A local cowgirl is heading to Las Vegas in December to compete in the Vegas Tuffest Jr. World Championship.
Ten-year-old Falyn Jo Owen of Gerber has qualified for the world championships in the goat-tying event. She will be one of more than 1,000 competitors from 29 states, including four Canadian provinces, which will be competing December 6-13 at the Mike and Sherrylynn Johnson Vegas Tuffest Jr. World Championship.
“Falyn is very dedicated to the sport of rodeo, ” her mom, Kaeley Owen, said in an email to the Daily News. “She works hard in school and practices religiously for her rodeo events. She is very excited to secure her spot in Las Vegas.”
The championship is held the first weekend of the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.
“We held 41 qualifiers across the United States and Canada to give our rodeo youth an equal chance to make it to Vegas and the opportunity to win their share of $1.5 million + in cash & prizes,” said Sherrylynn Johnson, the event’s organizer and four-time qualifier for the National Finals Rodeo said in a press release.
Her husband Mike is also known as a rodeo Ironman and qualified for the National Finals Rodeo 23 times. He notes that the event offers barrel racing, double mugging, goat tying, breakaway roping, tie-down roping and team roping.
The age groups include, 19 & Under, 15 & Under, 12 & Under, and 10 & Under. The press release also noted that each champion at the rodeo will take home between 10 and 30 thousand dollars in cash.
“We’re the highest stakes payout in five events for youth in rodeo history and this year, we’ve added Team Roping, which will push it even higher,” he said In a press release and also noted that the total payout, including two Dodge Ram dually trucks is to exceed $1.5 million in cash and awards this year. “Winners will take home electric Trek bikes, Crickets, saddles, rope cans, World Champion rings, and plenty of swag from our A-list group of sponsors.
It is free to attend, starting each morning at 8:15 am at The Expo @ World Market Center Las Vegas located at 435 S. Grand Central Parkway in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event will also be live webcast at www.Johnsonsportline.com.
