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Lordy, Lordy: father and son take Team Roping championship at Badlands Circuit Finals

Ruth Nicolaus

CHAMPS CROWNED AT REGIONAL RODEO EVENT

Badlands titlists determined for national circuit competition

MINOT, N.D. (October 9, 2016) –A lucky few in Minot, N.D. this weekend have won themselves a trip to Kissimmee, Florida next year.



The winning cowboys and cowgirls in each of seven events at the RAM Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo, hosted by the Minot Y’s Men’s Rodeo, will go on to represent North Dakota and South Dakota next spring at the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo (RNCFR) in Kissimmee April 6-9, 2017.

For a few cowboys, their ticket was punched well before they came to Minot. For others, it came down to the final performance on Sunday, October 9. Year-end winners who won the most money throughout the season, and average winners, those who earned the most points or had the fastest times throughout the four performances in Minot, will compete at the RNCFR.



Bareback riding

Ty Breuer, Mandan, N.D. finished his 2016 circuit rodeo season as the year-end and the average champion.

The 26-year-old cowboy won checks in all four rounds in Minot and won the average with a total of 334 points on four head.

He has a busy fall and winter ahead of him; he gets married to fiancée Kelli Nutter in two weeks, then has qualified to compete at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in early December. This will be his second time to compete at the Wrangler NFR.

Steer Wrestling

Two South Dakota men won the RAM Badlands Circuit steer wrestling titles.

Chason Floyd, Buffalo, S.D. earned the year-end Badlands title, and Taz Olson, Prairie City, S.D., had a combined time of 19.4 seconds on four runs to win the average title.

The two cowboys traveled together most of the summer, along with Kody Woodward, who also competed at the Circuit Finals, and Billy Boldon.

The men shared horsepower; Olson rode Woodward’s horse Pacman for much of the year, and Floyd hazed for Woodward and Olson, riding Woodward’s horse, Baby, who earned the Badlands Hazing Horse of the Year Award. Floyd’s horse Tiger was awarded the Badlands Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year Award.

It was Floyd’s first time to qualify for the Circuit Finals; he entered the Finals in first place and was never unseated from his lead. It was Olson’s second time to compete at the Circuit Finals; he placed in three of four rounds and was one of only three steer wrestlers to make four qualified runs.

Kody Woodward, of Dupree, S.D., finished second in the average.

Team roping

Father/son duo J.B. Lord and Levi Lord, Sturgis, S.D., came into the Circuit Finals in first place and never looked back.

The Sturgis, S.D. pair won the year-end title at the RAM Badlands Circuit Finals, after a solid showing at the finals.

They finished in second place in the first three rounds and in fourth place in the final round.

Levi, the younger son of J.B. Lord and Kelly Lytle, roped with a broken finger. During a practice roping, he broke the bone between the middle and lower knuckle on his ring finger in three places. It was broken on Sept. 22, and had had surgery a few days later, with a plate and three screws inserted. It is hard casted to the pinkie finger, so he can rope. The hard cast will be removed this week, then he will wear a splint till “I feel comfortable roping without it.”

Levi has an older brother, Eli, who competed in the steer wrestling at the Circuit Finals. The brothers are students at Eastern New Mexico State in Portales, N.M., where they rodeo collegiately.

JB Lord won the all-around title for the Badlands Circuit.

The average title went to brothers Logan Olson and Jordan Olson, who are natives of Flandreau, S.D., but who now live in Stephenville, Texas, and Surprise, Ariz., respectively. Their average time on four head was 22.3 seconds.

Saddle bronc riding

Always the bridesmaid, never the bride.

Chuck Schmidt doesn’t have to hear that cliché anymore; the Keldron, S.D. cowboy won his first Badlands Circuit title as year-end champion in the saddle bronc riding.

The 28-year-old cowboy came into the Finals $9,000 ahead of his closest competitor, Ty Manke, of Hermosa, S.D., who finished as average champion.

