By Kim Hutchison
Staff Reporter:
Ponoka Composite High School’s Wacey Finkbeiner has a lot to be proud of.
The National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA) is the oldest youth rodeo organization in America and its leaders have appointed the Grade 11 student and skilled bull rider to the Wrangler High School All Star Rodeo Team, the first-ever corporate-sponsored youth rodeo team.
“I’m excited,” said Finkbeiner. “Last year was my first year in high school rodeo and they base their decision on the results of the previous year’s competition.”
Finkbeiner, whose father was a professional bull rider, began participating in the sport when he was 14 and his years of hard work and dedication have paid off.
The team is fashioned after Wrangler’s Champion Pro Rodeo Team which includes stars such as Trevor Brazile, Joe Beaver, Dan Mortensen, Dustin Elliot, Kelly Kaminski, Will Lowe and Hall-of-Famer, the late Jim Shoulders. Finkbeiner earned his position based on leadership qualities, academic eligibility and athletic achievements. Members of this team receive official competition apparel consisting of Wrangler Twenty X shirts embroidered with the team logo and two pairs of competition jeans. In addition, team members receive an official team certificate signed by Wrangler Jeans and Shirts President, Phil McAdams.
“We are excited to again this year expand Wrangler’s rodeo sponsorship program at the high school level,” said Jeff Chadwick, director of special events for Wrangler Rodeo. “As always it gives us a tremendous sense of pride to associate the Wrangler brand with promising young men and women. We’re confident each member of the team will be an outstanding goodwill ambassador for the sport of rodeo.”
The mission of NHSRA is to help today’s young people become responsible, dedicated adults through the sport of rodeo. High school rodeo has come a long way since its start as s single event held in Hallettsville, Texas in 1947. It now features over 10,000 members and 1,250 sanctioned rodeos in 41 states, five Canadian provinces and Australia.
NHRSA can be contacted by phoning 1-800-466-4772 or by visiting their website at www.nhsra.org.