Welcome to The Junior Roughstock Association Rodeo

 The Junior Roughstock Association is an organization  and qualifying system that allows bareback, saddle bronc and bull riders from across the world to compete at two of the most coveted Junior Rodeo Finals.  We are currently the longest “professionally” established  Nationally Based Youth Only Roughstock  Association.

The Very Beginning (2015-2017)

The Mini Bareback World Finals  was established in 2015 by Kriby Cannon (Texas) who hosted the first Mini  Bareback World Championships at the first ever event held youth bareback riding competition in Las Vegas, Nevada. Although the first event was held in 2015, Las Vegas Events did not take claim to the Junior National Finals as a complete youth rodeo until 2016.   In the later part of 2016 the Cannon Family partnered with the DeMers family to work in joint efforts to expand the program as The  Mini Bareback and Saddle Bronc World Finals. The DeMers family at the time had a fantastic reputation of hosting youth roughstock opportunities in Montana for over 30 years. At the conclusion of the 2016 season, with bareback and saddle bronc riding being merged under one umbrella the qualifying associations were rebranded as the Junior Roughstock Association. During this transition Kirby Cannon and family choose to focus on life and family in Texas as the DeMers family would continue the national program.

  The Junior Roughstock Association remained the qualifying system for the Junior National Finals Rodeo until it was rebranded in 2018 to the Junior World Finals. When the rebranding took place,  Junior Roughstock Association maintained a solid relationship with Las Vegas Events during this transition.  Over the years the newly established program has made changes and adjustments to ensure that the contestants compete in the proper age groups with age-appropriate stock to create a foundation in which the young athletes could advance.   

 After 2020,  and a successful “COVID”  finals in Fort Worth, Texas a decision was made by the  board of directors with Las Vegas Events to reduce the age groups hosted  at the finals under the Junior World Finals umbrella. This decision led to the Junior Roughstock Association hosting the first annual Junior Roughstock World Finals. The Junior Roughstock World Finals came about with the primary focus of having a finals for the  6-9 year old age group that would not be hosted under the Junior World Finals title. The Junior Roughstock World Finals added the 10-11 age group to the Junior Roughstock World Finals in 2024 and will add an all-girls division in 2025 (these changes were made to accommodate a place for the contestants to go that do not meet the guidelines for contestants that will be competing at the event in  Las Vegas, Nevada during the 2025 transition back to Junior NFR).

During the duration of these events, we have faced change and a lot of growth. One thing that has remained the same is the investment of group of people that did not give up on things when things at any time.  Many of our producing organizations have been involved for 8-10 years.  Rafter 6P, Crooked Horn Rodeo, Northwest Roughies, 406 Rodeo, CT Rodeo, Stoney’s Ponies, Midwest Mini Buckers, Branded 4 Christ, Lester Meier Rodeo Company, Rocky Mountain Mini Broncs, 7 J Rodeo, Clark Rodeo Ranches, Legend 37 Rodeo have all consistently hosted rodeos for these young athletes from year to year.  With most of these groups supporting these kids from day one! 

Many of our rodeo crew that gets together ever year to put on these great events have came back from year with pride and honor (many times at their own expense to assist with these events).

We have been fortunate to have  two contractors (406 Rodeo and CT Rodeo) bring stock to Vegas involved for ten years, Midwest Mini Buckers and Rafter 6P) for 6 years and Clark Rodeo Ranches and 7J Rodeo for the past two years.  

Not only have we maintained a consistent group of arena personal, contractors and maintained our contestant return from year to at about 80% we are honored to have maintained our wonderful sponsors from year to year as well! Without the entire team, these events do not happen.  We will continue to produce and these events with honor and integrity. 

 2025 has brought a very exciting announcement to the rebranding (yet once again).  But this is a great rebranding and will make this association even stronger.   Although it will come with a few minor changes,  the big announcement is that  Las Vegas Events will make  a full circle and in 2025 and operate under the  “founding brand” and will go back to the JUNIOR NATIONAL FINALS RODEO. 

 The Junior Roughstock Association  will still be  the qualifying hosting system for the “once again” Junior National Finals Rodeo as well as the  Junior Roughstock Association World Finals.  We will be limited to 65 Youth Bareback Riders and 55 Youth Saddle Bronc Riders at the 2025 Junior National Finals. Each qualifying region will be contacted to accommodate the qualifying spots available in their region. The reduction in numbers will be based on multiple years of membership sold in that region along with the number of kids/age groups that have historically qualified out of each region.  We will continue our relationship with high school rodeo groups that have applied for sanction for the 2025 season, however each of those numbers will be reduced to reflect the number of carded members in that area.  During the transition back to Junior National Finals will lead to a change where the female (gender identified at birth, we are not going to get int  any grey area here) contestants will not be competing at the Junior National Finals event (to match strong guidelines/rules of the PRCA/Highschool, Junior Highschool Rules)  With this  change the Junior Roughstock Association will be adding an ALL GIRLS ROUGHSTOCK section to our Junior Roughstock Finals that is held in Arizona this September.    

*All Rule Books and Memberships will be updated and available for purchase by February 1,  2025