The Alabama High School Rodeo Association will present a high school rodeo at  Cattleman Park arena  Saturday and Sunday with a large number of local cowboys and cowgirls competing.

The rodeo times are 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday. A Cowboy Church service will be at 8:30 Sunday morning.

Carol Ellis, publicity chair for the rodeo, said, unlike the Professional Cowboy Association (PCA) rodeo that was held recently at the Cattleman Park arena, the high school rodeo  has five events for cowgirls as well as five events for cowboys.

“Any high school kid, grades nine through 12, is eligible to become a member of the High School Rodeo Association,” Ellis said. “The association has 20 rodeos a season but a cowboy or cowgirl must compete in 12 of those to qualify for the state finals that are held in Andalusia in June. From there, the top four qualifiers in each event compose Team Alabama and go to the rodeo at the national level which changes locations every two years.”

This year’s national will be in Gilette, Wyoming in July.

‘There are many colleges and universities that have rodeo teams that high school seniors may consider attending. Many of those who attended these universities attend on rodeo scholarships,” Ellis said.

In addition to the Saturday and Sunday high school rodeos this weekend at Cattleman Park, there will also be a round robin team roping event on Friday night to help raise money for the production of the rodeo.

Ellis said thanks to all of the event sponsors admission is free to all  first through 12th grade students when accompanied by their parents. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students. Ages five and under are admitted free.

“Everyone is invited to come out this weekend and enjoy the good family entertainment of high school rodeo,” Ellis said. X