA. “This is our third year to come to Cushing, and they make it easy to make the rodeo work. It’s centrally located, and the rodeo grounds and arena are always in good shape.”
The high school students ranging from Freshman to Seniors compete on the national circuit and have done well; Christensen says that the current 2011 National All Around Cowgirl is McKenna Wagner of Coweta, while the 2011 Saddle Bronc Champion is Shade Etbaur of Goodwell. Contestants compete for points on the circuit, and the winners come away with prizes ranging from trailers to saddles and tack and other items needed to compete.
For more information on the Oklahoma High School Rodeo Associaton, visit www.ohsra.com, and for the National High School Rodeo Association, visit www.nhsra.com.
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