California State University, Fresno’s Bulldogger rodeo team will compete in its last fall rodeo this weekend in Red Bluff.

National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) members compete in approximately 10 rodeos a year trying to earn a trip to the College National Finals Rodeo.

Fifteen students represented Fresno State last weekend in competition at the Plumas-Sierra County Fairgrounds in Quincy.

Fresno State’s Garrett Boekenoogen won the team roping header competition and teammate Zach Zamrsla placed third as a heeler. In women’s competition, Erin Bogdanich placed third in barrel racing and teammates . Holly Boekenoogen and Marty Gianolini placed in one go-round of breakaway roping.

The NIRA is divided into 11 regions with more than135 colleges and universities participating. Fresno State, in the West Coast Region, competes against Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and Pomona, UCLA, Nevada, UNLV,  Cuesta College, Feather River College, Lassen College, Western Nevada Community College and West Hills College in Coalinga.

Garrett Boekenoogen, a junior at Fresno State, is serving as this year’s West Coast Region student director. Boekenoogen was elected by other contestants in his region to serve as their student representative on the national board.

Dr. Art Parham, who chairs the Animal Sciences and Agricultural Education Departments at Fresno State, said Boekenoogen is his first student to serve at the national level in Parham’s 10 years as the adviser to the Bulldogger rodeo team.

(Copy by University Communications student-intern Megan Jacobsen.)