Fortuna’s Kaden Mangrum will join around 1,200 middle schoolers at one of the biggest rodeos in the world after qualifying for this summer’s National Junior High Rodeo Finals in Des Moines, Iowa.
The soon-to-be high school student will compete in the junior bull riding and bareback steer riding competition.
He qualified for the prestigious event after placing third in California in the competition and will represent Team California in Iowa.
The National Junior High Rodeo Finals will take place from June 23-29.
Mangrum competes on the District 2 Team for the California High School Rodeo Association, a junior high division that represents Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Lake, Sonoma, Marin and Napa Counties.
The CHSRA regular season runs from October to April, with state finals held in May.
Throughout the season, Mangrum competes in chute dogging, bareback steer riding, junior bull riding, goat tying and ribbon roping.
Magnum also has competed in the Fortuna Junior Rodeo and was crowned steer riding champion in the summer of 2022.
Check out video highlights of Magnum competing at the Fortuna Junior Rodeo above …
He also rides in the steer riding event at the Fortuna Rodeo’s “Bulls, Broncs, Bands & Brews”, and was champion in both 2021 and 2023.
Mangrum will be back in action at this year’s Fortuna Rodeo, which takes place in mid July, as he competes for the champion belt buckle.
Submitted photo – Kaden Mangrum
The 14-year-old Fortuna native also plays football and basketball and was the starting half back ad linebacker for the Eel River Valley AAA team in 2023, as well as the starting point guard and team captain for the Fortuna Middle School eighth grade boys basketball team this past winter.
And his success is not limited to sports.
Magnum also received the Citizen of the Month award at Fortuna Middle School for April.
In order to make the trip to Iowa in June, Mangrum and his family are seeking financial support to help cover the cost of the trip.
Anyone interested in helping can click here to support.
There will also be a Fried Chicken Fundraiser from Fat Anne’s on Thursday (Eureka pickup) and June 6 (Fortuna pickup), with all proceeds from a family style dinner (serves 4-5 for $75) of a bucket of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy and coleslaw going towards Mangrum’s trip.
