Craig — Janice Edwards, Moffat County High School rodeo team sponsor, knows there will be a large local contingency at the State Rodeo Finals.

She wants to make sure enough hometown cowboys and cowgirls can make an appearance for the home crowd, too.

With the Colorado State High School Rodeo Association deciding to have the 2010 and 2011 finals in Craig, Edwards, who is in her first year as sponsor, said some of the younger entrants could make it.

“Some of the kids are starting out in rodeo,” she said. “It should be interesting, and we’ll be all right.”

There will be eight cowboys and cowgirls at the high school level, with seven middle school entrants.

With three returnees, including Edwards’ daughter, Taylor Vernon, there are some cowgirls who won’t be going to their first rodeo.

“The team looks pretty good,” Edwards said. “There are a bunch of young kids, a couple freshmen.

“But, we also have some seniors, too.”

Edwards is familiar with the rodeo part of being the team’s sponsor.

“I’ve helped coach before,” she said. “I haven’t done the paperwork part yet.”

Coaching should be the easy part, Edwards said.

“For me it is – I’ve already set up some practices,” she said. “We’re setting some up some right now. The paperwork will be the hardest part.”

After the paperwork is done, the team should be competitive, Edwards said.

The next great cowboy or cowgirl could come from anywhere, she added.

“Anybody could be a surprise,” she said. “We have some kids starting out riding saddle broncs, and I know the whole state of Colorado hasn’t been tough for broncs.”

Still, having established seniors on the team should help, she said.

“Taylor does well, but she’s been doing it pretty much her whole life,” she said. “She’s been doing it since she was 8, so she should be there for her events.”

Taanna Taylor, also a senior, could be one of the team’s leaders.

“Taanna has improved – she has a nice horse this year,” Edwards said. “We know a couple of the girls could do something this year.”

Wyatt Uptain and bronc rider Garrett Buckley should be able to anchor the team for years to come, Edwards said.

“Wyatt Uptain has rodeoed quite a bit,” she said. “I haven’t seen him rodeo, but he should do well, knowing his past rodeo background.”

With the June 2010 and 2011 Colorado State High School Rodeo Finals happening in Craig, getting more cowboys and cowgirls to perform in front of the home crowd is a priority, Edwards said.

“Some of our kids could go to nationals,” she said. “With the state rodeo here in Craig, we want more to go to state than last year.

“Being home should energize them.”