(Shenandoah) — Three Shenandoah middle schoolers have been excelling in the Junior Rodeo circuit, and have taken their talents far enough to qualify for the National Junior Rodeo June 22nd-28th.
Jerney Millikan is the daughter of Carey and Todd Millikan and a 7th grader at Shenandoah Community School District. She competes in rodeo, volleyball, basketball, and track.
While competing at the state finals rodeo in Bloomfield, Iowa she qualified for Nationals in the barrels and poles competitions.
She won 2nd in the average in barrels and also placed 2nd in the average in breakaway roping.
“This is my first time, I just kind of try to set myself a goal, like try to get some points in the all around and stuff like that,” said Millikan.
Millikan’s partners in her events are beloved horses Queso, a palomino mare, and Seven, a bay mare. She gives alot of credit to them for helping her reach her goals.
“I ride a really good horse named Seven. She took me a long way,” Millikan said. “We just started last year working together, and we just worked a lot and a lot in the practice pin, we really have gained a lot together.”
Bristal Johnson, daughter of Steve and Trisha Johnson, and an 8th grader at Iowa Connections Academy, also qualified for National Junior High School Rodeo along with Millikan.
Johnson qualified for Nationals as the champion light rifle shooter and qualified in pole bending at tying for 4th place with Jerney Millikan, where you have to be in the top four places to qualify in an event.
“I won shooting this year and then my horse Bing is pretty easy to ride if I ride her correctly.” Johnson said. “The competition was pretty hard. Jerney gave me a run for my money.”
Coy Wilson, son of Scott Wilson and Kerry Pryor, is 14 and an 8th grader with the Ignite school in Shenandoah.
Wilson is a two-time Iowa Junior High School Qualifier for Nationals Finals Rodeo, Iowa Champion Saddle Bronc Rider, Iowa Champion Bareback Rider, Qualifier in Bull Riding.
“I’ve made a lot of accomplishments in the last three years. I ride saddle bronc, bulls, and bareback, and I won the world in 2023, and I made nationals in 2022. The world finals were in Las Vegas, and nationals last year was in Des Moines,” said Wilson.
Wilson is also now a 3x JRNFR qualifier Saddle Bronc, 2023 JRNFR world champion Saddle Bronc.
For more information, visit https://nhsra.com/juniorhighfinals/
For full interview with the three qualifiers, click and listen below.