CNFR Champ

Photo courtesy of Dan Hubb
Photo courtesy of Dan Hubb

Congratulations to Orin Larsen of Inglis, Man., on winning the 2013 Bareback Championship at the 64th College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) held in Casper, Wyo., in mid-June. This is Orin’s first college championship, but not the first time he has been in the standings. Last year, Orin, who is attending the College of Southern Idaho on a rodeo scholarship, had finished in 6th place in the Bareback standings, and 7th in All Around.

He is carrying on a family tradition of bringing home a championship. In 2012 his brother Tyrel Larsen, who attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University, won the Saddle Bronc Championship. The CNFR is the “Rose Bowl” of college rodeo, where the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association crowns individual event champions in all the major events, plus team roping, breakaway roping, and goat tying. Over 400 cowboys and cowgirls from over 100 universities and colleges compete all year in one of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s 11 regions for a chance to rope or ride at the CNFR.

The top three students in each event, and top two men’s and women’s teams from the NIRA’s 11 regions qualify.