Some of the best Junior and Senior High School competitors will be in High River this weekend for the High Country Rodeo Club District 1 rodeo.

Treasurer Jolien Bursy says it's a big event and they're hoping some good crowds will come out and cheer the kids on.

"With the Junior High rodeo there's a bit of an adapted event because of the age category, the junior high rodeo association is from Grades 5 to 8 so they have barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying, chute dogging which is adapted from steer wrestling so instead of jumping off a horse onto a steer they just throw the steer out of the chute, and then the rough stock events are on steers so they have saddle bronc, bareback riding and bull riding but they're just on small steers," Bursy says. "And then the High School events are normal events, these are kids Grades 9 through 12 and their events are, in addition to the regular rodeo events they have pole bending, goat tying and and breakaway roping for the girls." 

Some of these young people could end up on the major rodeo circuit someday, and some are even trying it now.

"The high school kids definitely tried their hand at some pro rodeos and take their permits out and try to achieve that so we have some competitors out of our district that are doing that at this time so there's some great competition for everyone to come and have a view at," she says.

The goal for the Junior High School contestants is to be in the top ten and advance to the Provincial finals in Nanton the last weekend in May and the top four will get to go to the Nationals in Georgia.

Then the High Schools, Provincials are in Olds and the Nationals will be held in Wyoming.

The rodeo goes outdoors at the High River Ag Grounds Friday with the Junior High Rodeo at 3:00 p.m., Saturday the High School rodeo starts at 10:00 a.m. and Sunday at 11:00 a.m.

There are about 75 competitors expected for the junior high rodeo and about 150 for the High School rodeo from across southern Alberta, Saskatchewan and from Cranbrook B.C.