Ina Jones, Homer resident and state director for the newly formed Alaska chapter of the National High School Rodeo Association, said the idea is to provide more structure for today's high school age students while providing them college scholarship opportunities.

"With the national program we're hoping to add to what we've always had," she said.

The sport has been a part of Alaska summers since the Ninilchik rodeo began in the early 1960s.

Students in the NHSRA — not affiliated with the high school — get a chance to compete in 14 events ranging from barrel racing to bull riding at the state level and qualify for national competitions.

Along the way, they earn points that go toward individual titles and qualify for college money.

In 1999, the NHSRA gave away more than $515,000 to its members, according to its Web site.

Members also get to try their hand at rodeo management, said Kenai resident Mary Rainwater who coaches the Rodeo Queen event.

"This is for the kids," she said. "The kids run this. We advise them and provide structure, but it's the students that put on the rodeo."

Membership in the NHSRA costs $120 per year which includes state and annual dues and insurance for the students during the events as well as during their travel to and from the rodeos.

Mike Rainwater, Alaska's national director said the NHSRA, is open to students who maintain good standing at school, whether it be at public, private or home schools.

"I wish I would have had it when I was that age," he said.

You don't have to know how to ride a horse to get involved either, as workshops and training will be available, he said.

The NHSRA has an annual membership of more than 12,500 students from 40 states, five Canadian provinces and Australia, and sanctions more than 1,100 rodeos each year.

The first Alaska high school rodeo is scheduled for Memorial Day Weekend and the State Finals will be held in Soldotna on June 4. National finals this year will be in Wyoming in July.

Jones said there are several hundred high school students competing in rodeos in the state right now, with many of the best coming from the peninsula.

Now that there is a national program in place in the state, she said, those numbers should grow.

"The future of this is that it can carry on beyond all of us," she said.

The NHSRA is holding an informational meeting at the Anchor River Inn at 3 p.m. Saturday. For more information, contact Mary Rainwater at 262-5568, Ina Jones at 235-5568 or visit www.nhsra.org.

Ben Stuart can be reached at ben.stuart@homernews.com.