A trip to Iowa proved hugely successful for Escalon teen Mason Silva, as he returned from the late June National Junior High Finals Rodeo (NJHFR) as a Reserve World Champion.
His second place showing came in Goat Tying at the 2025 NJHFR and – due to his hard work and perseverance – was a dramatic improvement from his 45th place showing at this event last year.
The NJHFR is one of the largest and most competitive junior high rodeo events in the world, featuring top qualifiers from every U.S. state, Canadian provinces, and beyond. It gives the young athletes the chance to showcase their skills in rodeo in several events. Numbers from the June 22-28 competition in Des Moines, Iowa indicate there were 1,230 contestants and 1,881 entries, representing four countries and 51 states and provinces. A total of 18 World Champions were crowned at the National Junior High Finals Rodeo.
Silva, 13, will be an eighth grader this coming school year at Ripon Christian Junior High; his parents are Johnny and Megan Silva and he has two younger siblings. His sister Lena, 11, and brother Frank, 9, also compete in multiple rodeo events throughout the year. The family lives in Escalon.
Mason Silva has been involved with the sport of rodeo for five years.
“It was really the only thing left to do during COVID,” the teen said of first giving the sport a try. “My aunt came home from Texas; she was rodeoing up there and she kind of helped us get started in all of that.”
Admitting that he has put “a lot” of work in to improve in his main event of goat tying, Silva said that’s part of the fun.
“I practice quite a few events but usually I’m tying the dummy every day and goats in the morning pretty much every day too,” he explained.
There is no designated rodeo club at Ripon Christian and the California contingent to the NJHFR competed as the California team. Locally, Silva is affiliated with District 5 as part of the CHSRA, California High School Rodeo Association.
As far as what he enjoys most about the sport, Silva said there are a couple of things.
“Trying to just beat my times every run that I make and just all the people that do it,” he said.
The teen also noted that he and his quarter horse, Smokey, work well together.
“This was his second year in that arena, so he knew what to do,” Silva said of the 18-year-old horse.
Silva said that familiarity also helped him out, as he was able to improve from his 45th place showing last year to a second place finish this year.
“Just being in the arena once already, my horse has been in that arena and a lot of those other horses had trouble because of how short the arena was,” explained Silva.
Mom Megan added that the teen has maintained straight A’s all through his school years.
“Outside of school, he enjoys flag football, baseball, camping, and showing heifers at the fair,” Megan said. “He is also active in St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and was recently confirmed.”
It was a family trip to the competition in Des Moines, with plenty of supporters there to cheer Silva on.
“This year marked Mason’s third time qualifying for the NJHFR and his third time as a California state qualifier,” Megan explained. “It was his first year making it to the Short Go, and with a consistent set of runs throughout the week, he secured the Reserve World Champion title in Goat Tying.”
He also competes in tie down roping, breakaway, team roping, and ribbon roping but goat tying is his specialty; he enjoys that event and tie down roping the most.
Silva plans to continue working hard, with a goal of eventually making it to the NFR, National Finals Rodeo. Having a practice arena at home and parents who help out with the entry fees and making sure all the pieces are in place for each event makes it possible for Silva to focus on the competition itself, he said, and he is aiming to improve in all his events. Megan’s dad, Frank Rocha, has expanded the arena as his grandchildren have gotten more involved in the sport.
Megan said having not only their own kids practice there but also their kids’ friends, has been a great way to enjoy watching the growth and improvement in the young athletes in all their rodeo events, and seeing the support and encouragement they give each other.
“It has just been awesome,” she said.
Silva keeps up a busy schedule, taking part in rodeos for several months of the year, the CHSRA season running roughly from September to April. Once that season is over, he goes into the NorCal summer season, and continues competing on a regular basis.
The trip to the NJHFR was an exciting time for the entire Silva family and Mason also noted his gratitude for his rodeo coach, Jeff Luis, in helping him succeed in the sport.
After the Short Go run, Silva knew he was among the top, and since his goal for this year was to be in the top five, he felt good about his chances.
His time in the Short Go was 9.29 and his overall 29.91 was good for the Reserve Champion Boys Goat Tying honor, bringing home a prized belt buckle as well.
The teen also has some advice for prospective rodeo competitors, advice that goes beyond his 13 years.
“Don’t worry about how big the stage is,” Silva said. “Just make the same run that you always do.”
