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Badlands circuit champs competing at the Minot Y’s Men’s Rodeo gain berths to National Circuit Finals in Florida

MINOT, N.D. (October 6, 2019) – The cowboys and the cowgirls came to Minot to play, and they did.

For the 65th year, the Minot (N.D.) Y’s Men’s Rodeo took place, hosting the RAM Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo at the State Fair Center Oct. 4-6.

Ninety cowboys and cowgirls converged on the Magic City to compete for nearly $200,000 and the title of Badlands Circuit champion. Champions were crowned in each of eight events, with the final destination being the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo, where the champs from each of the continent’s fourteen circuits will duke it out for national titles in April of next year.



It was steer wrestler Joe Nelson’s first trip to a circuit finals rodeo, and he made this one count.

The Alexander, N.D. cowboy came into the RAM Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo in third place in the standings, and won a check in three out of four rounds to win the average, the fastest time on four runs.



His 20.2 seconds on four head was only one-tenths of a second faster than Cameron Morman, Glen Ullin, N.D., who finished second in the average with a time of 20.3 seconds.

“I was pretty excited to get here,” Nelson said. “My main goal was to catch all four (steers), get out of the barrier, and get four down.”

Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D., won the year-end steer wrestling title and was leading the average till the fourth round, when he missed his steer and didn’t get a time. But rodeo contestants, especially steer wrestlers, are the first to help their competitors; Nelson was helping with Lord’s steer in the chute before. “We all root for each other,” he said. “We want everybody to do well.”

Nelson rode his horse named Balls, who he purchased last year. The horse is outstanding, he said. “He scores really good, runs hard, tries, and gives me a good chance.” When Nelson traveling partner Tyler Thorson’s horse was hurt in July, Thorson also rode Balls. “For the month of July, that horse had at least four runs on him everywhere we went,” Nelson said.

Nelson won the Badlands Rookie of the Year Award. He is a graduate of North Dakota State College of Science at Wahpeton, N.D.

He and Lord will represent the Badlands Circuit at the RCNFR in Kissimmee, Florida April 2-5, 2020.

Two more “newbies” left the circuit finals as champions.

Team ropers Jon Peterson and Trae Smith have roped at jackpots before, but this year, for the first time, they partnered up for pro rodeo, and did well all year.

They entered the circuit finals in first place with enough of a lead to fend off the competition, which was good, since they only placed once, winning first place in the first round.

“Luckily we won that first round or we wouldn’t be doing this interview,” Peterson joked.

The two are students at Gillette (Wyo.) College, where Peterson is an upperclassman and Smith is a freshman. They’re doing well in the collegiate ranks, too, having won the college rodeo at Riverton, Wyo. two weeks ago and being ranked in the top four in the collegiate region. “It was good to get that win in Riverton before coming here,” Peterson said. “It was a confidence builder.”

Peterson’s horse was injured two weeks ago, so his friend and fellow roper Levi O’Keefe lent him his good horse. Guy Howell also rode O’Keefe’s horse, named Slick, at the circuit finals. “He didn’t mess up a single time,” Peterson said of the bay gelding. “I think that is the best head horse right now. It was unreal. He was outstanding.”

Turner Harris, Killdeer, N.D. and Jade Nelson, Midland, S.D., won the year end title.

In the bareback riding, it was a sparring match between South Dakota’s Jamie Howlett and Norht Dakota’s Ty Breuer.

The two were atop the board for each the four rounds of rodeo, with each one of them winning two rounds and placing second in two rounds.

But it was Howlett who won the average, a mere two and a half points ahead of Breuer.

Howlett, who is originally from Australia but now lives in Rapid City, S.D., rode with broken bones in his foot and a swollen hand because of being smashed in the chute during the matinee on Oct. 5.

Shorty Garrett dominated the saddle bronc riding.

The Eagle Butte, S.D. cowboy won money in three of four rounds (first place twice and tied for first once) to win the average.

The 26 year old cowboy has qualified for the Badlands Circuit Finals four times, but this was his best year ever, due to new traveling partners, Isaac Diaz and Brody Cress. “I jumped in with a whole different crew, and I’ve been fortunate to have them as traveling partners. I owe a lot to Ike (Diaz). He keeps a guy positive and keeps a guy going. I look up to that man quite a little.”

The three cowboys make it fun. “Whenever we get in the rig,” he said, “we’re not going to work, we’re going to have fun, and that pays off.”

JJ Elshere, Hereford, S.D., won the year-end title. He had more than a $10,000 lead coming into the circuit finals, but because of a broken leg suffered ten days ago, wasn’t able to compete at the circuit finals.

In the barrel racing, Amanda Harris won the average title with a time of 55.05 seconds on four runs, just two-tenths of a second ahead of Cally Kindred, Spearfish, S.D.

She never dominated the leaderboard, but she was one of only five cowgirls out of the twelve to not knock down a barrel, adding a five second penalty to their time.

“My big thing was to take it one run at a time,” she said, “and not get caught up in the average, because you have to make four runs first before that pans out. That was my big deal, to take it one run at a time.”

