Elane Allison must have never heard Waylon Jennings sing, “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow up to be Cowboys.”
Elane has seen her 14-year-old son Justin Allison grow into one of the top teenage calf ropers in the country.
Justin just returned from New Mexico, where he placed 21st in the eighth annual National Junior High rodeo finals as part of a team from Tennessee.
Justin competed in the boys calf-roping competition, which featured over 300 competitors.
It was part of the world’s largest junior high rodeo as over 1,000 contestants from 47 states, along with participants from Canada and Australia, competed.
Justin nearly qualified for a chance to be named the junior national champion. The top 20 finishers made the final round, where the champion would be crowned on a nationally televised event. Justin was one spot outside the final cut.
Despite being a relative newcomer to calf roping, Justin seemed to have no problems with finishing near the top in his class.
Justin started roping a little over a year ago, but he has been riding horses all his life. Even a minor setback during his first go-round roping didn’t set the former Morrison Eagle student back.
Justin broke his arm in September after his horse fell on top of him during a riding session. After a few months off, Justin was back on his horse and roping.
The National Junior High rodeo finals is just one of many events Justin has participated in since he began doing competitive events.
Justin spent this weekend in Lebanon at a rodeo and he and his family also travel across the Southeast for competitions.
Justin will be moving into a new category next year as he moves to Warren County High School. Justin, who turns 15 in November, will enter the National High School rodeo tour this fall.
Justin plans to keep riding on tour in hopes of earning scholarship money available to the top performers.