World-class rodeo action comes to the Twin Cities Friday and Saturday with the Stampede at the Ike PRCA Rodeo. The rodeo begins at 7:30 p.m. nightly at the Ike Hamilton Expo Center.It will be a combination of athletic competition and family-friendly entertainment.“Every year the West Monroe rodeo is one of the first events of the season, and everybody gets excited for it,” said Pete Carr, owner of Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo, which produces the event. “We focus a lot of energy on making it a successful rodeo for the fans, for the sponsors and for the contestants.”A big portion of the excitement will come in the Carr bucking stock that will be performing inside the expo center. Carr is a four-time nominee for Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Stock Contractor of the Year.“Over the last two years, it’s progressively gotten to be a better rodeo,” said Shane Hanchey, the 2013 world champion tie-down roper from Sulphur, who won the West Monroe title a year ago. “I was in the last performance there last year, and I was floored by the number of people that came to that rodeo that night.”Scheduled to compete are Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifiers: bareback riding: Heath Ford, Slocum, Texas, and Winn Ratliff, Leesville; barrel racing: Victoria Williams, Kiln, Mississippi, and Jean Winters, Texline, Texas; saddle bronc riding: Heith DeMoss, Heflin; and team roping: Boogie Ray, Mabank, Texas.In bull riding, Ronny Kitchens, Friday Wright and Jay Morrow have been top-level cowboys for several years.Steer wrestler Will Lumus has done well at the National Circuit Finals Rodeo and steer wrestler Josh Clark finished among the top 25 in the world standings last year.Stampede at the Ike PRCA Rodeo - The Fourth Annual Stampede at the Ike PRCA Rodeo will be January 22nd and 23rd at 7:30 p.m. nightly at the Ike Hamilton Expo in West Monroe.There, you can see three time PRCA Comedy Act of the Year John Harrison.Get your advanced tickets at J&H Boots and Jeans or Patton's Western Wear in Ruston, Cavendar's or at The Ike.Advance general admission tickets are $15 and they're $18 at the gate.Hank Hollenbeck has long been regarded as one of the finest all-around rodeo hands in Montana.This year the Molt rancher is really making a name for himself.

Hollenbeck, the former Rapelje High prep football and basketball star, leads the all-around standings in both the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit and the Northern Rodeo Association. The roper-bulldogger will be among the stars in action this weekend at the PRCA Marias River Stampede in Shelby.The Stampede, featuring 7 p.m. performances both Friday and Saturday nights, is produced by the Brookman Rodeo Co.Hollenbeck, a two-time Montana Circuit year-end all-around champion, will be in Shelby on Saturday. As usual he’ll be busy.Hollenbeck is entered in the steer wrestling, tie-down roping and team roping, the latter with header Kyle Callaway of Blue Creek.Hollenbeck currently leads the Montana Circuit standings in tie-down roping. He’s also highly ranked in the NRA in all of his events.This weekend’s Marias River Stampede features many of Montana’s top cowboys and barrel racers. Among them are Sage Newman of Melstone, the Montana Circuit leader in the bronc riding, and red-hot Deer Lodge star Chase Brooks.Brooks has won the bronc riding at the last two MPRC events, in Chinook and Stanford, and is slated to ride on Friday night. Newman is scheduled to ride Saturday along with former PRCA world champion Jesse Kruse of Great Falls.There is just one NRA event slated this weekend, with 8 p.m. performances slated both Friday and Saturday nights in Eureka.Here are the current standings for the Treasure State’s rodeo organizations:

MONTANA PRO RODEO CIRCUIT STANDINGS

All-Around: 1, Hank Hollenbeck, Molt, $5,047.85; 2, Sam Levine, Wolf Creek, $3,836.17; 3, Will Powell, St. Ignatius, $2,640.57; 4, Chase MItchell, Shepherd, $2,333.55; 5, Bode Scott, Pryor, $2,293.60; 6, Josh Davison, Miles City, $2,111.74; 7, Haven Meged, Miles City, $1,952.34; 8, Ben Ayre, Glendive, $1,511.52; 9, Carson King, Dillon, $1,410.00; 10, Brandt Ross, Sheridan, WY, $1,301.36; 11, Gerald Eash, Trego, $1,006.94; 12, Nolan Conway, Browning, $930.41; 13, Austin Barstow, Springview, NE, $864.76;

