Maggie Dossett of Poplarville, daughter of Rick Dossett of Picayune and Kim Dossett of Poplarville, has earned a position on the Mississippi State Wrangler Junior High rodeo team and will be traveling with fellow teammates to Gallup, New Mexico from July 2 – 7 to compete at the Third Annual Wrangler Junior High Finals Rodeo (WJHFR). She’ll be competing in the Barrel Racing and Goat Tying competitions.

She is a seventh grade student at Middle School of Poplarville. She’s been rodeoing for about four years.

“She takes after me,” her father said. “I love rodeo and the kids have fallen right in with it.”

The other kids going to the finals are Newt Ladner, Chanley Ladner, Ty Smith and Dillon Tynes. A benefit to help with their expenses will be at the Poplarville Fairgrounds on June 22-23 at 7 p.m.

There will be more than 900 contestants from 44 states, Canadian provinces and Australia. The Wrangler Junior High Finals is the world’s largest junior high rodeo. In addition to competing for more than $75,000 in prizes, WJHFR contestants will also be vying for more than $50,000 in college scholarships and the chance to be named the Wrangler Junior High Finals Rodeo National Champion. To earn this title, contestants must finish in the top fifteen after two go-rounds of intense competition before advancing on to Saturday’s final championship performance. This year, the Saturday championship performance will be televised nationally as a part of the “20X Rodeo High” telecast series on the RFD channel.

Along with great rodeo competition and the chance to meet new friends from around the world, WJHFR contestants have the opportunity to enjoy nightly contestant dances, family-oriented activities sponsored by Fellowship of Christian Cowboys, and the chance to shop the WJHFR western trade show, as well as visit the historical attractions of New Mexico and Arizona. Competition results will be posted at www.nhsra.org.