Meeker students compete on high school rodeo circuit

Meeker High School is not new to rodeo, and three more Cowboys are participating for the 2022-2023 high school rodeo season, Jessi Pelloni, Eva Scritchfield and Wagner Brown. Both Brown and Scritchfield compete in Wyoming and Pelloni in Colorado.

“Since we do not have a team, the kids can choose which state they want to compete in,” commented Teresa Anderson, who is not unfamiliar with high school rodeo.

Both of Anderson’s children, Lane and Ellie, competed in rodeo, but they are by no means the first Cowboys to choose rodeo. The Norells and Klinglesmiths each competed in the past and have helped to create and foster the beginning of the rodeo family in Meeker High School, an environment of help and assistance. 

The season is year-long with a small break in the heart of the winter and culminating in June. Fall is the short half of the year with just four weeks of rodeos, then beginning again in April the participants have another round that ends with a state rodeo. The top four riders from each event at state then go on to the National High School Rodeo, which moves around from state to state.

According to Anderson there are approximately 55-60 participants in each event. All of which attend a single event each week in their respective state, which requires extensive travel for the participant and parents. 

“This weekend Jessi will get to compete in Grand Junction, but Wagnar and Eva will be in Jackson Hole,” said Anderson. 

“Rodeo is such a huge commitment,” began Anderson, “the kids must choose to practice on their own, but it is so much more than practice; they are caring for another living and breathing creature that they need to keep healthy to be successful.”

As it currently stands all three ladies are improving on their times each week. Pelloni, who also competes year round, is currently sitting in fifth for barrels in the state of Colorado, just one spot from potentially making it to the National Rodeo Finals.

Special to the Herald Times