She was aboard her nine-year-old gelding, Frenchmans Firefly, “Firefly” a horse raised and trained by her parents, Bob and Peggy Welsh of Gillette, Wyo. She first brought him to the circuit finals in 2016, as a six-year-old. In 2017, she was pregnant with her son, and last year, she rodeoed in a different circuit.

The horse has developed and grown, she said. “This year, he seemed a lot more mature mentally, and he’s been awesome for me all year.”

She and her husband Shawn’s kids, a daughter, who is four, and a son, who is two, are already anticipating a trip to Disney World, when their mother competes at the RNCFR.

Jessica Routier, Buffalo, S.D., won the year-end title for the Badlands Circuit.

Tie-down roper Trey Young, Dupree, S.D., won both the year-end and average titles for his event, aboard his horse Fozzy, an eleven-year-old sorrel who has twice been chosen the Badlands Circuit Tie-down Roping Horse of the year. This will be Young’s second trip to the RNCFR; he competed there in 2017, finishing in third place.

Bull rider Jeff Bertus snuck out a year-end win in his event, riding two of his four bulls with enough of a lead to take the title. Bertus, Avon, S.D. finished second in the average to Chance Schott, McLaughlin, S.D., who won the average with a score of 255 points on three head.

In the breakaway roping, Samantha Jorgenson, Watford City, N.D. won the year-end title. Tanegai Zilverberg, Holabird, S.D., won the average (10.4 seconds on four head.)

The all-around title for the year-end and the finals went to Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D.

Rodeo Rapid City was voted by the contestants as the Rodeo of the Badlands Circuit.

Stock of the year for the circuit was chosen. In the bareback riding, Korkow Rodeos’ Onion Ring won top honors. In the saddle bronc riding, South Point, owned by Sutton Rodeo, was voted as top. The Mosbrucker Rodeo bull named Chills and Thrills was selected as the Badlands Bull of the Year.

For the finals awards, the Bareback Horse of the Badlands Circuit Finals went to Blessed Day, owned by Championship Rodeo. The Saddle Bronc Horse of the Finals was won by Scandal, of Sutton Rodeo, and the Bull of the Circuit Finals went to Extra Dirty Martini, owned by Fettig Rodeo.

During the Sunday rodeo, the 2020 Miss Rodeo North Dakota was crowned.

Callie Enander, Fargo, N.D., won the title. The 23-year-old cowgirl is a graduate of Kindred High School, where she was involved in FFA through livestock judging and horse judging and won several national and state awards for her work. She is a barrel racer and the daughter of Randy Enander, Sandy Johnson and Jeremy Alm.

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 is tentatively set for October 9-11, 2020. Hess and 4- Bears Casino & Lodge are proud sponsors of the Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo. National sponsors include the PRCA, WPRA, RAM, Cinch, Justin Boots, Pendleton, Montana Silversmith, American Quarter Horse Association, Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame, Only Vegas and Experience Kissimmee.

Year end and average winners for the Badlands Circuit

All-around Champion: Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D.

All-around champion for the Finals: Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D.

Bareback riding

Bareback Riding Year End Champion: Jamie Howlett, Rapid City, S.D.

Bareback Riding Average Champion: Jamie Howlett, Rapid City, S.D.

4th go round results:

1. Jamie Howlett, Rapid City, S.D. 87 points on Fettig Pro Rodeo’s Adam’s Pet; 2. Ty Breuer, Mandan, N.D., 85; 3. Jake Camody, Mobridge, S.D., 76.5; 4. Ben Kramer, Towner, N.D., 69.5.

Average results:

1. Jamie Howlett, Rapid City, S.D. 338 points on 4 head; 2. Ty Breuer, Mandan, N.D. 335; 3. Jake Carmody, Mobridge, S.D. 289.5; 4. Ben Kramer, Towner, N.D. 218 on 3 head.

Steer Wrestling

Steer Wrestling Year End Champion: Eli Lord, Sturgis S.D.

Steer Wrestling Average Champion: Joe Nelson, Alexander, N.D

4th go round results:

1. (tie) Reed Kraeger, Elwood, Neb. and Colt Floyd, Buffalo, S.D. 3.7 seconds each; 3. Carson Good, Long Valley, S.D. 4.3; 4. Joe Nelson, Alexander, N.D. 4.4.

Average results:

1. Joe Nelson, Alexander, N.D. 20.2 seconds on 4 head; 2. Cameron Morman, Glen Ullin, N.D. 20.3; 3. Colt Floyd, Buffalo, S.D.12.6 on 3 head; 4. Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D. 14.2.

Team Roping

Team Roping Year End Champion Header: Jon Peterson, Belle Fourche, S.D., Heeler: Trae Smith, Georgetown, I.D.

Team Roping Average Champion Header: Turner Harris, Killdeer, N.D., Heeler: Jade Nelson , Midland, S.D.

