County cowhands defend home arena at state finals

GONZALES — The rodeo is back in town as young cowboys and cowgirls take on the Texas Junior High Rodeo Association state finals at J.B. Wells Arena.

There will be two athletes representing Gonzales County in the week-long rodeo as Gonzales’ Lantz Pyssen will take on one event while Harwood’s Kyla Stamps will be busy with four events.

Pyssen will be competing in chute dogging, with his first-go on Monday morning and his second-go on Friday night.

Meanwhile, Stamps will take on girls’ goat tying on Monday morning and Friday night, girls’ breakaway on Tuesday morning and Thursday night, ribbon roping with Rosanky’s Weston Wilhelm on Wednesday morning and night and team roping with Bastrop’s Thres Jarosek on Monday night and Friday morning.

The gates are open today for contestants to come in with their trailers and horses. The 24-hour check in starts tomorrow, May 20 at 7 a.m. Performances begin on Monday and run through Friday. On Saturday, the short go performance will take place. Officials have noted that the schedule is subject to change, so performers need to be aware of the official daily schedule posted outside the rodeo office.