• Idaho District 8 concludes 24-25 season
The Idaho District 8 Finals Rodeos were held May 22-24 in Grace, Idaho, with one rodeo each day. The rodeos conclude the 2024-25 season for local junior high and high school age athletes. A total of seven high school students from Star Valley and Cokeville qualified to compete at the Idaho High School State Finals held June 7-14 at the Bannock Event Center in Pocatello.
State qualifiers include Bridget Scaffide (Alpine) in Barrel Racing, Brooklyn Brown (Afton) in Breakaway Roping, Clay Teichert (Cokeville) in Bull Riding, Kutler Keetch (Cokeville) and Case Kerr (Afton) both in Tie Down Roping, Ross Hilton (Afton) and Case & Ryder Kerr (Afton) in Team Roping.
To qualify for state, athletes had to finish in the Top 6 in their event based on accumulated points from the entire fall and spring season. Athletes then enter the State Finals with a set amount of points based on their place in each respective district, giving more points to those who finished higher in the standings.
After the full season points were tallied, Scaffide finished third in Barrel Racing, Brown finished sixth in Breakaway Roping, Teichert was first as the only Bull Rider this year, Hilton and his Team Roping partner Kruz Smith of Montpelier finished first in the event followed by the Kerrs in second. Case Kerr was fifth in tie Down Roping followed by Keetch in sixth.
“Once we go to state our draws come out, so I could be going on a Monday night, and then a Wednesday morning and then a Saturday morning or anything like that, just depending on where we’re placing,” explained Scaffide during SVI Radio’s First Bank of Wyoming Sports Friday. “Just the top four overall in each event out of the whole entire state go to nationals. It’s tough competition for sure.”
Star Valley has been recently represented at previous National Finals, with twin brothers Case & Ryder Kerr hoping to make a return trip to Rock Springs after competing in the event last summer.
For those who qualify, the National High School Rodeo Finals will be held in Rock Springs, Wyoming July 13-19. Complete final results for the District 8 season can be found at ihsrad8.com.