Bareback: 1, J.R. Vezain, Cowley, WY, $8,759.18; 2, Justin Miller, Billings, $7,738.76; 3, Tristan Hansen, Dillon, $4,086.08; 4, Jessy Davis, Power, $3,646.81; 5, Tucker Zingg, Glendive, $1,551.62; 6, Chase Erickson, Helena, $1,444.96; 7, Clint Griffis, Bridger, $1,345.14; 8, Buck Lunak, Cut Bank, $1,136.93; 9, Linden Woods, Maple Creek, SK, $803.70; 10, Chase Redfield, Opheim, $658.00; 11, Cavan Wrzesinski, Boulder, $558.36; 12, Troy Vaira, Richey, $526.40; 13, Brandley Peabody, Pompeys Pillar, $370.98; 14, Trevor McAllister, Ronan, $186.12; 15, Luke Wozney, Powell, WY, $145.70; 16, Shawn Perkins, Roberts, $127.84; 17, Heath Ford, Helena, $75.20

Steer Wrestling: 1, Scott Guenthner, Provost, AB, $7,869.52; 2, Ty Erickson, Helena, $5,284.24; 3, Tanner Milan, Cochrane, AB, $3,991.90; 4, Kyle Callaway, Blue Creek, $3,652.82; 5, Bridger Chambers, Stevensville, $3,301.80; 6, Will Stovall, Roberts, $2,797.44; 7, Jordan Holland, Dillon, $2,627.30; 8, Dan Yates, Red Lodge, $2,453.40; 9, Jabe Anderson, Dillon, $1,751.22; 10, Mike Gollaher, Cascade, $1,648.29; 11, Bode Scott, Pryor, $1,616.80; 12, Bill Boyce, Lewistown, $1,441.02; 13, Dan Mulkey, Dell, $1,331.04; 14, Will Powell, St. Ignatius, $1,150.09; 15, Newt Novich, Twin Bridges, $1,106.85; 16, Jade Small, Busby, $1,071.60; 17, Ted Gollaher, Cascade, $1,033.53; 18, Josh Boka, Dillon, $804.64; 19, Shawn Downing, Saco, $789.60; 20, Ben Ayre, Glendive, $707.82; 21, Shawn Hanley, Bridger, $627.45; 22, Brian Anderson, Bozeman, $625.10; 23, Reef Mills, Augusta, $499.14; 24, Hank Hollenbeck, Molt, $488.80; 25, Carson King, Dillon, $394.80; 26, Boss Cole, Calgary, AB, $277.30; 27, Jaret Whitman, Belgrade, $223.25; 28, Parker Bignell, Hall, $163.56; 29, Luke Gee, Stanford, $87.73

Team Roping Headers: 1, Brady Tryan, Huntley, $5,641.27; 2, Max Kuttler, Dillon, $3,730.73; 3, Jade Stoddard, Sugar City, ID, $3,532.98; 4, Delon Parker, Worden, $3,154.87; 5, Dustin Bird, Cut Bank, $2,900.90; 6, Jason Carlson, Two Dot, $2,422.26; 7, Clay Robertson, Augusta, $2,030.40; 8, Chase MItchell, Shepherd, $1,945.80; 9, Brant Davis, Sand Coulee, $1,822.63; 10, Cody Tew, Belgrade, $1,691.11; 11, Cole Sherwood, San Tan Valley, AZ, $1,663.66; 12, Will Powell, St. Ignatius, $1,490.48; 13, Shane Schwenke, Zortman, $1,300.40; 14, Britt Williams, Hammond, $1,034.00; 15, Carson King, Dillon, $1,015.20; 16, Grady Branden, Barrhead, AB, $883.20; 17, Ben Ayre, Glendive, $803.70; 18, Dalton Carr, Manhattan, $749.30; 19, Haven Meged, Miles City, $683.34; 20, Quincy Rasmussen, Choteau, $611.10; 21, Austin Barstow, Springview, NE, $589.76; 22, Shawn Bird, Cut Bank, $533.01; 23, Nolan Conway, Browning, $387.75; 24, Ben French, Pompeys Pillar, $380.70; 25, Travis Nichols, Helena, $353.28; 26, Travis Winters, Joliet, $280.08; 27, Calon Yeager, Fairfield, $235.78; 28, Kevin Bolles, Huson, $184.30; 29, Jace Bishop, Malta, $170.37

