Application & Entry Process
All contestants must fill out an online application and entry by August 1, 2020. Selections will be announced on August 7, 2020 on the American Royal website.
All contestants must submit an application along with their paid entries. A committee reviews all applications while the names of the applicants are hidden. The selection is based solely upon what is provided in each individual’s application. The final decisions are based upon a combination of the following: accomplishments in and out of the rodeo arena, leadership, community involvement, and academics.
All eligible applicants will compete. Contestants will be selected for the performances while all other eligible applicants will be in slack. All contestants entered in goat tying and steer wrestling will be in slack. Slack will be held for both Junior and Senior age divisions. Events and slack are subject to capacity and is at the discretion of the committee.
ENTRY WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON. If you would like to be notified when entry is available, please CLICK HERE to add your information to our contact list.
Be in the Pro Rodeo
- All event winners will be presented with their prize buckle and check at the Pro Rodeo on Friday night
- Senior timed event winners will get to compete against the pros during the PRCA rodeo on Friday night
See more information below.
Schedule
Junior and Senior days for 2020
Tuesday, September 22 - Noon - Senior Division Performance
Tuesday, September 22 - 2:00 PM - Senior Division Slack
Wednesday, September 23 - Noon - Senior Division Performance
Thursday, September 24 - Noon - Junior Division Performance
Thursday, September 24 - 2:00 PM - Junior Division Slack
Friday, September 25 - Noon - Junior Division Performance
Friday, September 25 - 7:30 PM - PRCA Rodeo, awards presented
Performance Contestants
9:00 AM – Check-In
10:00 AM – Mandatory Contestant Meeting
11:45 AM – Line up for Grand Entry
12:00 PM – Rodeo Performance
Check-In is located at the Contestant Hospitality area in the middle of stalling. Contestants in the performances will receive their contestant shirt which must be worn to compete in, back number, and exhibitor pin.
There will be a mandatory meeting each morning for the contestants in the performance held at Hospitality in the stalling barn.
Slack Contestants
12:00 PM – Check-In
1:30 PM – Contestant Meeting
2:00 PM – Slack
Check-In is located at the Contestant Hospitality area in the middle of stalling. There will be a meeting immediately following the completion of the performance in Hospitality in the stalling barn. Slack will start approximately 30 minutes after the performance is complete.
Junior Events
Ages 13 and under, as of January 1, 2020
Events Include:
- Mutton Busting (6 & Under)
- Junior Bulls (11-13 years)
- Barrel Racing
- Girls Goat Tying (Slack Only)
- Boys Goat Tying (Slack Only)
- Breakaway Roping (Boys and Girls)
- Team Roping (must enter as a team)
- Junior Bareback (9-13 years)
- Steer Riding (9-10 years)
Senior Events
Ages 14-18, as of January 1, 2020
Events Include:
- Bareback Riding
- Bull Riding
- Barrel Racing (Ladies)
- Breakaway Roping (Ladies)
- Goat Tying (Ladies, Slack Only)
- Tie-Down Roping
- Steer Wrestling (Slack Only)
- Saddle Bronc Riding
- Team Roping (must enter as a team)
Rules
Please review document for a list of American Royal ground rules. The National High School Rodeo Associations Rulebook shall be used for all events; except Steer Riding, Junior Bareback and Mutton Busting will follow the Missouri Kansas Youth Rodeo Association Rulebook.
Stalls & Shavings
Stalling is available on the grounds in Lower Exhibition Hall and is first come first serve. Stalls are included in your entry fees. No tie-outs allowed. Please be advised this location has concrete floors. Outside shavings are allowed. If you want to purchase shavings onsite they will be $9 a bag in the Feed Room. Feed Room hours are 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM, so please plan accordingly. The Feed Room is located in the South West corner of stalling.
RV/Trailer Hookups
RV/Trailer hook-ups will be available at the facility. 20 and 30 amp spots will be available on a first come first serve basis. Hook-ups are located in Lot A, behind the front entrance of the American Royal. Upon arrival you may park anywhere in the reserved Youth Rodeo parking area. Please be respectful of space and be courteous when parking. All parking fees are included in your entry fees. No tie-outs allowed.
Equine Health Requirements
All horses must have an accompanying current (30 days) Certificate of Veterinary Inspection and Negative Coggins test (1 year). The Rodeo Veterinarian will be checking papers onsite. Only healthy livestock are allowed on the grounds. The Rodeo Veterinarian may perform a health assessment on any animal in question and will have final say on whether or not the animal may be on the grounds.
Event Winner Opportunities
All junior and senior event winners will be invited to the ProRodeo on Friday night to receive their check and buckle in the arena. If unable to attend, checks and awards will be mailed to the contestant’s address from the entry form; after the completion of the rodeo.
