Youth from the Four States area will be vying and riding competitively today and Saturday for the SouthWest Arkansas High School Rodeo Association’s annual rodeo finals.

More than 100 competitors, including the top 15 ranked in each category of competition, will get in the arena at four States Fairgrounds to show off their rodeo ring skills. Admission is $5 at the door for the event, which starts at 7 p.m. tonight and at 5 p.m. Saturday.

The rodeo categories include bull riding, chute dogging, junior steer riding, pole bending, tie-down calf roping, breakaway roping, team roping and barrel racing.

After a year-long series of rodeos, the top youth rodeo stars of the region will be crowned as champs. And Jackie Sue Watlington, promotional director, said association members will compete for more than $60,000 in prizes and scholarships and some can go on to compete in college.

“It teaches them responsibility,” Watlington said about youth being involved in rodeo. “They have to take care of their animals ... and it’s a friendly competition. Everybody cheers everybody on.”

Ages of the young competitors range from 4 to 18 in the PeeWee, Junior and Senior divisions, she said. And though the rodeo is organized in Southwest Arkansas, it’s truly a regional event.

“The contestants are from Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas,” said Watlington.

For more information on the youth rodeo organization, check out www.swahsra.org.