Popko named to 2006-2007 Wrangler High School All Star Rodeo Team

Leaders of the National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA), the oldest youth rodeo organization in America, recently appointed Kerry Popko of Fallbrook to the Wrangler High School All Star Rodeo Team, the first-ever corporate-sponsored youth rodeo team.

The Wrangler High School All Star Rodeo Team is fashioned after Wrangler’s Champion Pro Rodeo Team, which includes superstars like Ty Murray, Joe Beaver, Dan Mortensen, Charmayne James and Hall-of-Famer Jim Shoulders. Popko earned a position on the Wrangler High School All Star Rodeo Team based on leadership qualities, academic eligibility and athletic achievements.

“We are excited to again this year expand Wrangler’s rodeo sponsorship program at the high school level,” said Karl Stressman, special events manager for Wrangler Rodeo. “As always, it gives us a tremendous sense of pride to associate the Wrangler brand with promising young men and women. We’re confident each member of the team will be an outstanding goodwill ambassador for the sport of rodeo.”

Members of the Wrangler High School All Star Rodeo Team receive official competition apparel consisting of Wrangler Twenty X shirts embroidered with the team logo and two pairs of competition jeans. In addition, each team member receives an official team certificate signed by Jim Shoulders and Ty Murray.

“The NHSRA owes much of its success to the support of its national sponsors,” said NHSRA general manager Kent Sturman, “and we are excited to have a prominent company like Wrangler once again step forward to help us meet the ever-increasing challenges facing our young people today. Cowboys can always depend on Wrangler to support the infrastructure of rodeo and our members are thrilled to have Wrangler as a sponsor and are proud to wear their products in and out of the competition arena.”

The mission of the NHSRA is to help today’s young people become responsible, dedicated adults through the sport of rodeo. High school rodeo has come a long way since its start as a single event held in Halletsville, TX, in 1947. It now features over 10,000 members and 1,250 sanctioned rodeos in 39 states, five Canadian provinces and Australia.

To contact the NHSRA, call 1-800-466-4772 or visit their Web site at http://www.nhsra.org.