Local youth to wrestle steers at national contest

South Putnam senior Dylan Watson is set to participate in a national steer wrestling competition in July. (Submitted photo)

A South Putnam student hopes to take down a couple steers during the world's largest rodeo in Wyoming.

Dylan Watson, a South Putnam senior, will be participating in the 67th annual National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR) steer wrestling contest July 12-18 in Rock Springs, Wyo.

Steer wrestling is a timed event, Watson explained. The steer is pushed out of a chute, the competitor rides into the arena on a horse and the rider must drop from the horse and wrestle the steer to the ground by twisting the horns.

Watson said the event is tough and sometimes dangerous.

"I practice so much it becomes second nature. I get kind of nervous, but I know what I'm doing," Watson said. "It's a complicated process, but I have a whole lot of help."

In preparing for the upcoming event, Watson said his goal is to "get two down."

Watson's love of the rodeo started around 2004 when he went to a contest with friends who participated in rodeo competitions and he said he fell in love with the sport.

He began practicing on a dummy, then moved on to practicing on a real steer.

"I've been doing it ever since," Watson said.

Watson said he gets quite a bit of practice when visiting a friend's farm in Bedford. He competes frequently throughout the year as well.

"I try to go to 10 or 15 (rodeos) a year," Watson said.

While he has participated in the national competition in the past, this will be his first attempt at steer wrestling at NHSFR.

The NHSFR features more than 1,500 contestants from 42 states, five Canadian Provinces and Australia, a press release explains. The contestants compete for thousands of dollars in prizes and more than $350,000 in scholarships, along with vying for the title of national champion.

The live broadcast of the entire event can be found online at www.NHSRATV.com, with performance times at 7 p.m. July 12 and between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. each day after.

Watson said family and friends will also be making the trip out to Wyoming to watch him compete. He said the support of his parents, grandparents and friends have helped him get this far by cheering him on and allowing him to utilize horses for practice.