ALTAMONT - Spurs jingling, ropes coiled, cows bellowing and the distinct smell of manure are part of the scholarship event for Illinois high school students competing at the Illinois High School Rodeo Association State Finals in Altamont.

The five-day event drew competitors from all over the state with their families, their horses and their hopes of going on to the National High School Rodeo Association Finals in Springfield this summer. This year, 30 seniors, or recent high school graduates, represented the cream of the crop. Nineteen of them will be awarded scholarships Sunday.

"That's really what it's all about," said Dave Tedrick, IHSRA Scholarship Foundation vice president.

The Foundation works year-round to raise scholarship money, including events during the rodeo that included a barbecue and parade Wednesday evening in Effingham. Jerry Jones, vice chairman of the rodeo committee of the Altamont Chamber of Commerce, said the annual event brings people to Altamont and the surrounding area.

"It's good, clean fun for the entire family," said a cowboy hat-wearing Jones, who spends the rest of his year in sales. "It's the wildest four days of the year, but it is a lot of fun."

Friday night's events included a tribute to the late Jeff Veteto of Kinmundy, a longtime rodeo clown. After the solemn ceremony that included a riderless horse and prayer, rodeo participants got down to business riding bucking broncos and roping calves.

"Everyone waits all year for this," said 2005 Rodeo Queen Kayla Berger. Berger, at the event to help judge the queen contest this year, continues to compete in college rodeos while attending Murray State University in Kentucky. Her mother, Pam, said rodeos were family events for her two daughters.

"You go from place to place together, you all work as a family to keep up the horses, and it becomes a real family sport, not just something the kids do," Pam Berger said.

Organizers say more than half the students competing are honor students and most, like Kayla, have plans that include future rodeos. Jones said Altamont would be hosting the event for the next five years.

"It brings a lot of attention to our little town," he said.

Sharon Mosley can be reached at sharonhrnews@yahoo.com.