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Cowboys head to rodeo finals in New MexicoThree area high school students will compete in the National High School Rodeo finals in Farmington, N.M., later this month. The three star rodeo athletes earned a place on Team Minnesota during regional rodeo competitions held around Minnesota this past year, and by finishing as one of the top four students in their respective events at the Minnesota High School Rodeo Association (MHSRA) State Finals Rodeo in June. Twin brothers, Joe and Jimmy Jacobsen of Stacy, who are recent graduates of North Branch High School, and John Buchannan, who will return to North Branch High School as a junior, all will represent the state high school rodeo association in New Mexico in just a couple weeks. Joe Jacobsen was the Boys all around champion for the 2001-2002 MHSRA season. Brother Jimmy Jacobsen was the reserve all around champion. The brothers will compete together at the National Finals Rodeo in team roping, the event that they won together in Minnesota. Joe Jacobsen also will compete in calf roping, the event he won at the state level. Jimmy Jacobsen will compete in steer wrestling at the national finals, the event that he championed in Minnesota High School Rodeo. John Buchannan will represent Minnesota as a bull rider, having finished in the top qualifiers at the state finals rodeo in June. The three local athletes will spend more than one week representing Minnesota in the largest rodeo in the world. The young men will compete twice in two ìgoesî during the week for the opportunity to be among the top 20 rodeo athletes in their events and the chance to make the short go on Sunday, July 21 and vie for the top honors in the nation. Farmington, N.M., and the New Mexico High School Rodeo Association will host the National Finals Rodeo this year and next year before it moves back to Gillette, Wyo., in 2004. ©ECM Post Review |