Local ladies rodeo to national finals

Two local girls have qualified to compete in the National Junior High Rodeo in Gallup, N.M., June 19-30. This will be the eighth annual junior high finals. They competed in the state finals May 19-20 in Kennewick. Callie Rae Marker, daughter of J.E. and Valerie Marker of Colfax, will compete in ribbon roping and goat tying. She is a seventh grader at Jennings Junior High in Colfax.

Tommi Sue Swannack, daughter of Tom and Holly Swannack of Sprague, has qualified in goat tying, breakaway roping, ribbon roping and target shooting. A seventh grader at Lamont Middle School, she has been competing since she was five years old. They qualified through scoring on finishes at the state finals in Kennewick and in competition at four high school rodeos during the season. Junior high competitors include sixth through eighth graders.