RAPID CITY - Seeing Chet Smith walk down the corridors of Rapid City Central, one might think that he is just an average high school junior, simply one of the 2,000 or so students who tread the halls of the school each day.

And in most ways, that assumption would be correct.

Smith is a typical young person undergoing the normal complexities and complications confronting every teenager as they strive toward adulthood. Most of his peers probably see him that way, too, another face in the crowd.

In one area of his life, Smith is anything but average. On the back of a bucking bronc in a rodeo arena, he is one the best young rodeo cowboys in the whole country.

"I guess that's probably true," Smith said about the anonymity that often accompanies the rodeo lifestyle. "Most kids don't know anything about what goes on in rodeo. Sometimes kids here do pretty well in rodeo, and nobody knows anything about it. It would be nice if the club and rodeo got a little more exposure."

He pauses, and then adds with a smile. "Won't stop me from doing it though."

It certainly hasn't to this point, nor has it stopped him from rodeoing very well. Among his many rodeo accomplishments are the 2008 South Dakota High School Saddle Bronc title - an award shared with Pierre's Clay Etzkorn - senior boys reserve world champion on the Little Britches rodeo circuit, and the current Black Hills Stock Show 20X high school rodeo saddle bronc winner. In addition, Smith represented South Dakota at last summer's National High School Finals Rodeo in Farmington, N.M., where he finished seventh in saddle bronc riding.

As to his predilection for rodeo, it could be said that Smith was born to the sport.

The family has deep roots in the sport. Both of his parents, Lee and Kris, grew up on West River ranches where rodeo is as much a part of the range as beef on the hoof and a high-plains breeze.

"Both sides of Chet's family have a rodeo background," Kris said.

"My family comes from down around Scenic, and I have an uncle who is a stock contractor in Nebraska and Wyoming and used to provide horses for (National American University)."

Duane used to have a big string of bucking horses and he helped many, many kids in this area get their start in rodeo. His dad rode saddle bronc and did some team roping while his younger sister Frankie, 16, and younger brother Cody, 13, are also involved in rodeo.

Smith, who also plays in football at Central as a guard and linebacker, thoroughly enjoys rodeo and is most at home in the saddle, still or otherwise. Though he competes in both saddle bronc and bareback riding, he most enjoys saddle bronc riding, not surprising given South Dakota's long history of producing outstanding saddle bronc riders.

"I really love saddle bronc," he said. "That's where I started out, and it's my best event. Even if I get on some nasty horse, it's just a lot of fun to give your all and see if you can ride them. When you

are riding really well, it's just a great feeling."

After high school, Smith hopes to rodeo at the college level and from there move on to professional rodeo.

"I definitely want to go to college and get a degree and rodeo there and then move on to pro rodeo. Last year for winning at state, I got a PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) permit, so I hope to do a couple of PRCA rodeos this year. If I'm lucky, maybe I can make the circuit finals."

Certainly, being average can come in a multitude of forms. However, when it comes to rodeo, Smith is anything but.