Trent Rinard of Carlise, Ind. falls on the ground after getting bucked of a bulling during the High School Rodeo held at the Ag Center on Sunday. BRIAN POWERS/HERALD

Seth Powell closed his eyes and took a deep breath. His face was scrunched in concentration as he attempted to block out the noises around him.

Powell, a senior at Grayson County High School in Leitchfield, was a competitor in the saddle bronco riding contest at the Bowling Green Invitational Rodeo this weekend at Western’s Agricultural Exposition Center.

“I get really nervous before I ride,” he said, his eyes still closed. “It feels like I don’t have control over anything. It’s exciting and terrifying all at the same time.”

Powell was among more than 200 high school students from several states competing in rodeo events such as bull riding, barrel racing, and steer wrestling, said James Beckner, board member of the Kentucky High School Rodeo Association.

Powell stood up and approached a gate where a large brown horse was struggling against the bars.

“I love everything about rodeo except the anticipation,” he said with a nervous laugh. “I like to get out there and face my fears. That’s what rodeo is all about, staring down the fear.”

The rodeo lasted two days. The first leg of the competitions started at 7 p.m. on Saturday, and the second leg picked up at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

“We’ve got some great talent this year,” Beckner said. “It’s just like a professional rodeo, but the riders are still in high school.”

Beckner said he’s been working with the Kentucky High School Rodeo Association for four years, and this year’s competition has seen the biggest crowd at about 1,000 attendees.

Clark Adcock, 16 of Smithsville, Tenn., warms up outside the Ag Center before the start of the team roping competition on Sunday. BRIAN POWERS/HERALD

“I think people realize that these kids are really special and dedicated to what they do,” he said.

Morgan Travis, a sophomore from Little Rock, Ark., said she’s been going to rodeos since she was 5 years old.

“It’s a lot more entertaining than people think it is,” she said. “It’s a classic man versus beast battle.”

Beckner said the competition was a lead up to the High School Rodeo Finals in June.

“They practice and compete all year long,” he said. “There’s never an off-season for rodeo, which can be really straining for kids in high school.”

Beckner said this year’s competition would be the last one in Bowling Green because the circuit’s contract with the Ag Expo Center is expiring.

“We do look forward to coming back,” he said. “This is a great town for all our competitors coming from states like Tennessee and Indiana. It’s a very convenient and central location for people who love to watch rodeo.”