Watertown Hosts East Region High School Rodeo at Derby Downs

Local rodeo athletes took to Derby Downs in Watertown over the weekend, aiming to secure their spots for the upcoming 2026 South Dakota State High School Rodeo Finals. The Watertown East Region High School Rodeo took place on June 13 and 14, providing competitors with one last opportunity to accumulate points needed for qualification.

Participants competed across various events and earned points based on their rankings, with a minimum of three points required to qualify for the state finals. The 77th edition of the South Dakota High School Rodeo Finals is set to occur from June 16 to June 20 at the Stanley County Fairgrounds in Fort Pierre.

The all-around champions for the Watertown rodeo included Charleigh Brewer from Wessington and August Steele from Huron. In total, seven local cowboys and cowgirls claimed titles in their respective events during the weekend.

First Go winners from June 13 included Beau Hemmingson of Bradley in bareback riding, Livya Braskamp of Wentworth in pole bending, and the team roping duo of Ethan and Caleb Barsness from Volga. On June 14, Cooper Faehnrich of Clear Lake excelled in steer wrestling, while Tyan Braskamp, also from Wentworth, shone in tiedown roping.

For complete results from the weekend's events, as well as highlights from the previous Huron rodeos, you can visit the South Dakota High School Rodeo Association’s website.