Four local riders headed to the National High School Finals Rodeo in Wyoming

COURTNEY McCLURE The Standard

NORTH DURHAM: Local teens are headed to Rock Springs, Wyoming, U.S.A., to compete in the National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR). The rodeo starts in July.

The group attending the rodeo includes: Bree Linders, from Cannington; Wesley Cohoon; Patrick Cameron and Ben Hoover, from Port Perry. They are a part of the Ontario High School Rodeo Association (OHSRA).

When competing in rodeo there are different events. Patrick and Ben are competing in bull riding, Bree is competing in barrel racing and pole bending and Wesley is competing in team roping and tie-down-roping.

The OHSRA is dedicated to promoting the sport of rodeo among Ontario students. They take students from Junior and Senior High School. Junior High is grades 5 to 8 and Senior High is grades 9 to 12. Bree, Wesley, Patrick and Ben are all in “Senior High.”

Bree is 16 and Wesley, Patrick and Ben are 17 going on 18 years old.

The members must maintain passing grades, in all of their classes, in order to compete.

Other than competing, Wesley enjoys training young horses. Although Bree enjoys winning “points” for competing, she also loves the adrenaline.

Ben and Patrick like travelling to new places for competitions and meeting other competitors.

The OHSRA also has a scholarship program, to help them achieve their post-secondary educational goals. During the rodeo season, competitors can win “points.” One point is equivalent to $1.00 for their scholarship fund. The points are awarded to the students when the graduate.

For example, Wesley plans to become a farrier. So he can use any points he earns to buy tools, for his trade.

To learn more about the OHSRA, please visit the OHSRA website, at ohsra.ca.

This is not the first time Wesley and Bree have competed in a rodeo which was not close to home. Last year they attended the Canadian High School Finals Rodeo, in Manitoba.

The trip from Ontario to Wyoming will take about three-days, and the Cohoons will be bring three horses along.

If you would like to sponsor these four talented riders or provide a financial donation, to help pay for their trip, please contact Wesley’s mom, Linda Cohoon. Linda can be reached by email, at cohoon668@hotmail.com.