Palmyra Middle School students qualify for National Junior High Finals Rodeo this week in Des Moines

PALMYRA, Mo. — Six students from Palmyra Middle School recently competed in the Missouri Junior High Rodeo finals held May 17-18, and five of them earned a position on the Missouri National Junior High rodeo team that is competing this week through June 29 at ithe 19th annual National Junior High Finals Rodeo (NJHFR) in Des Moines, Iowa.

Kinley Timbrook qualified for nationals by being the reserve state champion in pole bending and in fourth place in barrel racing.

Delaina Meyer qualified for nationals by finishing at the state meet as the champion in barrel racing and 22 light rifle and in fourth place in ribbon roping. Meyer won both rounds of state finals barrel racing and was the finals champion.

Donovan Meyer qualified for nationals by taking third place in state goat tying, fourth in state boys breakaway and third in state 22 light rifle.

Olivia Dames qualified for Nationals by winning state championships as a breakaway champion, pole bending champion, barrel racing reserve champion, all-around reserve champion and Missouri State Finals all-around reserve champion. She was recognized for Rookie of the Year and Horse of the Year at the state level.

Christian James qualified for nationals wth a fourth-place finish in state goat tying.

Brylee Dames completed in state finals for breakaway and ribbon roping.

Roughly 1,200 contestants from 43 states, five Canadian provinces, Australia and Mexico will compete in the NJHFR, the world’s largest junior high rodeo.

NJHFR contestants will compete for more than $80,000 in prizes, more than $200,000 in college scholarships and a chance to be named a National Junior High Finals Rodeo world champion. Contestants must finish in the top 20 based on their combined times/scores in the first two go-rounds to advance to the final round. World champions will be determined based on their three go-round combined times/scores.

Saturday’s championship performance will be televised nationally as part of the Cinch High School Rrodeo Tour telecast series on RFD-TV. Live broadcasts of all NJHFR performances will air on www.cowboychannelplus.com/. Times are 7 p.m. on June 23 and 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. each day thereafter.