“Me and the Circuit Finals have a bit of a love-hate relationship,” he joked. “Seems like if I have a shot at the year-end (title), I have a bad finals, or if it comes down to the last performance, I get bucked off.”

He rode three of his four horses at the Finals, finishing with $25,968 for the year-end.

Schmidt and Manke were college roommates at Black Hills State University in Spearfish about eight years ago, and are still friends. “We’ve always been good buds,” Manke said. “We try to help each other out.”

The average title came down to two saddle bronc riders: Manke, and JJ Elshere, Faith, S.D. They were the only two men to ride all four of their horses. Manke finished with 314 points on four head, nineteen points ahead of Elshere.

This is Manke’s second Badlands Circuit average title; he won it in 2011.

Schmidt will compete for the third time at the Wrangler NFR in December.

Barrel Racing

A very special horse has made Jana Griemsman a two-time champion.

Brandy, an eight year old mare whose registered name is Chase It With Brandy, carried Griemsman to a year-end title and the average title at the RAM Badlands Circuit Finals in Minot.

Brandy belonged to Griemsman’s sister, Jill Moody, a past Wrangler NFR qualifier, but came to live at the Griemsman’s ranch outside Piedmont, S.D. Jana and her husband Paul started her in the barrel racing, and Jana knew she was special right away. “I knew Brandy was pretty good, but I always second-guessed her in smaller pens. I always figured she was a bigger standard pattern, outside horse. So I was always just a little conservative when I got to these indoor pens.”

But Brandy proved her wrong. Griemsman won the Brookings, S.D. rodeo on her in 2015 and placed at the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo in Rapid City earlier this year, and at other rodeos with smaller arenas.

So Jana asked Jill for the horse. “I begged my sister, can I keep her, because I like her, and she said yes,” Griemsman said. “In hindsight, Jill said, hmm, maybe that wasn’t such a good choice,” she laughed.

Griemsman gave all the credit to her mount, who is also the Women’s Pro Rodeo Association Barrel Horse of the Badlands Circuit. “You know how the saying goes, you’re only as good as the horse underneath you. And that’s the truth. I’m very, very blessed, and I’m enjoying this ride, and we’ll see how far it goes.”

Griemsman has qualified for the Badlands Circuit Finals seven times; this is the first time she has won a Badlands championship. Her average time was 55.86 seconds on four runs, nineteen hundredths of a second faster than the number two cowgirl, Nikki Hansen, of Dickinson, N.D.

Her husband Paul competed in the team roping at the Finals.

Tie-down roping

The tie-down roping titles went to Cole Robinson (year-end) and Tyler Thiel (average).

For Robinson, of Moorcroft, Wyo., it was his first time to qualify for a Circuit Finals.

Thiel, of Belle Fourche, S.D., has qualified “on and off for eleven years,” he said, including two years in the Mountain States Circuit.

Robinson finished the year with $18,423 in circuit earnings; Thiel won the average with a time of 38.1 seconds on four head.

Bull riding

A veteran and an up and comer won bull riding titles at the RAM Badlands Circuit Finals.

Ardie Maier, Timber Lake, S.D., finished as the year-end champion, while Tate Thybo, Belle Fourche, S.D., wrapped up the average title.

Thybo, who is 23 years old, has looked up to Ardie Maier and his bull riding brothers, Corey and Rory, since he was young. “I’ve been watching these guys while I grew up, trying to get as many pointers as I can. I looked up to them, and to (bull rider) Brian Curtis, all from South Dakota.”

Maier, who just moved back from Texas to South Dakota, came into the Finals in second place behind Bart Miller. “I knew I was second, and had to win some money,” he said. “I ended up winning both of the first rounds, but didn’t do any good the second two rounds. I guess it was enough to get me by.”

Thybo, who was the only cowboy to ride three bulls, had a combined score of 211 points. Maier and Tyson Donovan were the only two cowboys to ride two of the four bulls; the two tied for second place in the average with scores of 163 points on two head.

