Four Grant Union students heading to state high school rodeo finals in Prineville
Published 6:15 am Wednesday, June 8, 2022
- Bailey McCracken, a freshman at Grant Union High School, competes at the National High School Rodeo in Lincoln, Nebraska, last summer. She placed 51st out of 187 riders in barrel racing.
PRINEVILLE — Four Grant Union students will compete at the Oregon High School Rodeo State Finals, which will be held in Prineville Wednesday-Saturday, June 8-11.
Jack Strong, a junior, qualified in saddle bronc and bull riding. Meanwhile, Sam McCracken, a senior, qualified in reined cow horse and boys cutting, while his sister Bailey McCracken, a sophomore, qualified in barrel racing and pole bending. Sarah Clark, a junior, qualified in pole bending as well.
Rowdy Israel, a sophomore, fell short of qualifying for the state finals. Israel said she competed in breakaway roping, pole bending and goat tying. Goat tying is a timed competition where the rider jumps off their horse and ties the goat’s legs together. Unfortunately, Israel said, she did not tie the legs tight enough and the goat got up and she got a “no time.”
Israel said she had fun nonetheless.
“I love (rodeos),” she said. “It’s awesome to watch all our Grant County kids grow and support each other.”
The top 20 competitors in each event will move on to state finals competition on Saturday, June 9. From there, the top four overall finishers will move on to the National Finals Rodeo July 17-23 in Gillette, Wyoming.
