Rodeo is a time-honored tradition, and rodeo fans from across the country regularly attend rodeo events to enjoy the festivities and competitive spirit that they are known for. While many rodeo events feature adult contestants, the Arizona Junior Rodeo Association sponsors events for younger competitors. The junior rodeo gives contestants who are between the ages of four and 18 the chance to compete in a wide range of competitions and to develop a love for the rodeo that they can carry on throughout adulthood.

What is the AJRA?

AJRA, or Arizona Junior Rodeo Association, has been in existence for more than five decades, and its popularity has increased over the years. It focuses on building character in children and teens, including areas related to hard work, sportsmanship and the family and western lifestyle that rodeo are known for. Junior rodeo features a number of competitive events, including calf roping, team roping, chute dogging, steer riding, calf riding, ribbon roping, bull riding and others. Because this is a non-profit organization, its success is based in large part on donations as well as parent volunteers. Whether you are interested in participating as a volunteer, a fan, a sponsor or a competitor, this is a wonderful organization to get involved with.

AJRA Finals

Each year, the Arizona Junior Rodeo Association hosts a series of events that culminate into the AJRA finals. These events are typically two-day events that are held over a weekend, and the schedule for junior rodeo runs from September through May each season. Some of the cities that have hosted these rodeo events in the past include Williams, Cottonwood, Buckeye, Casa Grande, Gilbert and others. This year, the AJRA finals will be held on May 16 and 17 in Prescott, Arizona. The finals bring together the top 10 qualifies in each event to compete in head to head competition in their events. The AJRA finals also include an awards banquet, a raffle drawing, dry camping, RV camping and even cowboy church.

From the individual competitions leading up to the AJRA finals to the final event held in May, junior rodeo provides young rodeo enthusiasts with a lot to be excited about. While it may be too late this year for newcomers to compete, those who are interested in competing for the next season can sign up to compete at the first event for the Arizona Junior Rodeo Association for the 2015-2016 season.
Thanks for joining the CLN, Ak-Chin Indian Community and Earnhardt Auto Centers “Road Team” through Prescott, Arizona for the 2015 AJRA Finals.

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