A Red Bluff high school student with strong family ties to the Honey Lake Valley will be heading off to compete in the world’s largest rodeo starting this Sunday in Gillette, Wyoming.
Pierce McClelland, great grandson of Elburna McClelland of Susanville and grandson of Tom McClelland of Janesville, will have the opportunity to participate in the 63rd annual National High School Rodeo Saddle Bronc competition. Pierce is a junior at Red Bluff High School.
The rodeo will feature more than 1,500 contestants from 41 states, five Canadian provinces and Australia making it the largest in the world. McClelland earned the right to compete by taking top spot in the state saddle bronc championship with a score of 134 in two go-rounds.
Contestants in Gillette will be competing for $200,000 in prizes, $350,000 in college scholarships and a chance to be named National High School Rodeo National Champion.
McClelland is traveling to Wyoming with teammate Danny Brown who will compete in the steer wrestling portion of the rodeo. The two have spent the week here in town practicing for the upcoming event.
The finals will be televised and audio reports streamed live on the internet.
