Charting A New Path In 2024

Contestants and fans should prepare themselves for a unique experience at this year’s YETI Junior World Finals.

Now in its ninth year, the rodeo takes place Dec. 5-14 and will once again be at the Las Vegas Convention Center, with a twist.

“The Junior World Finals will be held outside in a 52,000 square-foot tent just south of The Cowboy Channel Cowboy Christmas,” said Brilynn Bentley, the Corporate Marketing Manager for Las Vegas Events and the JWF Assistant General Manager. “So you will walk through Cowboy Christmas and walk out to the Junior World Finals Arena.

“Contestants will have a parking lot next to the tent for the timed-events and our roughstock group will be able to walk straight through Cowboy Christmas to come join us.”

More than 800 contestants – 825 entries with contestants who qualify in more than one event – will compete formore $1 million in cash and prizes. In addition, all of the ticket money collected during the 10-day event will go directly to the Junior World Finals contestants.

Contestants from across the country, as well as from Canada, Mexico and Australia are scheduled to compete in nine events – bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, steer wrestling, tie- down roping, team roping, barrel racing, breakaway roping and pole bending. Each event features different age categories. Action at the Wrangler Rodeo Arena begins at 9 a.m. each day.

The Junior World Finals, which began as the Junior National Finals Rodeo in 2015, was held in Central Hall 2 of the LV Convention Center last year after a longstanding run on the second floor of the convention center’s South Hall.

Despite the move from the convention center to the tent this year, the Wrangler Rodeo Arena will remain the same size.

“We still have the opportunity to host up to 1,200 fans in the stands at one given time,” Bentley noted. “There won’tbe any massive changes, but you will see a new arena look to go with the dirt boards and signage. And the LED boards will still remain to give fans an opportunity to watch the rodeo. We also have a whole new bleacher setup that I’m sure our fans will enjoy.”

Fans and contestants can also enjoy the same amenities that were available in past years. 

“Bites & Brews will be upstairs where the arena used to be located,” Bentley noted.

Fans who are unable to make it to Vegas to watch the event in person can once again watch the Junior World Finals on the Cowboy Channel app, with a significant improvement.

“We’re still on the app, but this year it’s free and will be available on the front end of the app,” Bentley said.

This year’s Junior World Finals welcomes back the same six producers in Ote Berry (steer wrestling), Kelly Kaminski (KK Run for Vegas barrel racing and pole bending), Whitney Mitchell (team roping), Jennifer Webb (tie-down andbreakaway), Laci Demers (bareback and saddle bronc) and Leal’s Junior Bull Riding. 

“Not only do we have the same producers, but we have the same three host hotel properties in Tuscany, Sam’s Town and The STRAT,” Bentley said. “And we’ll have the back number ceremonies at both Sam’s Town and The STRAT. It gives our contestants the opportunity to walk across the stage and receive their back number, which was a huge element last year, so we’re excited to do it again.”

The back number ceremonies are just one example of how Las Vegas Events is making the Junior World Finals memorable for the contestants.

“We are giving each contestant a jacket in partnership with Resistol as well as a Hooey ballcap for them to takehome,” Bentley said. “The jackets were a huge hit last year and this year they’ll get a Cold Bloq Resistol jacket with the embroidery in them.”

Integrating the old with the new has been a trademark of LVE continuing to move forward in its drive to make the JWF the premier rodeo for youth contestants.

“We are happy to continue our partnership with the Junior World Finals in year nine and excited about building up to year 10,” Bentley stated.