Elementary, high school students to compete in rodeo in Lake Waccamaw
LAKE WACCAMAW, NC (WWAY) — Dozens of elementary, junior high, and high school students from across North Carolina are getting ready to saddle up and compete at the Coastal Challenge Rodeo happening right here in the Cape Fear.
The North Carolina High School and Junior High School Rodeo Association is putting on the family-friendly event happening April 5 – 6 at the Benton/BTS Arena & Exhibition Center at the Boys’ & Girls’ Home in Lake Waccamaw.
Across the state of North Carolina, 11 elementary, 38 junior high and 81 high school students will be competing. Blair Green has two daughters competing next weekend. She said typically, most rodeos are held in the western end of the state, especially for the NC High School and Junior High School Association.
The events that will be showcased are saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, goat-tying, tie-down roping, barrel racing, pole bending, ribbon roping, steer wresting, breakaway roping, chute dogging, team roping, and bull riding.
The NC High School and Junior High School Rodeo Association offers an outlet for youth to compete in something other than traditional sports. The organization said they learn life lessons of “winning & losing”, the value of hard work, and they learn responsibility and care for animals. Green reiterated it is a tight knit organization that is supported by parents that value family, agriculture, and the western lifestyle.
On Friday, April 5, the event will begin at 7pm. This performance will be high school students competing. On Saturday, the event will begin at 9 a.m. The Young Guns (elementary students) will compete first, followed by 2 rounds of competition for the Junior High students. The high school performance will begin at 7 p.m. Gates open an hour before each performance.
Admission is $10 per person by cash only at the gate. Ages 5 and under are free.
Click here to see more from the Coastal Rodeo Challenge.
