About 680 young cowboys and cowgirls are in Colorado Springs this week to compete in the National Little Britches Rodeo Finals.

This year’s rodeo is drawing even more contestants and spectators than in years past. Organizers say there are, in fact, 100 more contestants and 200 more horses---proving that the popularity of rodeo for kids is increasing.

The cowboys and cowgirls have to be good to qualify to be here this summer. Jeremy Hanson wants to be #1. This 15-year-old Kansas cowboy has been riding bulls for 8 years. That’s more than half his life. On Monday, he held on for the full 8 seconds and scored high---a 76. This, despite being a little off-guard. "Was getting ready in the chute and the chute popped open and I wasn't ready. I was playing ‘catch up’ with the time," he said.

Randi Massey just finished her round in goat tying. She's also from Kansas. Unfortunately, the mud slowed her down. "It's pretty out here. I wish it hadn't of rained though. It kind of drug us down," she said.

Little Jacob Nelson and his family drove more than 1,000 miles from Mississippi to be here. He loves the rodeo, too. "Riding horses. Rodeoing!" His parents say Jacob practices with his rope by the hour. And he's competing all week.

Little Britches Rodeo performances are at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily through Friday at Penrose Stadium. The championship round is Saturday at 10 a.m.

Admission is $6 for adults, $4 for seniors and children ages 9-12, and $1 for children age 8 and under. Tickets can be purchased at the gate.

For more information:
Call 719-389-0333 or go online and Click here.