TEXAS JUNIOR HIGH RODEO ASSOCIATION - REGION 1
TEXAS JUNIOR HIGH STATE FINALS PAGE
WHEN?
May 27 - June 2, 2012
Entry forms are due at Vernon on March 25th.
WHERE?
Gonzales, Texas ~ J B Wells Arena
WHO QUALIFIES?
The Top 10 in each event. In the event one of the Top 10 Finalists draws out or is unable to compete, the next contestant in line shall move up and in case of a tie for 10th place, all will be allowed to move up.
Team Ropers - the combined total of your points and your partner's points determines where you rank in the Top 10. The way you enter the Region Finals at Vernon (partner & position) is how you must enter for state finals.
Ribbon Ropers - the combined total of your points and your partner's points determines where you rank in the Top 10. The way you enter the Region Finals at Vernon (partner & position) is how you must enter for state finals.
Here is a list of our 46 members who qualified for State Finals.
HOW MUCH?
Entry fees are $80 per event. Each contestant pays a $25 office charge.
Adult season passes are $60 and child season passes are $40. There are 11 performances. Individual ticket prices are $8 for adults and $5 for children. You can still buy the season pass once you get to Gonzales. (Hint: the draw is set up so that multi-event contestants only compete in one event per performance, if possible.)
Each contestant gets one stall for each event they qualified in - excluding chute dogging and junior bull riding. Each stall is $90 for the week. If you plan to take a back-up horse or one for the nightly jackpots, the extra stall will cost you $180. **All stalls must be reserved at time of entry - March 25th. You cannot show up in Gonzales with an extra horse and expect to get a stall.
Parking is $125 and all spaces have full hook-ups. There will not be a "honey wagon". Regions will be parked together in groups. Contestants get the grounds first but if any hook-ups are not reserved, then the City of Gonzales will allow other family members to park on the grounds. To make reservations with the City for extra family, call 830-672-3192.
Now for the really good news: All of your entry fees, stalls, parking and season tickets must be paid when your entry form is turned in at Vernon. These payments will be deposited by April 5th in the Region 1 account. Then I send one check to the State Office with all of your forms. Don't forget that your Vernon rodeo entry fees will be deposited at the same time. It is an expensive weekend.
WHAT'S GOING ON?
Here is a tentative schedule of events for the week and the order of events for each performance.
There is a one event that is open to all TJHRA members, regardless of whether you qualified for the State Finals Rodeo (as long as you are in good standing.) In cooperation with the National Rifle Association of Amerca, one of our national sponsors, junior high members will have a Light Rifle (.22) Match this year. Entry fee is $25 and is due April 10th in the state office. The top 4 at the State Finals will qualify for nationals along with the rodeo event qualifiers.
Each region is required to work in specified places throughout the week.
Program sales before each performance ~ Region 1 is assigned to the 10th performance Friday night. We will need three adult volunteers for the Friday shift and one more to help with the Short Go performance Saturday morning when all of the regions work. Please be ready one hour before each performance and stay until the rodeo has only four events left.
Carry sponsor flags in the grand entry ~ Region 1 is assigned for the 5th performance Wednesday morning. There are 25 flags so we need a lot of student volunteers. All regions help with the Short Go so we will need at least 1 volunteer for Saturday morning. Please sign up on Sunday.
Boy's goat tying and bull riding ~ Our Directors will be looking for adult volunteers to help with these events. You don't have to work every performance but please help out at least once while you are down there. Volunteers will need to be in proper dress code.
ANY ACCOMMODATIONS?
Rooms are hard to come by in Gonzales and since you can have a full hook-up on the grounds, I do not try to get a room block in this town. You may be able to snag a room on your own, though, so here are the motels and bed & breakfast inns that the City of Gonzales office recommended:
Sleep Inn & Suites ~ 830-672-1888
Best Western Regency Inn & Suites ~ 830-672-5555
Care Free Inn ~ 830-672-9611
The Lazy F Guest Ranch ~ 210-391-6378
Belle Oaks Inn ~ 830-857-8613
The St. James Inn ~ 830-672-7066
I strongly recommend staying on the grounds. Parking spaces are $125 for the entire week and each one of them has full hook-ups. Regions are parked together so it makes it easy to have group meals during the week. If you don’t have a trailer with living quarters, consider renting an RV for the week. (Many companies will deliver and set it up for you.) The trailer rental and parking space should end up being cheaper than a motel room for a week. Plus, you have the convenience of being close to the action and not having to deal with town traffic every day.
The City of Gonzales will take reservations for RV hook-ups for additional family members down by the river and at the RV park on the outskirts of town. Their number is 830-672-3192.
ANYTHING ELSE I NEED TO KNOW?
We won't know of any changes until later this spring.
Each contestant is allowed one helper per event. The helper MUST have a rodeo ticket to the performance in which he/she will be assisting the contestant. Passes will be available one hour before each performance at the front entrance of the rodeo arena (where programs are sold.) A helper's pass is necessary for the helper to gain access to the arena area and behind the chutes to help the contestant. The pass is good for that particular performance only! Once the helper is finished assisting the contestant, he/she is asked to leave the arena area and return to the grandstands or bleachers.
Richmond Equipment will be renting golf carts for the Junior High State Finals. You must make a reservation BEFORE you come to Gonzales! Here is the reservation form with contact information.
We tend to do a pretty good job with last-minute ideas on the grand entry. The drive to Gonzales provides plenty of time for brainstorming. In the meantime, here is copy of the guidelines for the grand entry.
Follow this link to find out how many points you carry with you to Gonzales and how many are up for grabs throughout the week.
Here is a link that explains how event directors are selected at Gonzales.
You will receive a new back number when you check in at Gonzales. This is your ticket into the rodeo performances. It must be pinned onto the back of your shirt - not your belt loop or folded in your pocket. Hence the name: BACK number. You all have done a good job all year. I don't expect any problems.
Full dress code is required at all times that you are inside the fenced arena whether you are competing or sitting in the stands.
Even when full dress code is not required, you still must have your back number on your back.
When you eat or shop in town, make sure the salesperson sees you are wearing your back number. Many businesses offer discounts to the contestants.
You all have done a great job at our region rodeos this year concerning dress code. I don't think this will be an issue at Gonzales.
If you are taking horses to Gonzales, you must have current coggins for each one. Bring a copy with you to check-in. You have to copy specific information for each horse onto the form provided by the health inspector.
If you are bringing horses from outside of Texas, you are also required to have health papers for each horse. This only applies to horses crossing state lines.
I also recommend a rabies vaccination.
So, to reiterate: everyone needs coggins papers. Only New Mexico and Oklahoma residents need health papers.
RODEO LINKS:
Texas Junior High Rodeo Association
National Junior High Rodeo Association
Official TJHRA Logo Company
TSHSRA OFFICE
PO BOX 1414
CANYON, TX 79015
806.655.9910
806.655.2419 (fax)
e-mail me at:
MIKEY JO DUGGAN
SECRETARY