Local cowgirl qualifies for World Junior Championships – Red Bluff Daily News
Gerber’s ten-year-old Valen Joe Owen has qualified for the World Championships in the goat tying event. She will be one of more than 1,000 contestants from 29 states, including four Canadian provinces. (Contributed)
The local cowgirl heads to Las Vegas in December to compete in the Vegas Tuffest Jr. World Championships.
Gerber’s ten-year-old Valen Joe Owen has qualified for the World Championships in the goat tying event. She will be one of more than 1,000 competitors from 29 states, including four Canadian provinces, who will compete Dec. 6-13 in the Mike & Sherrilyn Johnson Vegas Tuffest Junior World Championship.
“Fallin is very committed to the sport of rodeo,” her mother, Kelly Owen, said in an email to the Daily News. “She works hard in school and religiously attends rodeo events. She is very excited to secure her spot in Las Vegas.
The tournament takes place on the first weekend of the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.
“We held 41 qualifiers across the United States and Canada to give our rodeo youth an equal opportunity to make it to Vegas and the chance to win their share of $1.5 million+ in cash and prizes,” said Sherrilyn Johnson, event organizer and four event organizers. – The National Finals Rodeo qualifier said in a press release.
Her husband, Mike, is also known as Iron Rodeo and has qualified for the National Finals Rodeo 23 times. He notes that the event offers barrel racing, double roping, goat roping, breakaway roping, tie roping and team roping.
Age groups include 19 and under, 15 and under, 12 and under, and 10 and under. The press release also noted that each rodeo champion will receive between $10,000 and $30,000 in cash.
“We have the highest stakes of five youth events in the history of the rodeo, and this year we have added Team Roping, which will push it even higher,” he said in a press release, also noting that the total payouts, including two Dodge trucks, will exceed Ram $1.5 million in cash and prizes this year. “Winners will receive Trek electric bikes, roaches, saddles, rope boxes, world champion rings, and lots of swag from our range of sponsors.
Attendance is free, beginning each morning at 8:15 a.m. at The Expo @ World Market Center Las Vegas located at 435 S. Grand Central Parkway in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event will also be broadcast live online at www.Johnsonsportline.com.