Winners of the senior timed events (steer wrestling, tie-down, team roping, and barrels) will be invited to compete in the ProRodeo on Friday night. If the youth rodeo contestant places in the Friday night performance, they will receive a total $200. Contestants will get free admission all parents and guests will need to purchase a ticket to the ProRodeo.
Event Access
Every contestant will receive a back number for entry into the facility. Youth rodeo tickets may be purchased through Ticketmaster.com or at the Hale Arena Box Office for $5.00. Everyone except contestants must purchase an admission ticket. The box seats will be reserved for contestant’s family and friends to sit.
Directions & Facility
The rodeo will be held in Hale Arena, located on the Northeast side of the American Royal Center. Warm-up will be in Tom Bass Arena and stalling is in Lower Exhibition Hall, located on the South end of the American Royal Center.
Performance Shirts
Contestants selected and competing in this year’s rodeo performances will receive a long sleeve shirt to compete in. Performance contestants will receive their shirt at check-in. Sizes are not guaranteed. Extra shirts will not be for sale and are only for those competing in the performances this year.
Photography/Videography
There will be an official photographer and videographer in the arena. No professional cameras or videos are allowed.
Invite your School
The Youth Rodeo is part of the Field Trip program, which allows contestants to compete in front of approximately 1,200 school children at each performance! It’s an experience of a lifetime! Feel free to invite your school to attend by visiting
Pay Out
Everyone competing (slack and performance) will be eligible for the champion buckle and payback monies. Payout will encompass both performances and slack for that age division. Buckles and checks will be presented at the ProRodeo on Friday night. They will be mailed out within 10 days for anyone not able to attend. Prize money checks will be void 90 days after issuance.
- No ground money paid. No day money paid.
- If there is a qualified time or score, all prize money will be paid.
- If a contestant does not show up, their entry fee remains in the pot (except with a doctor’s or vet’s release).
Payout will be as follows:
1 entry 100%
2-4 entries, 2 monies - 60%, 40%
5-8 entries, 3 monies - 50%, 30%, 20%
9-12 entries, 4 monies - 40%, 30%, 20%, 10%
13-29 entries, 5 monies - 30%, 25%, 20%, 15%, 10%
30+ entries, 6 monies - 29%, 24%, 19%, 14%, 9%, 5%Payout breakdown per event:
Entry Fee - $75
- Pot - $37.50
- Parking, Stalls and/or Stock Fee - $25
- Office Fee - $12.50Added Money – Minimum $3500
- 20 events – minimum $175 per eventRefund/Cancellation Policy
There will be no refunds for Youth Rodeo. Exceptions will be considered if a doctor’s note or vet release is produced and approved by the day of competition. Requests for refunds must be submitted to the American Royal and are subject to a $20 cancellation fee. The amount to be refunded may not be used as a credit toward a future event.
In case of cancellation of the contest or unavailability of the event due to any causes that are beyond the American Royal’s control, including, without limitation, such causes as war, governmental action or order, act of God, fire, flood, severe storm, strike, labor disputes, or other similar causes (“Force Majeure Event”), this Agreement shall terminate, and the Contestant shall be entitled to the return of the fees for the Contest, less the prorated share allocated to the American Royal of the expenses incurred by the Royal in connection with the event as of the date of the Force Majeure Event. Refund of the Fees as provided in this section shall be the exclusive remedy of the Contestant against the American Royal in case the contest is cancelled or rescheduled through a Force Majeure Event. In the event of cancellation or unavailability for reasons beyond the control of the American Royal, Contestant releases and holds all claims for damage and agrees that the American Royal shall have no obligation except the above stated refund.
Signage & Decorations
Signage & Decoration Guidelines:
- There is no signage allowed outside your assigned exhibitor space.
- Decorations, signs, posters, etc., may not be taped, nailed, tacked, or otherwise fastened to ceilings, painted surfaces, columns, glass doors, marble, fabric, walls, etc.
- Approved tape 3M 9589 (double side adhesive), 3M 471 (single side adhesive) and Gaffers tapes are the only approved products for booth markings and carpet applications within the facility. Applied tapes and any residue must be removed from all surfaces prior to move-out.
- Paint, shoe polish and unapproved tapes are not allowed to be used in the facility.
- No drilling of the structure is allowed. Any means of attachment must be non-destructive to the structure.
- Helium balloons are not allowed inside the facility. The Facility Manager may approve helium balloons if they are an integral part of the display.
- Glitter and adhesive-backed decals are not permitted in the facility or on the premises.
- All labor requirements for move-in/out, setup of display areas, etc. shall be the responsibility of show management and/or exhibitors and their service providers.
Vendor Rules & Regulations
All vendors participating in the Youth Rodeo should review the Vendor Rules and Regulations prior to arriving at the American Royal.