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From behind the microphone in the bronc and bareback riders, the push is to The road to the NFR for the stock and their
announcers stand, Goedert gets the inside give the next generation incentives to try the contractors is quite literally determined
scoop on the names to watch for the future. events out. through popular opinion. The top 20
Partnered with Andy Seiler from A Cross professionals in the world cast a vote for the
Production, the duo announced the JrNFR for “The competition is strong, we have kids animals and personnel who attend. The stock
the second year together in 2018. competing now who will be in the NFR in just at the JrNFR are voted on by a panel after
a few years,” Louderback said. “It has just watching application videos from the stock
“In 2018 we had right around 600 contestants, gotten better and better every year.” contractors.
with the biggest group in the barrels at 120,”
Seiler said. “The qualifications are a little Riding at rodeos as big as the Days of 47, the “In 2017 we took 40 head to Vegas. We have
different for each event or regional director, road is tough and full of uncertainty for the a lot of animals to accommodate for the four
but they do all have qualifying events they juniors, the same as it is for the professionals. age groups at the JrNFR,” Louderback said.
have to go to.” However, a big draw for everyone is the payout, “The older kids get on the bigger animals,
the glory and the right to be called a world but the younger groups ride our mini broncs
As a previous competitor on the national champion. None of this can be accomplished and bulls.”
stage at the high school and college national without the stock and contractors who breed,
finals, Seiler highlights the value of the transport and care for them. The PRCA season ends promptly on Sep. 30,
experience kids gain as they pursue their only to turn right around and begin all over
NFR dreams. “These animals are athletes too, they have to again on Oct. 1. To make the top 15 in the
be treated like it,” Louderback said. “These world and qualify for the NFR, professionals
“It is neat to watch them mature, really right trips can be tough on them, sometimes we go are ranked by the amount of money they
before your eyes,” Seiler said. “This is the 1,000 miles one way. We have enough stock earn in those 364 days at approved PRCA
biggest stage they have ever won or lost on to rotate so they can rest.” rodeos. ª
before stepping into the world of professional
rodeo.”
Competing alongside these fierce juniors
on the road to Vegas, professionals have
commented time and time again on how
serious these juniors are about their events.

“My favorite part of this road is being able
to interact with young people and see the
passion they have for the sport,” Seiler
explained. “It is refreshing to see how much
they care about what they are doing and their
competitive spirit. It is inspiring that these
kids want to be part of the sport and to watch
it grow as a direct result of that.”
THE ROAD TO QUALIFYING
Qualifying for the JrNFR is no easy feat. Much
like their older counterparts, the contestants
compete at sanctioned rodeos. As the JrNFR
grows in popularity, so does the stage.

More than 240 horses alone made their way
to Vegas for the juniors to ride in 2018. The
number of contestants more than double in
size last year.

“As the central regional directors for the JrNFR,
we put on rodeos from Wisconsin to Texas and
everything in between,” said Jeff Louderback,
three-year stock contractor for the rough stock
events at the JrNFR. “Some of them are direct
qualifiers for the regional finals.”

The driving force behind the explosive growth
of the JrNFR is the PRCA. With fewer saddle

Justin Rumford with Bandy Rumford at the Woodward
Elks Rodeo in Woodward, OK. Photo by Annie Jo Gilbert
12 Rodeo LIFE of Roan Pony Productions.