Herrick may not be the rodeo capital of the world, but it has a National Top Ten All-Around Cowboy and a State Champion who makes his home there.

Douglas Rich, the son of Lonnie and Cindy Rich of Herrick and the grandson of Fay Rich of Herrick and Bob Snow of Bingham, will be an 8th grade student at Cowden-Herrick Junior High. Rich recently placed 9th in the overall All-Around Cowboy points at the Wrangler Junior High Rodeo Finals in Gallup, New Mexico, June 30 through July 5. Rich also notched a 9th place finish in team roping with his Illinois teammate, Whalen Pickerill of Raymond, and placed 13th in the nation in Boys Breakaway Roping.

Rich then returned home to Illinois for the Illinois Junior Rodeo Association State Finals on July 12-13 at Hopedale. Rich ended up with the second most points for 6th-8th grade boys to claim Reserve All-Around Cowboy for the year. In the state finals, Rich won first place and a buckle in Step Down Calf Roping. He also won prize money at the state finals by placing second in Boys Goat Tying, third in Chute Dogging and fifth in Team Roping heeling.

Then, at the IJRA year-end awards, Rich claimed the state title in Step Down Calf Roping for the year and an embroidered jacket. He also was first in Boys Goat Tying and won another embroidered jacket. Rich was second for the year in Team Roping heeling and won an engraved breast collar for his horse. He also was fifth in Chute Dogging for the year and won a hay bag for his horse.

“He had a great year and we are very proud of his accomplishments in this (state) organization, as well as the Wrangler Junior High Rodeo Association,” said Cindy Rich, Douglas’ mother. “He works hard at all of his events and is practicing his roping every day. We are proud of him in all that he does.”

Rich earned a position on the Illinois WJHR team earlier in the year and went with his teammates to Gallup for the 4th Annual Wrangler Junior High Finals Rodeo. Rich was set to do team roping with partner Whalen Pickerill and ribbon roping with partner Kelsey Ewing of Pana. He also was set to participate in Breakaway Roping, Chute Dogging and Goat Tying.

Featuring more than 1000 contestants from 47 states, Canadian provinces and Australia, the WJHFR is the world’s largest junior high rodeo. The contestants competed for more than $75,000 in prizes, as well as $50,000 in college scholarships and a chance to be named the WJHFR National Champion.

The WJHFR had two go-arounds in each event, then the short-go in the championship round at the end of the week.

Heading into the short go in Boys Breakaway, Rich was first in average. In Team Roping, Rich and Pickerill were setting second.

Rich’s first round calf time in the Breakaway was 3.328 seconds (3rd in the go-round) and his second go-round calf was 2.394 seconds (3rd in the go-round). That gave him 5.722 seconds on two calves heading into the short go. Then Lady Luck became fickle. In the Breakaway short go, Rich broke the barrier and took a ten-second penalty, giving him a time of 11.887 on his calf in the short go. Rich ended up being 13th in the nation out of 133 contestants in the Breakaway event.

In Team Roping, Rich and Pickerill’s first steer was 8.722 seconds in the first g-round. In the second go-round, Rich caught one heel and he and Pickerill took a 5-second penalty, giving them a time of 13.192. They were in second heading into the short go. But, Lady Luck turned her back on them again. In the short go, Rich missed with the first loop, then caught both heels on the second loop. It took too long at 24.95 seconds and moved them down in the standings, but still placed them 9th in the nation in Team Roping out of 133 teams.

In oter Illinois action, Pickerill and his Ribbon Roping partner Mikhayla DeMott made it to the short go, but Pickerill missed his calf and got a no time. They finished 19th out of 140 teams. Illinois teammate Abie Goodin was in the Girls Breakaway in the short go and finished in 4th place in the average. She had a time of 11.895 seconds on three calves. She did exceptionally well, finishing 4th out of 151 contestants.

“We are very proud of all 13 of the contestants from Illinois that participated in the Wrangler Junior High Rodeo Finals in Gallup, N.M.,” said Cindy Rich, Secretary of the Illinois Wrangler Junior High Rodeo. “We look forward to starting a new season in August 2008. I am hoping to return to Gallup next year with the results turning out even better than this year for Illinois.”

Other Shelby area youth involved in the WJHR are Haley Mettendorf and Macy Friese, students in the Stewardson-Strasburg school district. Both participated in WJHRA events and Mettendorf qualified for the rodeo finals in Gallup.