Riley Clark of Long Creek, riding for Blue Mountain Community College, competes in team roping at the Northwest Regional No. 6 event April 30 in Hermiston.

HERMISTON — Local rodeo cowboy Tucker Wright of Canyon City will compete at the June 20 College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming.

Wright, who rides for Walla Walla Community College in Walla Walla, Washington, finished fourth overall in steer wrestling for the Northwest Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, and 23rd in the nation.

The top three in the region automatically qualify for the CNFR, and the coach can pick from the top five to add to the team. WWCC coach Buster Barter added Wright to the team.

This will be Wright’s second run at the national competition.

Last year, he finished seventh in the nation as a college freshman.

“I’m going to try to make it better than it was last year,” he said, adding he’s looking forward to returning. “It’s an exciting experience.”

Wright, the son of Trent and Jamie Wright of Canyon City, is working toward an associate degree in animal science and ag business.

“It’s going good,” he said. “It’s tough being a student athlete, but it’s definitely worth it in the long run.”

The 2014 graduate of Grant Union High School in John Day said he plans to return to Canyon City to work this summer before returning to Walla Walla to complete his degree.

Two Grant County cowboys, Wright and Riley Clark of Long Creek, competed in the April 29-30 Northwest Regional No. 6 college rodeo in Hermiston.

It was the last college rodeo of the season for the Northwest circuit.

Wright finished sixth in the Men’s All-around, sixth in steer wrestling with a time of 6.9 and third in team roping as heeler, competing with Tommie Hoyecki, with a time of 8.4.

Clark, who has spent the season riding for Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton, placed eighth in steer wrestling at the event with a time of 8.7. He also competed in team roping.