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For the second time in three years Troy High School junior Brittany Ellis has qualified for the National High School Finals Rodeo. Ellis, her parents Brad and Sonya Ellis and her seven year old palomino gelding "Mojo" will be traveling with the Texas High School National Rodeo Team to Farmington, New Mexico from July 19-25 to compete at the 61st NHSFR finals in barrel racing.

Ellis was named to the 2009 National Wrangler High School All-Star Rodeo Team earlier this year and proved she belongs on the team by advancing to the short-go Top Ten championship round in both pole bending and barrel racing at the Texas High School Finals Rodeo held in Abilene June 15-21. Her second place finish in barrels in the short-go gave her a third place finish in the state of Texas and a spot on the Texas national team. She also finished sixth in the state finals in pole-bending and sixth in all-around cowgirl standings in Abilene.

Featuring over 1,500 contestants from 41 states, five Canadian Provinces and Australia, the National High School Finals is the world's largest rodeo. In addition to competing for over $200,000 in prizes, NHSFR contestants will also be vying for more than $325,000 in college scholarships and the chance to be named High School Rodeo National Champion. To earn the national title contestants must finish in the top twenty after two go-rounds of intense competition before advancing to Saturday night's final championship performance. The NHSFR is scheduled to air on RFD-TV at the conclusion of the performances but you can catch all of the NHSFR action live via Horsecity.com on their audio web cast.

Brittany Ellis is the granddaughter of Bob and Gwen Ellis of San Saba, Frances Hibler and the late Casey Hibler of San Saba and Jeff and Jeannie Ludwick of Troy.