Team Roping Heelers: 1, John Robertson, Polson, $5,472.09; 2, Kory Mytty, Lolo, $5,000.46; 3, Matt Robertson, Augusta, $3,777.09; 4, Ike Folsom, Dillon, $3,532.98; 5, Ryan Zurcher, Powell, WY, $3,154.87; 6, Chase Tryan, Helena, $3,090.17; 7, Steve Sherwood, San Tan Valley, AZ, $2,806.70; 8, Zachary Schweigert, Livingston, $2,422.26; 9, Sam Levine, Wolf Creek, $2,234.10; 10, Casey Cummins, Lodge Grass, $2,196.67; 11, John Bell, Harlem, $1,945.80; 12, Riley Bailey, St. Ignatius, $1,490.48; 13, Jesse Fleming, Wolf Point, $1,300.40; 14, Cody Hill, Rexburg, ID, $1,015.20; 15, Hank Hollenbeck, Molt, $896.43; 16, Quentin Branden, Barrhead, AB, $883.20; 17, Ty Lidstrom, Fairfield, $846.88; 18, Bill Ayre, Glendive, $803.70; 19, Brandt Ross, Sheridan, WY, $749.30; 20, Bryer Davis, Sand Coulee, $552.90; 21, Jimmy Cole, Harlem, $387.75; 22, Lane Krutzfeldt, Powderville, $380.70; 23, Dylan Johnson, Billings, $376.67; 24, Shane Bessette, Great Falls, $353.28; 25, Matt Rogers, Missoula, $184.30; 26, Taner Sorge, Shepherd, $181.39; 27, Chris Barthelmess, Malta, $170.37; 28, Coley Nicholls, Kinnear, WY, $76.38

Saddle Bronc: 1, Sage Newman, Melstone, $6,015.28; 2, JC DeSaveur, Roberts, $2,352.82; 3, Chase Brooks, Deer Lodge, $2,066.24; 4, Alan Gobert, Browning, $1,825.85; 5, Wyatt Thurston, Big Valley, AB, $1,812.74; 6, Tyrell J Smith, Sand Coulee, $1,556.64; 7, Jesse Kruse, Great Falls, $1,464.80; 8, Josh Davison, Miles City, $1,393.31; 9, Keenan Reinhardt, Cochrane, AB, $1,300.20; 10, Houston Brown, Miles City, $822.50; 11, Ricky Warren, Hudsons Hope, BC, $719.10; 12, Gerald Eash, Trego, $691.84; 13, Joe Harper, Paradise Valley, NV, $646.01; 14, Tanner Hollenback, Dillon, $564.00; 15, Beau Michael, Cut Bank, $493.50; 16, Josh Reynolds, Ekalaka, $394.80; 17, Samuel Thurston, Big Valley, AB, $345.92; 18, Chase Casterline, Belgrade, $241.58; 19, Matt Halmes, Cascade, $172.33; 20, Andrew Evjene, Melville, $53.81;

Tie-Down Roping: 1, Hank Hollenbeck, Molt, $3,461.20; 2, Kevin Peterson, Kilgore, NE, $2,906.96; 3, Chad Johnson, Cut Bank, $2,771.50; 4, Erik Dublanko, Thorsby, AB, $1,776.06; 5, Shane Knerr, Grass Range, $1,774.06; 6, Sam Levine, Wolf Creek, $1,602.07; 7, Ty Hedrick, Jackson, $1,516.78; 8, George Marcenko, Havre, $1,425.86; 9, Jade Gardner, Winnett, $1,325.56; 10, Haven Meged, Miles City, $1,269.00; 11, Jake Hamilton, Casper, WY, $1,022.25; 12, Dillon Hahnkamp, Melrose, $918.66; 13, Ryan Hamilton, Manhattan, $902.40; 14, J.C. Crowley, Poplar, $902.40; 15, J Billingsley, Glasgow, $896.91; 16, Dawson Johnson, Strathmore, AB, $676.80; 17, Bode Scott, Pryor, $676.80; 18, Kody Lahaye, Belgrade, $676.80; 19, Logan Hofer, Magrath, AB, $665.05; 20, Brandt Ross, Sheridan, WY, $552.06; 21, Nolan Conway, Browning, $542.66; 22, Ben Robinson, Red deer county, AB, $451.20; 23, Chase MItchell, Shepherd, $387.75; 24, Kirk Robinson, Innisfail, AB, $359.36; 25, Bryant Mikkelson, Buffalo, $309.39; 26, Austin Barstow, Springview, NE, $275.00; 27, Trevin Baumann, Hardin, $275.00; 28, Trevor Sunvison, Livingston, $225.60; 29, Preston Watson, Box Elder, $183.33; 30, Jestin Nedens, Worden, $166.66; 31, Matt Wznick, Sidney, $166.66; 32, Shay Keller, Rockglen, SK, $150.00;

