In mid-June, hundreds of students from all over the state will gather in Abilene for the Texas High School Rodeo Association’s 2008 State Finals Competition.

Seventeen of those students share a special brotherhood: all are students of Bubba Miller’s Cowboy Church and Rodeo School in Walker County.

Bubba Miller has been training kids of all ages in various rodeo events at his training facility just off Interstate 45 for 3 years, and has sent more than 30 of them to the state rodeo finals. This year’s group is the largest he’s had so far.

“We had 11 last year,” Miller said. “But I never expected it to grow this much. It’s a great feeling.”

The group ranges in age from 15 to 18, competing in bull riding, saddle bronco riding, bareback riding and steer wrestling. They come from as near as Huntsville and Madisonville, and from as far as Lufkin and Dayton.

Four of the students are from Walker County and three attend Huntsville High School.

Seven of the students, including seventeen-year-old Justin Tabor of Elkhart in east-central Texas, will be competing at the state level for the first time.

“I’m pretty amazed,” Tabor said. “I was only in three rodeos this year and I wasn’t supposed to ride for six months.”

Tabor lifted his sleeve to proudly show off a scar on his right shoulder, a souvenier from a bull’s charge.

“I got gored,” he said. “They told me not to, but I was back riding in two weeks.”

Tabor will be competing in bull riding in Abilene.

Sixteen-year-old Taylor Price will be representing Huntsville High School in both bull riding and bareback riding for the second consecutive year. He was the only freshman roughstock rider in the state last year to qualify for two events in Abilene.

“It feels good,” Price said. “I feel like I’m going to do a lot better this year. Last year was my first time and I was sweating bullets. They gave me the best horse in the pen to ride, and he chunked me right off.”

After competing with a dislocated finger last year, Price will once again be riding injured, this time with a separated rib.

“It hurts, but you want to ride,” Price said. “I sat out for three weeks with my rib, but I was just going crazy. I just felt like I had to ride. It’s what I do.”

In addition to several newcomers, Miller’s group also has seasoned veterans. Eighteen-year-old Daniel Dyson of Dayton will be competing in bull riding, saddle bronco riding and steer wrestling and is making his third trip to the state finals.

“Advice to a rookie?” Dyson said. “Don’t quit. Don’t weaken.”

Dyson has been in rodeo all his life, and hopes to work as a rodeo producer after college.

At the heart of this group is a proud cowboy and teacher who helped guide these students on their path for three years. Bubba Miller sports a hearty grin as he talks about how proud he is of his riders.

“This feels overwhelming,” Miller said. “To take these kids, some of them from zero experience, to a champion level and help them achieve their goals ... that’s just overwhelming.”

Miller said he also takes pride in helping his kids map out their future.

“Many of these kids will receive full scholarships for doing this,” he said.

Miller is not only an enthusiastic teacher of the sport, but an advocate for what rodeo can do.

“The sport of rodeo is so family-oriented,” he said. “Rodeo helps bring families together and that creates a unity and keeps families together.”

The Texas High School Rodeo Association State Finals will begin in Abilene on June 15th and conclude on June 22nd.

Bubba Miller’s Cowboy Church and Rodeo School is just off Exit 132 on Interstate 45 near Madisonville and holds church services every Sunday at 5 p.m. followed by free rodeo training for all ages and all experience levels.