The cowboys and cowgirls of Oneida County have wrapped up their High School Rodeo for the season as they competed in the final rodeos for 2023 at the Idaho State High School Rodeo Association Rodeo in Pocatello, Idaho June 3-10.  The event brought together the best cowboys and cowgirls from across the state to compete in more than a dozen events.

To qualify for the week long, fast paced rodeo, contestants from the nine districts around the state must finish the season in sixth place or better, based on points they have accumulated throughout the season.  The State rodeo features three full go rounds followed by a top 20 round.  With potentially more than 500 entries in each go round, each of the three rodeos are stretched out over a day and a half, followed by the final Top 20 rodeo held on Saturday.  To qualify for the final rodeo, a contestant must be in the top 20 of their event, based on points they have accumulated over the weeks’ rodeos plus placement points earned coming into state rodeo.

Several of the valley's finest young cowboys and cowgirls qualified to compete at the state rodeo, including Lincoln Reeder bareback riding, bull riding, and tie down roping), Tommy Angell (saddle bronc riding), Ruger Smith (steer wrestling), Holdan Tubbs (steer wrestling), Maclyn Reeder (breakaway roping), Sheridan Brown (goat tying), Mikell Keetch (breakaway roping) and Rusty Foy (bull riding).

 As rodeo goes, the competitors had some great times and runs as well as some frustrating rides and misses throughout the rodeo week.  Lincoln Reeder had an exciting first place win in the bareback riding, winning the first go round with a score of 65, as well as taking fourth place bull wrestling in the second go round with a score of 66. Ruger Smith had two, top ten finishes in the steer wrestling, taking seventh in the second go round and first place in the third go round with a time of 5.830.

Stepping in the arena isn’t for the faint of heart.  To compete at any level of rodeo takes effort and determination, but to compete with the best of the best demands an added measure of dedication, grit, and mental toughness.  All the cowboys and cowgirls of Oneida County competing in High School deserve a round of applause, with an extra hand to those that competed to the state level.   Congratulations and well done!

1st Go Round

Bareback

1.  Lincoln Reeder   65

Saddle Bronc

Tommy Angell          NT

Steer Wrestling

Ruger Smith            19.500

Holdan Tubbs          NT

Goat Tying

Sheridan Brown  11.040

Breakaway

Maclyn Reeder    13.870

Mikell Keetch           NT

Bull Riding

Rusty Foy            NT

Lincoln Reeder    NT

Tie Down Roping

Lincoln Reeder    NT

2nd Go Round

Bareback

Lincoln Reeder    NT

Saddle Bronc

Tommy Angell          NT

Steer Wrestling

7.  Ruger Smith   10.270

Holdan Tubbs          NT

Goat Tying

Sheridan Brown  9.660

Breakaway

Mikell Keetch               4.380

Maclyn Reeder    4.610

Bull Riding

4.  Lincoln Reeder   66

Rusty Foy            NT

Tie Down Roping

Lincoln Reeder    NT

3rd Go Round

Bareback

Lincoln Reeder    NT

Saddle Bronc

Tommy Angell          NT

Steer Wrestling

1. Ruger Smith    5.830

Holdan Tubbs          NT

Goat Tying

Sheridan Brown  16.420

Breakaway Roping

Maclyn Reeder    3.750

Mikell Keetch           NT

Bull Riding

Lincoln Reeder    NT

Rusty Foy            NT

Tie Down Roping

Lincoln Reeder    21.680