The National High Schools Finals Rodeo bills itself as the world’s largest such event. It draws some 1,500 top contenders from 41 states, five Canadian provinces, Australia--and, this year, from Kimball, Nebraska.

Saddle Bronc rider Nick Stull, who will begin his senior year in the fall, earned a spot the nationals by finishing in the state’s top four.

“Just to be there…” Stull said, momentarily losing his words. “I’m qualified for the biggest rodeo in the world. I’m expecting a blast.”

This year’s bout takes place July 15-21 at the Sweetwater Events Complex in Rock Springs, Wyoming. Student cowboys and cowgirls compete for over $200,000 in prizes, $350,000 in college scholarship funds--and, of course, the chance to become a national champion.

Riders, ropers, steer wrestlers and the rest come from as far east as New York, Florida and the Carolinas. From the west they travel from Australia and Alaska and the Hawaiian Islands, which is sending 15 competitors.

Dozens more venture south from Canada.

“You have to have a lot of self discipline if you want to go [to the national finals],” Stull acknowledged. “But if you work your tail off, you can do anything.”

The Kimball rider’s family installed a mechanical mount in their garage during the winter to facilitate his training. Over the course of a long spring schedule, Stull missed only one day of competition--to attend friend and bull rider Cade Dickerson’s graduation ceremony.

On the Nebraska high school rodeo circuit this spring, Stull earned wins at McCook, Madison and Mitchell. He took runner up points twice, at Atkinson and Crawford, and added top fives with rides in Hyannis and Harrison.

Leading up to nationals his training has been sidetracked by harvest. But Stull’s focus remains clear.

“I can work the rest of my life,” he explained. “This means more than anything.”

Stull rides against a field of 95 cowboys--84 from the U.S., the rest hailing from Canada and Australia.

Each rider is scheduled for two goes, with Stull slated for Monday and Friday. The top 20 scorers advance to the short go round on Saturday, July 21.

Joining him from Nebraska are Jaden Clark (Wellfleet), Triston Eklund (Valentine) and state champion Chauncy Hessetine of Thedford. Since 1949, only two cowboys from Nebraska have captured national titles in saddle bronc, the last being Jace Garrett, who took the buckle in 2005.

Shade Etbauer from Oklahoma won last year’s event. He returns for a chance at back to back championships.

Stull expects stiff competition. More than that, however, he looks forward to a stable of “good honest buckers.”