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Montana’s Coy Montgomery headed to Jr. NFR in Las Vegas Dec. 1-5

Sarah Swenson
for Tri-State Livestock News
Coy Montgomery, a 7th grade student at Huntley Project Junior High, won several bareback riding titles this summer on his way to the Jr. NFR in Las Vegas. Courtesy photo

The National Finals Rodeo has invested in the future of the sport with the creation of the 2016 Junior National Finals Rodeo (NFR) to be held in Las Vegas, Dec. 1-5.

Qualifying youth will compete for a world title and prestige, the same as the professional NFR contestants do. The National Junior Finals Rodeo is the only youth rodeo affiliated with the NFR, with youth competing in bareback riding, barrel racing, bull riding, team roping and tie down roping.

Worden, Montana’s, Coy Montgomery, a 7th grade student at Huntley Project Junior High, qualified as contestant 66 with his third in the average finish at the Mountain States Regional Finals in Rock Springs, Wyoming, Oct. 21-22.



Montgomery has been ranching, riding horses, and rodeoing all his life. This summer he started riding bareback horses while living in California. The 12-year-old started with a championship win at the Wild West Buckers, Yuba City, California.

Montgomery was also the Weaverville Rodeo Champion Weaverville, California, Shakespeare Ranch Rodeo Champion, Lake Tahoe, Nevada, and Cow Palace Champion, Daly City, California. These wins ranked Montgomery in the top 4 in the Wild West Buckers Affiliation, qualifying him for the Mountain States Regional Finals in Rock Springs, Wyoming.



Montgomery’s initial draw in Rock Springs was a runner leaving him not much opportunity for a high score, but he stayed aboard and posted a 62, qualifying him for Saturday’s Short-go. Montgomery had a little better draw and rode “Socks” for a score of 66, which placed him third in the average and earning him a spot at the Junior NFR. Twenty-five other Junior Bareback Riders from Canada to Texas and North Dakota to California were all vying for the 7 Mountain States Region qualifying spots. Brent Applegarth, Kelby Schneiter, Tucker Carricato, Weston Timberman, Darien Johnson, and Cooper Cano were the other Mountain States Regional qualifiers.

To date Montgomery’s riding average is 100 percent. In addition to riding junior bareback horses, Montgomery is also a skilled roper and rider, winning buckles and other awards in goat tying, flag racing, steer riding, breakaway and team roping. Aside from rodeo, he plays Football and Wrestles for Huntley Project Junior High.

Montgomery will be one to watch for years to come given his try, great attitude and daily practice rituals, passion and desire to succeed.