The opening performances of the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyo., is underway.
Humboldt County is will represented in the saddle bronc riding, with three contestants in the event. Mitch Pollock, who rides for College of Southern Idaho, is the two-time defending champion from the Rocky Mountain Region.
Pollock is currently ninth after his performance of Sunday with a score of 70 points. Pollock entered the finals third in the nation. Preston Burr leads the field with a score of 78.5.
Shaun Mentaberry, who is is in his first year at College of Southern Idaho, finished second in the Rocky Mountain Region.
Mentaberry, who competed in the last two National High School Finals Rodeo, is in his first College National Final. The Lowry High School graduate scored 59 points and was 19th.
Luke Logan from Paradise Valley is the third Humboldt County rider in the saddle bronc field. He is also competing for College of Southern Idaho. He had bad luck in his first performance and did not record a score.
Jake Logan will join his brother Luke Logan in the team roping at the College National Finals Rodeo. The duo were fourth in the final Rocky Mountain standings.
Paradise Valley’s Trase Bell is also in Wyoming competing in the team roping for Eastern Oregon University. Bell finished second in the heeler points with 538 in the Northwest Region.
The CNFR is the best of the best in college rodeo. It is where the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association crowns individual event champions in saddle bronc riding, bare back riding, bull riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, breakaway roping, and goat tying.
National team championships are also awarded to both men’s and women’s teams. Over 400 cowboys and cowgirls from over 100 universities and colleges compete in Casper each year. Contestants compete all year in one of the NIRA’s 11 regions for a chance to rope or ride at the CNFR.
The CNFR concludes on Saturday evening.
