Robertson hoping third times a charm

Whitehall's Garris Robertson will be making his third trip to the National Junior High Finals Rodeo starting Sunday in Tennessee.

After two years of experience, the soon to be ninth grader at Whitehall High School is ready for a breakthrough performance.

Robertson said he has the goal of finishing first or at least placing in one of his three events. He qualified at the state rodeo by finishing first in tie down roping, goat tying, and ribbon roping with partner Haven Wolstein of Helena.

Robertson said with thousands in the stands at nationals it can be unnerving, but he is mentally prepared and won't be scared when he competes.

Robertson said it will be a long trip to Tennessee, and he was amazed by the over 1,000 trailers on the rodeo grounds he described as much bigger than the ones in Bozeman. The Whitehall resident is also proud to represent his community. He said a lot of younger people locally don't participate in rodeo anymore and he is happy to be an inspiration to younger kids who watch him compete.

Robertson smiled while he said that after a recent rodeo a kid came up to him and said, "I want to be a cowboy just like you".