The Upper Hunter students recently qualified for the 70th annual National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR), which is the largest competition of its kind in the world.

 Thanks to the support of the local community, including a $5,000 donation handed over by the Scone Charity Rodeo committee today, the talented juniors will jet off to Rock Springs, Wyoming to vie for a chance to be named an NHSFR World Champion.

To earn this title, contestants must finish in the top 20 based on their combined times and scores in the first two rounds to advance to a final round.

The competition runs from July 15 to 21 and features more than 1,650 contestants from 43 states, five Canadian Provinces, Australia and Mexico.

Wilson, Palmer and Randle are among only nine lucky competitors from Australia to qualify after competing in the Australian finals in Murrurundi in April.

Sixteen-year-old Chris Wilson from Scone qualified for bull riding and says he is hoping to pick up a win.

“I’ve never been to America before so it will be a big experience for me,” Wilson admitted. “The sponsorship will make it a lot easier for me and the three of us going over there.”

Joining him will be Year 11 Scone High School student Tyler Palmer, who earned her position on the Australian team in Barrel Racing and the Rodeo Queen competition.

She says she’s looking forward to the experience and gaining an outlook on what rodeos are like in America compared to back home.

The Rodeo Queen has also used her title to raise funds for local community groups.

 “I’ve raised a fair bit of money to go to Where there’s A Will and we have another fundraiser this weekend that’s donating to Murrurundi Preschool,” Palmer said.

“Murrurundi Campdraft and Rodeo have also come on board [as a sponsor] and lots of people have donated anonymously.”

For eighteen-year-old Ash Randle from Scone, it will be the second year she’s competed in the national finals, selected for Trap Shooting.

With more than $200,000 in prize money up for grabs, contestants will also be competing for more than $350,000 in college scholarships; will gain international exposure and have the opportunity to meet new friends from around the world.

Scone Charity Rodeo president Jade Smith says coming on board to support the trio was a “no-brainer” for the committee.

 “They’re the grassroots of rodeo,” he said.

“They’re here local and that’s what we want to see coming through.

“We want to get them to the stage where they’re open competitors in Australia.

“It’s putting Scone on the map and it’s good to have these guys with this talent in the area.”