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Barrel racing, pole bending, goat-tying, breakaway roping.

While these words may not be familiar to the average person, they are a way of life for three Melrose-Mindoro students who are representing Wisconsin at the National High School Rodeo Finals in Farmington, N.M., this year.

Jenna Johnson, 18, Danna Jessie and Bailey Kyser, both 17, will make the trip July 20-26 after each placed in the top four of their events at the State Finals competition June 20-22 in Richland Center. They will be among 1,500 contestants from more than 40 state/province associations competing for national titles, awards and scholarships.

For Johnson, this is her last year competing in high school rodeo. She recently graduated from Melrose-Mindoro and is making her fourth trip to the national competition. She has been involved in rodeo for eight years and competes in barrel racing and pole bending. After winning the pole bending event and taking the fourth-place spot in barrel racing at state, she will represent Wisconsin at nationals in both events.

“With pole bending, there are six poles you weave through and back like an obstacle course,” Johnson said. “Barrel racing is a lot more popular, though.”

Although this is her last year, Johnson made sure it was one for the history books. In pole bending, she did something that has never been accomplished in the history of high school rodeo: she was state champion for the fourth consecutive year.

Kyser, who will be a senior at Melrose-Mindoro this year, is making her third trip to the national competition. She competes in barrel racing, pole bending, goat-tying and breakaway roping. She is the state champion in barrel racing this year and placed second in pole bending and will be competing in both at nationals.

Jessie, who will also be a senior, is representing Wisconsin in goat-tying after taking fourth at state, and this is her second trip to the national competition. Jessie also competes in barrel racing, pole bending, breakaway roping and team roping.

“Danna just missed qualifying for nationals in breakaway, which is what she went for last year,” Johnson said of her classmate and good friend. “She is very well rounded in every event.”

In addition to their qualifying places at state, all three girls ended up in the top eight for All-around Cowgirl.

Johnson said in preparation for the national competition, competitors must go through regional rodeos and state finals in order to qualify. She said the key to doing well is making sure a rider’s horse stays in shape by riding everyday. And that has paid off for her horse Eddie as he was named 2008 American Quarter Horse Association Horse of the Year.

One of the best aspects about participating in rodeo for so long, Johnson said, is meeting new people.

“Going to nationals is cool because you meet people from other parts of the country and even Canada,” she said.

Johnson is attending Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and has joined the Triton College Rodeo Team.

She said participating in rodeo has taught her a lot about responsibility.

“It’s a good learning experience for kids to do things on their own,” she said.