By Julie Johansen
The annual Jr. High State Rodeo Finals were held Friday and Saturday, May 27 & 28 in Heber City. Five Emery County students qualified to compete in the final rodeos. They are Ladd Coyne, Kayson Jensen, Jessica Fox as well as Korby and Byron Christiansen.
These young men and young woman attend schools in Emery School District but, because Emery High Rodeo Team does not sponsor a junior high school team, are affiliated with the Uintah Basin Jr. High Rodeo team in order to compete in the state high school and junior high rodeo association.
Coyne competed in bull riding, Jensen in the bareback riding, Fox in girls’ breakaway and Byron Christiansen competed in the bull riding, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, boys goat tying and team roping. Korby took part in bareback riding, saddle bronc, boys’ goat tying and team roping competitions.
All five students made it into the “short go” or final rodeo, which included the top ten contestants and five top in the average.
Fox was the only girl to catch all three calves at the finals. Byron Christiansen finished fourth in bareback riding. Korby Christiansen was second in the boys’ goat tying and second in team roping with partner Sammy Taylor also from the Uintah Basin Jr. Team. Korby Christiansen was also named to the Cinch All-Star Team in the boys’ goat tying event.
Finishing in the top four qualifies competitors to compete at national in Lebanon, Tennessee June 20 to 22 , 2016. Korby and Byron gained this honor.
