The North Carolina High School Rodeo Association was formed in August 1986 to enable students from North Carolina to compete in rodeos in their state. The success of this association is evident, not only by the growth in membership, sponsors, and scholarships, but also by the achievements of many North Carolina contestants that have gone on to college and/or professional rodeo.

At the first rodeo held by the NCHSRA, fourteen students joined the association. Since that time membership has risen to over one hundred. Some of the state sponsors that this association has known are Coca-Cola, Nutrena Feeds, Cooper Tools/Diamond Tools, Thorlo, EMOC and Salem Leasing. With their sponsorship and the hard work and dedication of the contestants, parents and members of the board of Directors, NCHSRA has been able to produce more rodeos and award more scholarships. With all of this help and determination, North Carolina High School Rodeo will continue to grow and help students achieve their goals.

North Carolina High School Rodeo produces between 15 to 20 rodeos per year. We have the privilege of rodeoing with our neighboring associations. South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, and West Virginia have all invited us to join them in several of their rodeos, as well as being guests at our rodeos.  Just this year, North Carolina has decided to divide into districts to reach additional prospective members.

North Carolina has been represented in the short go and winners circle at many of the National Finals Rodeo. The following page shows an impressive list of accomplishments for this small association from the East Coast.

1990- Jerome Davis and Brad Stewart went back to the short go in 1990 in Saddle Bronc and Calf Roping, respectively.

1991- Jerome went on in 1991 to win the Reserve All-Around Cowboy at the National Finals Rodeo in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Also representing North Carolina that year was Keith Campbell, 4th place- Saddle Bronc; Kelly Deaton, 5th place- Bull Riding; and Brad Stewart, 6th place- Steer Wrestling.

1992- Teresa Kerr, Barrel Racing, and Jeff Hinson, Steer Wrestling, went to the short go with Hinson placing 8th.

1996- Jacob Marlow- Reserve Champion Bull Rider.

1997- Seth White and Dustin Rash placed 7th in Team Roping.

1998- Cole Hudgens and Fudd Brown placed 7th in team Roping with Jeremy May placing 10th in Bull Riding.

1999- Steven Overman and Justin Garmon placed 9th in Team Roping.

2000- Drew Minton placed 7th in Boys Cutting and our queen, Crystal Parlato won the Miss Congeniality award.

2001- Meghan Reece - Performance Champion in Breakaway Roping. 

2002-Travis Goodwin and Jeffrey Gaither made it to the short go in Team Roping and finished 13th overall.  Also, our Queen, Elizabeth Rosser, finished 15th in the Queens Contest.

2003– ‘Elan Miller finished 11^th in the Girls Cutting

2004– Thomas Merritt was the Reserve Champion in Boys Cutting, while Brian Canter finished 6^th in the Bull Riding.

2005– Clint Keller finished 17^th in the Calf Roping and Thomas Merritt finished 17^th in the Boys Cutting.

2006– Again Clint Keller made the short go, finishing 11^th in the Calf Roping. Brent Murphy and Matt Futrell finish 7^th in the Team Roping.

2007– Heather Sherrill finishes 14^th in the Barrel Racing at the Wrangler Finals. Colton Ponder finishes 7^th in the Bull Riding and Lindsey Harper finishes 17^th in the Queen contest at the NHSFR.

Jerome Davis, of Archdale, is one former high school student that went on to succeed on the professional level of rodeo. The same year that Jerome Davis won Reserve All-Around Cowboy at the National High School Finals Rodeo in Shawnee, Okalahoma, he won the average in Bull Riding at the International Finals Rodeo. He won the 1990 IPRA Bull Riding Rookie of the Year and went on in 1995 to become the PRCA National World Champion Bull Rider.

In 1991, Davis stated "Rodeo is growing and starting to get real big in North Carolina. In the Carolinas we are starting to get real competitive and our skill level is getting higher." This is evident by the number of NCHSRA contestants who have gone on to compete in college rodeo and professional rodeo over the years.