News

For the sixth year in a row, two riders from the Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (NEO) rodeo team are heading to the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Casper, Wyo. On June 12-18. Tylen Layton and Patrick Houchins earned their spot after finishing third in the region in calf roping and team roping respectively. The CNFR is the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s (NIRA) championship event and over 400 participants from 100 colleges and universities will compete.

Layton is a third-year student from Copan, Okla. attending NEO through the Missouri State University Pathways Program. He is making his second consecutive trip to the CNFR. He also earned third at the Indian National Finals Rodeo. Houchins is a second-year student from Frankford, Mo. Both riders are studying Ag-Business. “I am very proud of the hard work these guys have put in this year and I am excited to see them compete at the National Finals,” said Kolby Ungehauer, NEO rodeo coach. “With over 100 students in each of their events, finishing in the top three is an enormous accomplishment. Both of these riders have an excellent chance to bring back a national title to NEO.”

Along with the two qualifiers for the National Finals, NEO rodeo had three other members finish top 10: Clay Gulick tied for sixth place overall in team roping, Kirbee Spire finished seventh overall in breakaway roping, and Dillon Sherrick finished eighth overall in calf roping. The men’s team also finished second among two-year colleges in the region and the women’s team finished third among two-year colleges. “I would like to thank Dr. Hale, President’s Partners, and the NEO administration for their continued support,” added Ungehauer. “Transporting students to the CNFR for the last six years would not have been possible without their help. I also want to thank the great community of Miami for their support of our program as well.” For more information about the NEO rodeo team, contact Gentry Hutchison at gentrsh@neo.edu or visit ag.neo.edu.