Maier gets married this fall but he and his fiancée have not chosen a date yet. “We’ve been so busy with rodeoing and cattle work,” he said. “Somebody asked if they were invited to the wedding, and I said, I don’t know if there’s that much room in the courthouse, but if there is, come along,” he joked.

Thybo also competed in the saddle bronc riding. He won the all-around Circuit Finals champion.

The 2017 Miss Rodeo North Dakota was crowned prior to today’s rodeo. Cassidy Rasmusson, the 19-year-old daughter of Todd and Norma Rasmusson, won the title. She is from Lisbon, N.D., and is a student at North Dakota State University, majoring in agriculture education with a minor in animal science.

The stock awards for the Badlands Circuit were also announced. Sutton Rodeo Co. swept the year-end awards, with their bareback horse American Graffiti, their saddle bronc horse South Point, and bull Tea Time winning honors. For the Finals, the winning bareback horse went to En Vogue of Korkow Rodeo, the saddle bronc was Duck Butter, of Korkow Rodeo, and the bull was High Maintenance, owned by Bailey Rodeo.

The Minot Y’s Men’s Rodeo is a not-for-profit venture by the YMCA Men of Minot, N.D. Proceeds from each year’s rodeo benefit the Triangle Y Camp at Lake Sakakawea, near Garrison, N.D. Next year’s Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo will be October 5-8, 2017. Hess and 4- Bears Casino & Lodge are proud sponsors of the Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo. National sponsors include Wrangler, Justin Boots, Las Vegas, Experience Kissimmee, Ram, and Montana Silversmiths.

RESULTS

Ram Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo, Minot, ND

4th performance October 9, 2016

Year end and average winners for the Badlands Circuit

All-around Champion: J.B. Lord, Sturgis, S.D.

All-around champion for the Finals: Tate Thybo, Belle Fourche, S.D.

Bareback Riding Year End Champion – Ty Breuer, Mandan, N.D.

Bareback Riding Average Champion – Ty Breuer, Mandan, N.D.

4th go round results:

1. (tie) Ty Breuer, Mandan, N.D., 85 points on Bailey Pro Rodeo’s Fargo, and Shane O’Connell, Rapid City, S.D. 85 points on Sutton Rodeo’s Pulp Fiction, 85; 3. Blake Smith, Zap, N.D. 80.5; 4. Casey Breuer, Mandan, N.D. 80.

Average results:

1. Ty Breuer, Mandan, N.D. 334 points on 4 head; 2. Blake Smith, Zap, N.D. 327.5; 3. Casey Breuer, Mandan, N.D. 320.5; 4. Shane O’Connell, Rapid City, S.D. 320.

Steer Wrestling

Steer Wrestling Year End Champion: Chason Floyd, Buffalo, S.D.

Steer Wrestling Average Champion: Taz Olson, Prairie City, S.D.

4th go round results:

1 .Brad Johnson, Reva, S.D. 4.3 seconds; 2. Tyler Schau, Almont, N.D. 4.4; 3. Taz Olson, Prairie City, S.D. 4.6; 4. Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D. 4.8.

Average results:

1. Taz Olson, Prairie City, S.D. 19.4 seconds on 4 runs; 2. Kody Woodward, Dupree, S.D. 26.1; 3. Justice Johnson, Bismarck, N.D. 32.1/4; 4. Ty Talsma, Verdigre, Neb. 16.7/3.

Team Roping

Team Roping Year End Champion Header: J.B. Lord, Sturgis, S.D.

Heeler: Levi Lord, Sturgis, S.D.

Team Roping Average Champion Header: Logan Olson, Flandreau, S.D.

Heeler: Jordan Olson, Surprise, Ariz.

