Local boy qualifies for National Rodeo

MOSES LAKE - Thirteen year-old Austin Herrera from Moses Lake has qualified for the 2013 National Junior High School Rodeo to be held at Red Rock State Park in Gallup, New Mexico June 23-29.

Herrera has been rodeoing since the age of 5. He competes in breakaway roping, goat tying, calf stake tying, bull riding, ribbon roping, chute dogging, steer daubing, and is a team roper (heeler).

Herrera will be one of 900 competitors from the US, Canada and Australia vying for thousands of dollars in scholarships and prizes in the week-long event.

"I am really excited to be going to New Mexico. It's going to be a lot of fun," Austin said. "I've been involved in rodeo all my life, so I think I'll do pretty good down there."

Gallup has been host to the annual event for the past eight years. This is Austin's second trip to Nationals.

"His father Shawn and I are very proud of the cowboy he has become," Cassie Herrera said. "Austin is so excited to go down to Nationals again. He has made a lot of friends all over the country, and can't wait to visit with them. He will be competing in the goat tying event where you run your horse to the goat, dismount while the horse is still running, flank the goat and tie three legs as fast as you can."