Megan Griffin, daughter of Kevin and Susan Griffin of Warrens, is headed to New Mexico this week to compete in the Fourth Annual Wrangler Junior High Rodeo Finals.

The competition will be held in Gallup, N.M., June 30-July 5.

Griffin will compete for the Wisconsin team in barrel racing and ribbon roping. She was the Wisconsin state champion in barrel racing. She also competed in pole bending, goat tying and breakaway roping in the Wisconsin state finals at Lancaster.

Barrel racing is her favorite event.

“I like barrel racing because it’s the (event) where you have to trust your horse the most,” said Griffin, who rides a horse named Sunny.

Griffin has been riding horses since she was two years old. She’s looking forward to meeting new competitors in New Mexico.

“I really want to meet people from different states,” she said. “It’s going to be fun. The adrenaline rush will bring the best competition out of everyone.”

Griffin will be a seventh-grader this fall at St. Paul Lutheran School in Tomah.

Three competitors from Sparta will also make the trip to New Mexico.

Featuring more than 1,000 contestants from 47 states, Canadian provinces and Australia, the Wrangler Junior High Finals is the world’s largest junior high rodeo.

In addition to competing for more than $75,000 in prizes, athletes will also be vying for more than $50,000 in college scholarships and the chance to be named National Champion. To earn that title, contestants must finish in the top 15 after two go-rounds before advancing to the July 5 championship performance.

Rodeo fans can follow their favorite contestants by logging on to www.nhsra.org, where results will be updated daily.