Mitchell Rickman of Powell Butte leads a contingent of nine prep cowboys and cowgirls from Central Oregon who have qualified for this week’s National High School Finals Rodeo.

The 54th annual event, billed as ”the World’s Largest Rodeo” by the National High School Rodeo Association, takes place at McGee Park in Farmington, N.M.

The first round of competition begins Monday morning.

An estimated 1,500 contestants – 39 from Oregon – representing 39 American states, four Canadian provinces and the continent of Australia, are scheduled to participate during this year’s rodeo, according to the NHSRA.

Rickman, who has won back-to-back Oregon high school championships in bareback riding, is making his third straight appearance at the National High School Finals Rodeo. Rickman placed sixth overall in the bareback competition at last year’s national event – the highest finish of any Oregon qualifier in any event.

Rickman is one of three 2001-02 state champions from Central Oregon. Cody Every of Redmond won the state calf roping title, and Brandon Beers of Powell Butte joined Jake Stanley of Hermiston in winning the state team roping title.

Many Central Oregon entrants are members of either the Prineville-based Crook County High School Rodeo Team or Redmond-based Central Oregon High School Rodeo Team.

They qualified for nationals by finishing among the top four in their respective event based on the final year-end points standings in Oregon High School Rodeo Association competitions.

Local qualifiers scheduled to compete at the NHSFR by event are:

Bareback riding – Mitchell Rickman, Powell Butte; Colt Conley, Paulina.

Saddle bronc riding – Chance Millin, Powell Butte; Shad Linn, Prineville.

Calf roping – Cody Every, Redmond.

Steer wrestling – Ty Woolsey, Bend.

Team roping – Brandon Beers, Powell Butte, with partner Jake Stanley of Hermiston; Cody Every, Redmond, with partner Jay Burrill of Prairie City.

Pole bending – Hannah Shew, Redmond.

Boys cutting horse – Brandon Beers, Powell Butte.

Girls cutting horse – Michelle Law, Redmond.

The NHSFR has two performances scheduled each day Monday through Saturday. The first go-round will be completed Wednesday night and the second go-round is scheduled to end Saturday night.

The NHSFR will crown national champions during the Final Go-Round Performance next Sunday afternoon.