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Belle Jackpot dates announced

Tersyn Grubb has competed in past jackpots. Photo courtesy Belle Jackpot Association

The Belle Jackpot Association (BJA) announces its event dates for 2015, which are held at the Roundup Rodeo Grounds on selected Wednesday evenings in Belle Fourche, SD. The dates are: May 27; June 3, 10 and 17; July 8 and 29; and August 5 and 12. The rain date is Aug. 19. ET Sports of Belle Fourche is again sponsoring the facility fees for all of 2015, which is helping BJA keeps its entry and membership fees the same as last year.

Belle Jackpot Association, which began in 1993, is a nonprofit association that promotes and sponsors barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying and roping events. The primary goal of the Belle Jackpot Association is to provide competition events for families at a reasonable price.

The events are run by volunteers. The main arena and barrel racing director is Lorita Crofford, and the announcer is Fran McCoy. The pole bending event director is yet to be determined. The east arena event director and Calf Roping event director is Neil (Shorty) Engesser, with the help of event directors Faye Pelster, For Fun Only Goat Tail Untying; Becky Barry, Goats; Jason Grubb, Breakaway Roping; and Kevin Jaeger, Team Roping. Curt Westland is the east arena announcer.



The BJA office opens at 4:30 p.m., under the supervision of Secretary /Treasurer Jennifer Galloway. Doug Lueders handles the ground work. The yearend awards director is Ashlee Jaeger, and Sharlet Teigen handles publicity.

As in past years, both arenas at the Roundup Grounds will be used.



The West (main) Arena order of events is:

4 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.:

Barrel Exhibitions at $5/run, cash only payable at the gate, which is a change from previous years. Riders are warned that BJA will be promptly cutting off exhibitions at 5:45 p.m.

6 p.m.:

Pole Bending beginning with ages 15-18, then 11-14, followed by 8-10, 0-7 and the Open 4D

Barrel Racing beginning with ages 0-7 followed by 8-10, 11-14, 15-18 and the Open 5D, which is sanctioned by the Northwest Barrel Racing Association.

The East Arena also begins at 6 p.m. with the following order of events: Just for Fun Goat Tail Untying (on foot) for ages 0-7; Goat Tail Untying for ages 5-7; Goat Tying for ages 8-10, 11-14, then 15-Open; Open Calf Roping for all ages and genders; Breakaway Roping for ages 0-14 then Open; followed by Youth Team Roping and an Open Team Roping Drawpot.

While a BJA membership is not required to compete, it is necessary to earn points toward yearend awards. Open event non-members will be assessed a $5 permit fee per night. The yearly membership for the Open Division (open to all ages) is $35. The Youth Division (18 years old or younger as of Jan. 1, 2015) is $25. There is also a Dual Division, which allows youth to also earn points in the open division, for $35. If membership and fees are postmarked by May 21, there is a $5 savings.

Entry fees, which are the same as 2014, are as follows:

Barrel Racing: 0-7 is $7/entry; and 8-10, 11-14 and 15-18 are $10/entry. The Open 5D is $26/entry. Exhibition runs are $5 each and must be paid for in cash at the gate.

Pole Bending: 0-7 is $7/entry; and 8-10, 11-14 and 15-18 are $10/entry. The Open 4D is $20/entry.

The “Just for Fun” 0-7 goat tail untying is done on foot without an entry fee but there are no payouts nor points for yearend awards.

Mounted Goat Tail Untying for ages 5-7 is $710/entry, and competitors cannot compete in the “Just for Fun” event.

Goat Tail Untying for 8-10, 11-14 and 15-Open are $10/entry.

Breakaway Roping for ages 0-14 is $12/entry, and the Open is $16/entry. A string barrier will be used.

Open Calf Roping is $20/entry. A string barrier will be used.

Youth Team Roping is $20 per team. This is a one-steer roping. Enter up to twice per end.

Open Team Roping is a drawpot for $30 per team. This is a two-steer progressive roping. Enter up to four times per end.

All competitors are responsible for understanding and agreeing to comply with the 2015 BJA rules. The following are the rule changes of note:

The name of the “Adult” membership has been changed to properly reflect what that division is – “Open.” The open division can be entered by anyone of any age.

For Youth members, their highest points in each event will count toward yearend awards. For example, if a youth wins both first (20 points) and second (19 points) in the barrel racing, the 20 points would count. This does away with the need to declare a horse on which to earn points.

Because BJA’s primary mission is to help prepare youth to compete in rodeo events, be prepared for a string barrier to be used in the breakaway and calf roping.

In 2014, the calf roping was an open event but had a 14 years old age minimum. All ages of both genders can now enter the open calf roping. (There continues to be no youth calf roping.)

Rules, membership and entry forms, and results can be found on the BJA Facebook page (www.facebook.com/bellejackpot). Any announcements will also be posted at this location. For more information, send an email to BelleJackpot@outlook.com, or call Lorita Crofford at (605) 645-7592, Shorty Engesser at 307-660-1000, or Sharlet Teigen at 605-390-8320.

–Belle Jackpot Association