Bella Fossum on her horse flying through the poles on her way to winning the State Champion Pole Bending title. (Courtesy Photo)
Yellowstone County will have three high school cowgirls representing Montana this year at the 71st annual National High School Rodeo in Rock Springs, Wyoming from July 14-20th. Bella Fossum, of Billings, and Bailey Benson and Manchi Nace, both of Laurel, will be headed to the big event this year.
Every year, Montana’s best young cowboys and cowgirls get together to compete at the Montana State High School Rodeo with the top four winners in each event getting a ticket to nationals. This year at the Montana State High School Rodeo Finals was held from June 3-8th in Baker at the Fallon County Fairgrounds.
Bella Fossum, a 2019 graduate of the Montana Digital Academy, formerly from Shepherd High School and planning on competing on the Montana State University Rodeo team in college, qualified with not only a third-place finish in the Breakaway Roping event, but also by taking home the State Champion title in Pole Bending, sending her to nationals to compete in two events. The city of Laurel has two representatives headed to Rock Springs, with Bailey Benson taking third place in the Girls Cutting event and Manchi Nace taking third in the Goat Tying event.
The National High School Rodeo Finals feature more than 1,650 high school participants from 43 states, five Canadian Provinces, Australia, and Mexico, making it the world’s largest rodeo event. These three Yellowstone County cowgirls will have a shot at thousands of dollars in prizes and scholarship money on top of the greatest prize of all, being able to claim the World Championship title in their events. No matter the outcome of Nationals, Yellowstone County should be proud to have three cowgirls who have put in enough hard work and determination to make it to the National level. Good luck to Bella, Bailey, and Manchi at Nationals! Everyone here at home is rooting for you.
