The cowboys and cowgirls of Oneida County have nearly wrapped up their High School Rodeo for the season as they competed in the final rodeos for 2025 at the Idaho State High School Rodeo Association Rodeo in Pocatello, Idaho June 7-14.  The contest brought together the best cowboys and cowgirls from across the state to compete with more than one local favorite rising to the top.

To qualify for the week long, fast paced rodeo, contestants from the 9 districts around the state must finish the season in sixth place or better in their various events, 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, tie down roping, and team roping), Bella Smith (breakaway roping), Alex Marshall (steer wrestling and team roping), Colter Reeder (team roping), Oak Smith (steer wrestling, tie down roping, and team roping), Ruger Smith (steer wrestling, tie down roping, and team roping), and Colter Bennett (team roping and tie down roping).

As rodeoing often goes, the Oneida County 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.  Taking first place in each go of the week, an amazing feat in itself, finished the final go with a stellar 82 point ride, vault to the top of the competition.  

The 2025 Idaho State Champion bareback rider is a title Lincoln has long sought for.  Competing for the title for years, the cowboy had previously come up short, often due to injury.  With more experience under his belt and a sound body, the senior finally accomplished the lofty goal. 

Lincoln shared, “It felt so good to win state, especially to do it in my senior year. I’ve fought a lot of injuries so it felt good to come in strong and just show how much I love to ride buckin’ horses.”

Alex Marshall also finished the Idaho State High School rodeo with a champion title, winning the steer wrestling event.  The Malad senior came into the competition with 10 points to his name.  Earning second place and 9 points in both the 2nd and 3rd go rounds and winning the average to give him an additional 15 points, Marshall secured the lead.  A rainy rodeo on Thursday gave the event an added level of difficulty, but as Marshall said, he was “still able to make a good run on a stronger steer and win the performance.”

Commenting on the exciting rodeo season, Marshall commented,  “My season this year was definitely a good one. I was able to win 1st overall at our district rodeos which is what brought me to state, where I was able to make 4 good runs to win the title.”  In between weekend rodeos throughout the season, Marshall made it a priority to practice every day, whether it was simple groundwork or working through the motions with his horse, clearly focused on winning a title.

Colter Bennett managed a second place finish in the tie down roping, securing his spot as he won the Saturday short-go.   Bennett put himself in a position to compete in short go as he successfully roped in each rodeo, scoring points in two of the go’s.

Each of these three Oneida County cowboys will represent Idaho in the National High School Rodeo held in Rock Springs, Wyoming, July 13-19 at the Sweetwater Events Complex. At the week-long rodeo, over 1,700 high school rodeo athletes from across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand will compete. The event will feature 13 performances over seven days, including traditional rodeo events and shooting competitions.

Idaho High School

Rodeo Association State Finals

June 7-14, 2025

Pocatello, Idaho

BAREBACK RIDING 

Member [1st Go Score] [2nd Go Score] [3rd Go Score] [Short Go Score] [Final Score] 

1.  REEDER, LINCOLN 70.0 71.00 74.0 82.0 297.0  

STEER WRESTLING

Member [1st Go Score] [2nd Go Score] [3rd Go Score] [Short Go Score] [Totals Pts] 

1.  MARSHALL, ALEX 11.040 6.460 5.970 7.930 45.00

SMITH, OAK 6.340 NT 16.220 6.630 24.00

SMITH, RUGER NT NT NT NT 9.00 

BREAKAWAY

Member [1st Go Score] [2nd Go Score] [3rd Go Score] [Short Go Score] [Totals Pts] 

SMITH, BELLA 3.610 NT NT NT 5.50

TEAM ROPING

Member [1st Go Score] [2nd Go Score] [3rd Go Score] [Short Go Score] [Totals Pts]

SMITH, OAK & SMITH, RUGER NT 9.220 NT NT 9.00 

BENNETT, COLTER & MARSHALL, ALEX 15.120 NT NT NT 7.00

REEDER, COLTER & REEDER, LINCOLN NT 17.870 NT NT 5.00

TIE DOWN ROPING

Member [1st Go Score] [2nd Go Score] [3rd Go Score] [Short Go Score] [Final Score] 

2.  BENNETT, COLTER 13.300 17.560 11.900 8.790 28.00

SMITH, RUGER 22.660 17.040 14.540 10.290 17.00

SMITH, OAK 24.990 NT 13.830 20.290 10.00 

REEDER, LINCOLN NT 15.210 29.320 NT 8.00