4th go round results:

1. Cooper W White, Hershey, Neb./ Tucker White, Hershey, Neb. 4.4 seconds; 2. Jade Schmidt, Box Elder, S.D./ Matt Zancanella Aurora, S.D. 4.5; 3. Alfred Hansen, Dickinson, N.D./ Levi Tyan, Wallace, Neb. 4.6; 4. Wyatt Bice, Killdeer, N.D./ Parker Murnion, Bowman, N.D. 5.5.

Average results:

1. Turner Harris, Killdeer, N.D./Jade Nelson, Midland, S.D. 23.8 seconds on 4 head; 2. JB Lord, Sturgis, S.D./Jake Beard, Menoken, N.D. 25.0; 3. Jade Schmidt, Box Elder, S.D./Matt Zancanella, Aurora, S.D. 25.6; 4. Wyatt Bice, Killdeer, N.D./Parker Murnion, Bowman, N.D. 38.5.

Saddle Bronc Riding

Saddle Bronc Year End Champion: JJ Elshere, Hereford, S.D.

Saddle Bronc Average Champion: Shorty Garrett, Eagle Butte, S.D.

4th go round results:

1. Shorty Garrett, Eagle Butte, S.D 87 points on Sutton’s Painted Fire; 2. Jade Blackwell, Rapid City, S.D. 84.5; 3. Cole Eshere, Faith, S.D. 83.5; 4. (tie) Jeremy Meeks, Scenic, S.D. and Louie Brunson, New Underwood, S.D. 83 each.

Average results:

1. Shorty Garrett, Eagle Butte, S.D. 336.5 points on 4 head; 2. Jade Blackwell, Rapid City, S.D.320; 3. Ty Manke, Rapid City, S.D. 319; 4. Jeremy Meeks, Scenic, S.D. 310.

Barrel Racing

Barrel Racing Year End Champion: Jessica Routier, Buffalo, S.D.

Barrel Racing Average Champion: Amanda Harris, Spearfish, S.D.

4th go round results:

1. Britany Diaz, Solen, N.D. 13.40 seconds; 2. Nikki Hansen, Dickinson, N.D., 13.59; 3. (tie) Amanda Harris, Spearfish, S.D. and Molly Otto, Grand Forks, N.D. 13.64 each.

Average results:

1. Amanda Harris, Spearfish, S.D. 55.05 seconds on 4 runs; 2. Cally Kindred, Harrold, S.D. 55.07; 3. Carey Rivinius, Carson, N.D. 55.37; 4. Molly Otto, Grand Forks, N.D. 55.55.

Tie-down Roping

Tie Down Roping Year End Champion: Trey Young, Dupree, S.D.

Tie Down Roping Average Champion: Trey Young, Dupree, S.D.

4th go round results:

1. Dane Kissack, Spearfish, S.D. 8.1 seconds; 2. Jason Vohs, Dickinson, N.D. 8.9; 3. Myles Kenzy, Iona, S.D. 9.6; 4. Trey Young, Dupree, S.D. 10.0.

Average results:

1. Trey Young, Dupree, S.D. 37.0 seconds on 4 head; 2. Jason Vohs, Dickinson, N.D. 39.4; 3. Myles Kenzy, Iona, S.D. 45.7; 4. (tie) Dane Kissack, Spearfish, S.D. and Rex Treeby, Hecla, S.D. 29.5 seconds on 3 head.

Bull Riding

Bull Riding Year End Champion: Jeff Bertus, Avon, S.D.

Bull Riding Average Champion: Chance Schott, McLaughlin, S.D.

4th go round results:

1. (tie) Chance Schott, McLaughlin, S.D. on Sutton’s Danielson, TJ Schmidt, Belle Fourche, S.D. on Bailey Pro Rodeo’s Cougar; and Coleman Entze, Golden Valley, N.D. on Sutton’s Mississippi Mud, 86 points each; 4. Riley Blankenship, Killdeer, N.D. 84.5.

Average results:

1. Chance Schott, McLaughlin, S.D. 255 points on 3 head; 2. Jeff Bertus, Avon, S.D. 166.5 points on 2 head; 3. TJ Schmidt, Belle Fourche, S.D. 166 points; 4. Riley Blankenship, Killdeer, N.D. 165.6.

Women’s Breakaway Roping

Year End Champion: Samantha Jorgenson, Watford City, N.D,

Average Champion: Tanegai Zilverberg, Holabird, S.D.

4th go round results:

1. (tie) Samantha Jorgenson, Watford City, N.D., Jennifer Belkham, Holabird, S.D., and Brandi Guttormson-White, Hazen, N.D. 2.9 seconds each; 4. (tie) Brooke Howell, Belle Fourche, S.D. and Tanegai Zilverberg, Holabird, S.D. 3.0 each.

Average results:

1. Tanegaie Zilverberg, Holabird, S.D. 10.4 seconds on 4 head; 2. Brandi Guttormson-White, Hazen, N.D. 11.7;3. Brooke Howell, Belle Fourche, S.D. 12.0; 4. Jennifer Belkham, Blunt, S.D. 12.2

–Minot Y’s Men’s Rodeo