The Montana High School Rodeo season began last August with a fall season that ran until mid October. The cowboys and cowgirls picked back up in March and have been crisscrossing the state this spring, hitting rodeo after rodeo. This weekend, the contestants will roll into Darby for two rodeos, one Saturday and one Sunday. The event begins at 11am on Saturday and 8am on Sunday. Admission is $5 and youngsters 12 and under get in free.
This past year the local cowgirls and cowboys have come together to form a team. Although there is no team scoring, each individual competes on their own, the team concept has allowed these young people to share resources, trailer space and practice time in order to improve in their individual events. The Bitterroot Valley High School Rodeo Team has 15 high school members and 13 junior high members. This group of student-athletes is competing to earn points towards a trip to the National Finals this summer. The state high school rodeo will be in Bozeman while the state junior high finals will be in Hamilton.
Victor’s Raegan Tracey is currently sitting in third place in the all around standings. She is tied for first in goat tying, second in break away roping, and sixth in the girls cow cutting. Ryanne Tracey is in ninth place in the all around. Kelsey Trexler is tied for third in barrel racing and in a three way tie for 10th in pole bending. Shelby Robinson of Stevensville is in eighth place for pole bending.