North Tama’s Kane Kucera stands for a photo with the Iowa Junior High Rodeo Princess after recently qualifying for the Iowa National Junior High Rodeo team in the Light Rifle Shooting competition. Photo provided

Kane Kucera, a sixth grade student at North Tama has earned a position on the Iowa National Junior High Rodeo team and will be traveling with fellow teammates to Des Moines June 20-26 to compete at the 16th annual National Junior High Finals Rodeo (NJHFR) in the Light Rifle Shooting competition.

Featuring roughly 1,200 contestants from 44 states, five Canadian provinces, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico, the NJHFR is the world’s largest junior high rodeo. In addition to competing for more than $80,000 in prizes, rodeo contestants will also be vying for more than $200,000 in college scholarships and the chance to be named a National Junior High Finals Rodeo World Champion.

To earn this title, contestants must finish in the Top 20, based on their combined times and scores in the first to rounds to advance to Saturday evening’s final round.

World champions will then be determined based on their three-round combined times and scores. New this year is a $100,000 added money, optional jackpot, available to everyone at finals who cares to enter.

This year the Saturday championship will again be televised nationally as a part of the Cinch High School Rodeo Tour telecast series on RFD-TV. Live broadcasts of all NJHFR performances will air on www.ridepass.com.

Performance times are 7 p.m. on June 20 and 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. each day thereafter.

Along with great rodeo competition and the chance to meet new friends from around the world, NJHFR contestants have the opportunity to enjoy shooting sports, volleyball, contestant dances, family-friendly activities, church services and shopping at the NJHFR tradeshow.

To follow Kucera as he competes at the NJHFR, visit www.NHSRA.com/juniorhighfinals for complete results. For ticket information visit www.iowastatefairgrounds.org.