By STEPHANIE BUNKER
Moapa Valley Progress
Several youth from the Moapa Valley have participated in the Wrangler Junior Rodeo Association (WJRA) throughout the last year. A few of them have placed quite high in the end of the year standings.
The WJRA Rodeos are two-day events held on six different weekends throughout the year. This gives the young cowboys and -girls 12 rodeos to accumulate points in each event. By the end of the year all the points are added up to determine who scored the highest and who takes home the All Around Champion title and prize.
In 2013 Moapa Valley’s own, Cole Christensen (12) achieved the Jr. Boys All-Around Champion and his 8-year-old sister Rilee Christensen won the Girls Pee Wee Reserve All-Around Champion. Oakley Scronce also placed 4th in the Jr. Girls All-Around.
To place in the top for the overall competition the youth must compete and do well in several different events. Cole placed first in the team roping, goat tying and flags. He also placed 2nd in breakaway roping and 3rd in steer stopping.
Rilee also did well in her other events. She placed first in the pole bending, 2nd in goat tail pull and dummy roping as well as 4th in breakaway dummy roping and barrels.
Oakley Scronce secured 3rd place in break-away roping and 4th place in barrels and goat tying to earn her title.
As with any sport, rodeo takes time and practice to do well in the events. Cole Christensen finds that rodeo is the only sport he is interested in. He puts all his effort into doing it well.
“My parents have done the same thing and I’ve done this since 2 years old and I like to do it,” Cole said.
His favorite event is the team roping because he has a horse that makes it fun for him. Cole had already received the All-Around Champion in the Pee Wee class but had never achieved it in the Junior class. As his 3rd year participating as a junior, Christensen was determined to get the All-Around Champion title this year. And he did.
For his efforts he won a saddle and a belt buckle.
Rilee won a custom hat, an engraved pocket knife, and a saddle pad for Reserve All-Around Champion.
Their parents are big supporters of the two kids.
“We practice almost every day,” said mom, Kelly Christensen. “It teaches the kids responsibility and teaches them to take care of things.”
Several more kids from Moapa Valley also participated and gained experience in the rodeos throughout the year. Ellie Webber participated in the Pee Wee girls class. Trinity Scronce was in the Jr. Girls class as well as Andi Webber. Shayla Pratt competed with the Senior Girls. Gary Pratt was in Senior Boys class.