4th go round results:

1. Jr. Dees, Aurora, S.D./Matt Zancanella, Aurora, S.D. 4.7 seconds; 2. Tyrell Moody, Edgemont, S.D./Rory Brown, Edgemont, S.D. 6.1; 3. Tucker McDaniel, Midland, S.D./ Paul Griemsman, Piedmont, S.D. 6.2; 4. J.B. Lord, Sturgis, S.D./ Levi Lord, Sturgis, S.D., 6.5.

Average results:

1. Logan Olson, Flandreau, S.D./Jordan Olson, Surprise, Ariz. 22.3 seconds on 4 runs; 2. JB Lord, Sturgis, S.D./Levi Lord, Sturgis, S.D. 24.1; 3. Wyatt Bice, Killdeer, N.D./Derick Fleming, Killdeer, N.D. 27.6; 4. Tucker McDaniel, Midland, S.D./Paul Griemsman, Piedmont, S.D. 31.0.

Saddle Bronc Riding

Saddle Bronc Year End Champion: Chuck Schmidt, Keldron, S.D.

Saddle Bronc Average Champion: Ty Manke, Hermosa, S.D.

4th go round results:

1. Shorty Garrett, Dupree, SD 87.5 points on Korkow Rodeo’s Duck Butter; 2. Chuck Schmidt, Keldron, SD, 83; 3. Dawson Jandreau, Kennebec S.D. 82.5; 4. Dusty Hausauer, Dickinson, N.D. 79.5.

Average results:

1. Ty Manke, Hermosa, S.D. 314 points on 4 head; 2. JJ Elshere, Hereford, S.D. 293.5; 3. Chuck Schmidt, Keldron, S.D. 246.5/3; 4. Shorty Garrett, Dupree, S.D. 241.

Barrel Racing

Barrel Racing Year End Champion: Jana Griemsman, Piedmont, S.D.

Barrel Racing Average Champion: Jana Griemsman, Piedmont, S.D.

4th go round results:

1. Jana Griemsman, Piedmont, S.D. 13.83 seconds; 2. Nikki Hansen, Dickinson, N.D. 14.00; 3. Calyssa Thomas, Harrold, S.D. 14.05; 4. Amanda Harris, Spearfish, S.D. 14.07.

Average results:

1. Jana Griemsman, Piedmont, S.D. 55.86 seconds on 4 runs; 2. Nikki Hansen, Dickinson, N.D. 56.05; 3. Ahnna Peterson, Velva, N.D. 57.26; 4. Kristi Steffes, Vale, S.D. 57.36.

Tie-down Roping

Tie Down Roping Year End Champion: Cole Robinson, Moorcroft, Wyo.

Tie Down Roping Average Champion: Tyler Thiel, Belle Fourche, S.D.

4th go round results:

1. Joe Schmidt, Belfield, N.D. 8.6 seconds; 2. Cole Robinson, Moorcroft, Wyo. 8.8; 3. Clint Kindred, Oral, S.D. 9.4; 4. Cole W. Hatzenbuehler, Solen, N.D. 9.5.

Average results:

1. Tyler Thiel, Belle Fourche, S.D. 38.1 seconds on 4 runs; 2. Justin Scofield, Wessington Springs, S.D. 40.1; 3. Cole Hatzenbuehler, Solen, N.D. 42.3; 4. Joe Schmidt, Belfield, N.D. 45.5.

Bull Riding

Bull Riding Year End Champion: Ardie Maier, Timber Lake, S.D.

Bull Riding Average Champion: Tate Thybo, Belle Fourche, S.D.

4th go round results:

1. Tyson Donovan, Sturgis, S.D. 76 points on Sutton Rodeo’s Hershey Bar; 2. Tate Thybo, Belle Fourche, S.D. 64; no other qualified rides.

Average results:

1. Tate Thybo, Belle Fourche, S.D. 211 points on 3 head; 2. (tie) Ardie Maier, Timber Lake, S.D., and Tyson Donovan, Sturgis, S.D. 163 on 2 head; 4. Drew Antone, New Underwood, S.D. 81 on 1 head.

–Minot Ys Mens Club