LAS VEGAS, N.V. (NewsDakota.com) – Alexa Carlson of Spiritwood, North Dakota placed 37 out of 75 in barrel racing at the junior world finals in Las Vegas. Carlson didn’t have the run she wanted on the first day, but the second day run was pretty good. Carlson said overall it was a great experience!

The 17-year-old and her horse, “Magnum” qualified for the NFR Junior World Finals competition that was held December 12th through the 16th in Las Vegas. She’s a senior at Jamestown High School, her parents Ryan and Lisa Carlson run a cow calf feedlot operation in rural Spiritwood, North Dakota.

Her horse “Magnum” is special, after 16 years as a working horse on the ranch, they took him to a barrel racing competition and that’s where they discovered his true passion, barrel racing and pole bending. Alex Carlson and her horse “Magnum” traveled to four different states gathering points to qualify for the National NFR Junior World Finals.

“Magnum’s” mother was purchased at Kist Livestock in Mandan, and she gave birth to “Magnum” on the Spiritwood, North Dakota Ranch.