Cochrane’s Holton Harms is heading to Wyoming to compete at the 77th annual National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR), the biggest high school rodeo event in the world.
The recent Cochrane High School graduate will represent Alberta in tie down roping at the event, which runs July 13 to 19 in Rock Springs.
With more than 1,800 contestants from across the United States, Canada, and beyond, the NHSFR offers over $150,000 in prizes, $200,000 in added money, and $375,000 in college scholarships.
“I’ll be up on the 15th and the 17th, and hopefully I’ll make it to the short go,” Holton says. “I’ll probably hit up some jackpots throughout the whole week too.”
The top 20 athletes based on their first two performances will qualify for the championship round on Saturday night, where world titles are decided.
Holton started rodeo at just four years old and got into tie down roping when he was 14.
“I’ve been doing all that stuff for a while now,” he says. “Cochrane’s a pretty good place to get into rodeo. A lot of people around here do it.”
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Fresh off graduation, Holton has big goals ahead. He plans to attend farrier school in Oklahoma and hopes to keep chasing his rodeo dreams.
“I’ll probably do some amateur rodeos this summer and maybe go pro one day in the future.”
Fans can follow Holton live at thecowboychannel.com, with daily broadcasts at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. from July 13 to 19. Championship Saturday will be televised nationally.