Two Chandler junior high students have qualified to compete in the Vegas Tuffest Jr. World Championship in barrel racing from Dec. 6-13 in Las Vegas.
Seventh grader Marley Miller, 12, and eighth grader Dilynn Schafer, 13, will set out the first week of December to complete. They are two of over 1,000 entries from 29 states, including four provinces in Canada, according to the organization. The competition is being held the first week of the National Finals Rodeo.
Miller said she’s normally really nervous when she competes, but it helps to have her friends around.
“I stay calmer when I have my friends with me because they keep my mind off things,” she said. She said for Vegas, she’s focusing on keeping it clean and staying smooth.
The seventh grader races nearly every weekend and has about 20 or more buckles from competitions. She’s shooting to win everything but mostly just wants a clean run.
This is Schafer’s second time competing at the Vegas championship. She’s also taking part in another competition while she’s there.
“I would like to win, but it’s mostly having fun and cleaning up everything,” she said.
Schafer added that she’s looking forward to “all the big stuff” while in Las Vegas.
Miller is the daughter of Sarah and Marlon Miller and the granddaughter of Janet and Bruce Miller and Pam Robinson.
Schafer is the daughter of Nicki and Matthew Schafer.
A total of 41 qualifiers were held across the U.S. and Canada. The rodeo youth will compete for a share of $1.5 million in cash and prices, according to organizer and four-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier Sherrylynn Johnson in a press release. The Vegas Tuffest Jr. World Championship has barrel racing, double mugging, goat tying, breakaway roping, tie down roping and team roping.
Competitors are split into age groups - 19 and under, 15 and under, 12 and under and 10 and under.
Each champion will take home $10,000 to $30,000 in cash.
The championship is free to attend and will take place at The Expo @ World Market Center Las Vegas.