Nine Northern New Mexico Youth Rodeo Competitors Headed To 2024 Vegas Tuffest Jr. World Championship

YOUTH RODEO NEWS

Nine of Northern New Mexico’s finest youth rodeo competitors will be competing in the upcoming 2024 Vegas Tuffest Jr. World Championship to be held at THE EXPO at the World Market Center in downtown Las Vegas Nevada.  This year’s event will see more than 1,300 entries with competitors coming from across the United States and Canada, for the event spanning Dec. 3-10.

There were roughly 50 qualifying rodeos/events across the United States and Canada to give the rodeo youth an equal chance to make it to Las Vegas and the opportunity to win their share of $1.5 million+ in cash and prizes. The championship event offers barrel racing, goat tying, double mugging, breakaway roping, tie-down roping and team roping. Each Vegas Tuffest Jr. World Champion will take home between $5,000 and $30,000 in cash, which is one of the highest stakes payout for youth rodeo athletes.

Local competitors are:
·       Elise Martinez, a 7th grader at Chama Middle School that lives in Chama, NM; competing in the 12u boys & girls goat tying.
·       Keelin Faulkner, a senior at Escalante High School that lives in Los Ojos, NM; competing in the 19u girls breakaway roping.
·       Waylan Valdez, a 7th grader at Pojoaque Middle School that lives in Medanales, NM; competing in the 15u team roping (heeler).
·       Aleyana Baca, a sophormore at Los Alamos High School that lives in Espanola, NM; competing in the 15u girls goat tying.  Aleyana was selected to be on the sponsor Team Re-Vita Equine.
·       Paige Trujillo, a 7th grader at Los Alamos Middle School that lives in Abiquiu, NM; competing in the 12u boys & girls goat tying. Paige was selected to be on the sponsor Team Re-Vita Equine.
·       Reed Trujillo, a Freshman at Los Alamos High School that lives in Abiquiu, NM; competing in the 15u team roping (header). Reed was selected to be on the sponsor Team Wrangler.
·       Stetson Trujillo, a Junior at Los Alamos High School that lives in Abiquiu, NM; competing in the 15u team roping (heeler) and 15u boys tie-down roping.  Stetson was selected to be on the sponsor Team Spalding Laboratories.
·       Teagan Trujillo, a Freshman at Los Alamos High School that lives in Abiquiu, NM; competing in the 15u girls goat tying.
·       Wacey Trujillo, a Junior at Los Alamos High School that lives in Abiquiu, NM; competing in the 15u and 19u girls goat tying and 15u girls breakaway roping.

Paige, Teagan and Wacey are also competing in the girls goat tying “Team Match” competition with three other NM High School/Junior High School teammates as Team Boujee Bandits. The team match is a tournament style goat tying competition that will be held on Dec. 3 where two girls from each age group (12u, 15u and 19u) compete against other regional teams for a chance to win their share of an additional $30,000.
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The world championship event is free to attend, starting each morning at 8:15 a.m. at The Expo World Market Center Las Vegas located at 435 South Grand Central Parkway in Las Vegas, NV. The event will also be live webcasted, details can be online.

Good luck to these local rodeo athletes representing the area in Las Vegas on a mighty stage in December!