Top college hands compete for crowns at CNFR

By Courtesy PRCA
Posted Monday, June 9, 2008

Nearly 400 of the best cowboys and cowgirls representing colleges and universities in 11 regions across the United States start competition this weekend at the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) at the Casper (Wyo.) Events Center.

The 60th CNFR kicks off June 15 with a performance of bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding.

Slack is scheduled from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. MT on June 16-17. Daily performances start at 7 p.m. June 18. The rodeo culminates with the championship round at 7 p.m. June 21. Tickets for slack and each individual performance range from $8 to $20. Ticket packages are also available. Call the Casper Events Center at (800) 442-2256 for more information.

Championships will be awarded to men’s and women’s team and men’s and women’s all-around, as well as the event winners in bareback riding, barrel racing, breakaway roping, bull riding, goat tying, saddle bronc riding, team roping, tie-down roping, and steer wrestling.

Student athletes will also be competing for more than $200,000 in scholarships from the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. Scholarship Awards Program.

This year’s field features reigning bareback riding champion Tilden Hooper of Panola (Texas) College and Nikki Steffes pf the University of Wyoming who won the women's all-around are the only returning champions from 2007.

Last year’s other champions are as follows: Men’s team – Ranger (Texas) College; women’s team – University of Wyoming; saddle bronc riding – Taos Muncy, Panhandle State (Okla.) University; steer wrestling – Ben Shofner, McNeese State University (Lake Charles, La.); team roping – Cody Tew, Weatherford (Texas) College/Matt Robertston, Tarleton State University (Stephenville, Texas); tie-down roping – Ben Mayworth, Troy (Ala.) University; bull riding – Beau Schroeder, McNeese State University (Lake Charles, La.); barrel racing – Alicia Sandoval, New Mexico Junior College; breakaway roping – Kristi Lee, Sam Houston State University (Huntsville, Texas); and goat tying – Kayla Nelson, University of Wyoming.

CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE DETAILS, SCHEDULES AND DRAWS!