Today kicks off one of the biggest weeks in South Dakota as some of the top talent in high school rodeo converge in Fort Pierre for a chance to compete in the State High School Rodeo Finals. This marks the 76th year of the South Dakota State Rodeo Finals, and it continues to grow importance each year. So much so, this is the largest high school rodeo state competition in the country, and for good reason as South Dakota is a breeding ground for some of the best competition around the nation.
The kids are not only competing for state recognition, but also for a chance to qualify for the National Rodeo Finals which will be held in Rock Springs, WY. Along with the rodeo, there is a queen competition and a trap shooting/site rifle shooting competition as well.
The rodeo is being held at the Stanley County Fairgrounds, and will begin today and run through June, 21st. You can see the full schedule for the week here: 2025_state_finals_schedule
