Jarrett Orman, 14, of rural Linden has qualified to compete in the breakaway roping event at the American Royal Invitational Youth Rodeo Sept. 26-29 in Kansas City, Mo.
“I am really honored to compete at the American Royal,” Orman said. “It is where many champions have gone and won before.”
Orman won his spot in the prestigious youth rodeo based on his prior rodeo accomplishments, community involvement and grade point average.
The four-day American Royal rodeo features top student-athletes competing in events such as bull riding, barrel racing, and the crowd favorite, mutton busting. The American Royal has awarded $75,500 in scholarships at the Invitational Youth Rodeo since 2007, along with additional prize money and awards.
Orman, the son of Jim and Mandi Orman, qualified for the National Junior High Rodeo Finals in Lebanon, Tenn., earlier this summer in the team roping and the breakaway roping events. He attends the Woodward-Granger Community School District along with his sister, Jacey, 10, and brother, Jenner, 5.
“All of the family spends countless hours practicing in their arena at their home, trying to reach their rodeo goals,” said Mandi Orman. Jarrett is the grandson of Derry and Joyce Pitsenbarger of rural Perry and Kenneth and Sandra Orman of rural Blakesburg.
The rodeo is divided into junior and senior divisions. The senior division is made up of athletes ages 14-18 who compete Sept. 26 and Sept. 27 at noon both days. Senior division events include bareback riding, bull riding, barrel racing, breakaway roping, steer wrestling and others.
The junior division is composed of athletes ages 13 and under. They compete on the final two days of the Invitational Youth Rodeo, Sept. 28 and Sept. 29 at noon both days. These energetic youngsters compete in events such as mutton busting, barrel racing, junior bareback riding, breakaway roping and goat tying.
For the first time this year, the American Royal will be inviting timed-event winners from the senior division to compete against the professionals on Friday night during the ProRodeo. Each youth contestant will go last in the timed events: barrels, tie-down, team roping and steer wrestling. If the youth places in the day money, he or she will receive $200.
The American Royal Invitational Youth Rodeo is held in the Hale Arena at the American Royal Complex. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and the Kemper Arena box office. For more information, visit the American Royal website.
