Johnson heading back to nationals

Jacy Johnson is making a return trip to the National Junior High Finals Rodeo starting June 18 in Lebanon, TN.

Johnson, a soon to be freshman at Whitehall High School, will be competing in both pole bending and the rifle shooting competition.

"I'm really excited," she said about a return trip after competing last year.

Johnson finished first out of 17 in the rifle event at the Montana State Rodeo in Townsend. She said it was the first time she had competed in the event and smiled when noting she had not practiced very much.

"It was really fun," she said.

Johnson finished second in pole bending, and said this has been something she and her horse whisper have been working hard at.

She's looking forward to improving from her performance from last year and believes her experience will help her performance at the 2017 event.

Johnson is also excited to reconnect with many friends she has kept in contact with from the national rodeo event in 2016.