Well, the moment we were all waiting for has come and gone. Ever since my initial interview with the Gillette News Record the NHSFR has dominated the conversation. The week long rodeo, billed as the largest in the world with over 1,600 contestants, comes through Gillette twice every six years. Kids from more than 40 states compete over seven days, in events ranging from roughstock riding to rifle and trap shooting. There's even a rodeo queen pageant. The News Record puts out a whole separate 14-page rodeo paper that's entirely dedicated to rodeo coverage for every day that week. I think I worked more than 75 hours that week, and worked two weeks straight. Luckily that stretch ended on my birthday which was a nice way to cap it all off.
Here are some of my favorite images from the week, as always thanks for looking.
Contestants use their phones while waiting for the start of the mandatory meeting Sunday morning at Morningside Park.
Dillon McNaney of Livermore, Calif., waits for the start of the contestant meeting Sunday at Morningside Park.
A contestant listens during the mandatory meeting Sunday morning at Morningside Park.
Seven contestants ride on a golf cart Sunday morning just before the contestants meeting at Morningside park.
Roughstock competitors attend a mandatory training and safety session Saturday afternoon in Central Pavilion.
Light rifle shooter Miles Barry, from Washington, poses for a photo outside the Wyoming Center Saturday afternoon.
Alaska High School Rodeo Association Queen, and 2016 NHSFR queen contestant Lauren Allen checks herself in the mirror before the modeling and speeches portion of the event at the Heritage Center at Cam-plex Saturday night.
Catherine Odgers, Nevada's high school rodeo queen, is introduced Saturday night at the Heritage Center at Cam-plex.
Campbell County Sheriff Detention Officer Penny Hottell salutes following the national anthem Saturday night before the queens modeling and speeches portion of the National High School Finals Rodeo at the Heritage Center Theater.
A Texas flag flies above a sea of RVs on Sunday morning before the start of the National High School Finals Rodeo.
Danae McNamera stands with her horse Buckles in the stalls at Cam-plex Sunday morning.
Contestants prepare for the start of the first performance of the National High School Finals Rodeo Sunday evening under a double rainbow at Morningside Park.
Cody Craig of Wendell, Idaho, ties a calf Sunday night during the first tie-down roping go of the National High School Finals Rodeo.
Keenan Kvamme of Carrington, N.D., rides away in the rain after after failing to record a time in tie-down roping Sunday night during the first performance of the National High School Finals Rodeo.
Wheatland cowboy Tyler Erickson is bucked from his horse Monday morning during the second performance of the National High School Finals Rodeo at Morningside Park.
Cole Hewett of Dunning, Nebr., falls off his horse during saddle bronc riding Monday morning at the second performance of the National High School Finals Rodeo at Morningside Park.
Chase Thrasher of Columbia, Tenn., flips his calf during his tie-down roping run Monday morning in the second performance of the National High School Finals Rodeo at Morningside Park.
Tate Petrak of Martin, S.D., tries to get wrangle his calf during tie-down roping Monday morning in the second performance of the National High School Finals Rodeo at Morningside Park.
Destiny Shafer of Waddell, Aris., races through the pole bending course during the second performance of the National High School Finals Rodeo Monday morning at Morningside Park.
Big Piney's Karson Bradley runs the pole bending course during the second performance of the National High School Finals Rodeo Monday morning at Morningside Park.
Kayden Beaver competes in team roping Monday morning during the second performance of the National High School Finals Rodeo at Morningside Park.
Bullrider Tanner Horner of Keokuk, Iowa, rides in the second performance of the National High School Finals Rodeo Monday morning at Morningside Park.
Bullrider Arles Hernandez of Clifton, Colo., holds on Monday morning during the second performance of the National High School Finals Rodeo at Morningside Park.
Bullfighter Chad Dowdy watches as Wyatt Nez of Flagstaff, Ariz., is thrown from his bull during the second performance of the National High School Finals Rodeo Monday morning at Morningside Park.
NHSFR contestants take aim in the prone position shooting competition Tuesday morning at the Gillette Gun Club during the rifle shooting event for the 2016 National High School Finals Rodeo.
Cattle wait in a pen during the breakaway roping event at the jackpot arena Tuesday afternoon.
Snyder, Colo., breakaway roper Quincy Segelke makes a run at the jackpot arena Tuesday afternoon. Segelke lives in Colorado but rodeos for Team Wyoming.
Sarah Angelone of Cross Junction, Va., cools down her horse Gambler on Tuesday afternoon in the East stalls.
Tajah Braganca screams as a baby bunny she caught in the horse stalls tries to escape her grip.
Madison, left, and Miranda Iager are running for president and vice president of the National High School Rodeo Associations student officers. Together the pair qualified for five events at the 2016 National High School Finals Rodeo.
Brittany Coldiron of Team Maryland rides dressed as a knight ready for a jousting match while carrying the flag for Maryland before the Wednesday morning performance of the 2016 National High School Finals Rodeo.
Ty Richardson of Ainsworth, Neb., rides bareback Wednesday morning during the sixth performance of the National High School Finals Rodeo at Morningside Park.
Albert Koenig ropes a calf during Wednesday morning's performance of the 2016 National High School Finals Rodeo at Morningside Park.
Yance McCuistion of Sugar City, Colo., rides a bull during Wednesday morning's performance of the 2016 National High School Finals Rodeo at Morningside Park.
Nathan Urie, a saddle bronc rider from Ferron, Utah, qualified for his first NHSFR this year as a high school senior.
Team Georgia bareback rider Blake Leamon of Cleveland, Tenn., prepares his gear before his second ride of the National High School Finals Rodeo at Cam-plex on Thursday evening.
Brian Brown of La Barge leans against the chutes in the roughstock arena at Morningside Park before the evening performance on Thursday.
Bronc riders, along with friends and family, get ready for the Thursday evening performance of the 2016 National High School Finals Rodeo.
Cooper Bennett of Roosevelt, Utah, loses his hat Friday evening during the ninth performance of the 2016 National High School Finals Rodeo at Morningside Park.
Kody Gregory of Cortez, Colo., prays after his bareback ride Thursday evening during the 2016 National High School Finals Rodeo at Cam-plex.
Jed Pierson of Gooding, Idaho, holds on during bareback Friday night during the ninth performance of the 2016 National High School Finals Rodeo at Morningside Park.
Grace Hill of Peyton, Colo., makes a turn in the barrel racing event Friday night during the 2016 National High School Finals Rodeo at Morningside Park.
Virginia cowgirl Sarah Angelone celebrates after wining first overall in the breakaway roping at the short go of the 2016 National High School Finals Rodeo at Cam-plex on Saturday, July 23, 2016.
Contestants sit on the railing of the arena during Friday's evening performance of the 2016 National High School Finals Rodeo at Morningside Park.
Thanks again for looking, Special thanks to Ed Glazar (check out his rodeo take here,) Chris Detrick and Ashley Detrick for all help and the hard work they put in over the rodeo, as well as everyone at the Cam-plex, NHSRA, and the News Record. Check out all our 2016 National High School Finals Rodeo coverage free online at http://www.gillettenewsrecord.com/sports/nhsfr/