Barrel Racing: 1, Rene Cloninger, Helena, $4,857.71, 10; 2, Mary Walker, Ennis, TX, $3,495.32, 4; 3, Ashley Day, Volborg, $3,400.54, 4; 4, Mandy Hamilton, Manhattan, $2,565.12, 7; 5, Tammy Carpenter, Kalispell, $2,440.89, 10; 6, Ashley Sudan, Whitefish, $2,080.52, 6; 7, Becky Fuson, Conrad, $1,836.85, 7; 8, Emily Kallenberger, Havre, $1,828.76, 9; 9, Heather Knerr, Grass Range, $1,786.42, 9; 10, Carrie Murnion, Jordan, $1,687.44, 5; 11, Shelby Blixt, Helena, $1,638.36, 9; 12, Lindsay Kruse, Winston, $1,520.21, 11; 13, Keira Simonson, Loring, $1,201.20, 7; 14, Hannah Sharon, Dillon, $1,094.91, 7; 15, Tara Stimpson, Lodge Grass, $1,084.37, 8; 16, Cally Goyins, Helena, $1,057.82, 9; 17, Shelby Rasmussen, Choteau, OK, $1,051.45, 8; 18, Terri Kaye Kirkland, Billings, $931.20, 8; 19, Shelly Anzick, Shepherd, $877.67, 6; 20, Callie Wollenburg, Red Lodge, $838.09, 5; 21, Latisha Larsen, Forsyth, $788.47, 4; 22, Katie Rasmussen, Choteau, $787.19, 8; 23, Carmel Wright, Roy, $758.01, 3; 24, Diane McLean, Havre, $752.00, 4; 25, Darcy Mapston, Belt, $715.34, 8; 26, Cassie de Yong, Helena, $566.06, 10; 27, Maria Taylor, Saco, $457.31, 8; 28, Gayleen Malone, Pray, $434.16, 7; 29, Danielle Wright, Roy, $421.87, 9; 30, Twyla Vaira, Scobey, $385.16, 5

NORTHERN RODEO ASSOCIATION STANDINGS

Bareback: 1, J2 Bridges, Dillon, $3,146.89; 2, Talon Schneiter, Dillon, $2,594.40; 3, Brandley Peabody, Pompeys Pillar, $2,171.10; 4, Tristan Hansen, Dillon, $1,516.69; 5, Trevar McAllister, Ronan, $1,460.29; 6, Troy Kirkpatrick, Wise River, $1,270.65; 7, Tucker Zingg, Glendive, $1,061.70; 8, Luke Wozney, Powell, $995.23; 9, Dalton May, Kalispell, $853.76; 10, Shawn Perkins, Roberts, $592.20; 11, Cavan Wrzesinski, Boulder, $473.76; 12, Skyler Erickson, Powell, $472.35; 13, Cole Snider, Dillon, $452.04; 14, Chase Redfield, Opheim, $271.90; 15, Tyler Dreidlein, WSS, $157.45;

Steer Wrestling: 1, Michael Gollaher, Cascade, $2,957.06; 2, Trevin Baumann, Hardin, $2,507.47; 3, Klate Greany, Helena, $1,865.85; 4, Kyle Clutter, Great Falls, $1,776.60; 5, Sean Sayers, Fort Benton, $1,374.99; 6, Caden Camp, Belgrade, $1,222.00; 7, Kolby Bignell, Helena, $1,104.69; 8, Hank Hollenbeck, Molt, $1,026.57; 9, Jordan Holland, Dillon, $1,006.55; 10, Jabe Anderson, Dillon, $880.22; 11, Duston Stephens, Corvallis, $790.68; 12, Shawn Hanley, Bridger, $767.04; 13, Colton Martinez, Browning, $578.01; 14, Ben Ayre, Glendive, $522.66; 15, Kyle Callaway, Billings, $482.22;

Breakaway Roping: 1, Lacey Camp, Belgarde, $3,099.74; 2, Tracey Bolich, Belgrade, $2,510.92; 3, Anna Callaway, Billings, $2,178.09; 4, Kelsey Pepion, Browning, $1,827.41; 5, Drew Zipperian, Clancy, $1,710.28; 6, Shawnee Sherwood, Grace, $1,511.52; 7, Chelsea Brown, Billings, $1,427.58; 8, Jessie Marreel, Great Falls, $1,306.19; 9, Jacey Fortier, Laurel, $1,124.24; 10, Cierra Kunesh, Helena, $1,118.55; 11, Hallie Jo Sohr, Ronan, $1,100.18; 12, Jill Lufkin, Menan, $1,094.91; 13, Tara Stimpsen, Lodge Grass, $1,084.35; 14, Jamie Baker, Cohagen, $1,073.57; 15, Elizabeth French, Pompeys Pillar, $1,062.19;

Tie-Down Roping: 1, Jade Gardner, Helena, $2,901.97; 2, Hank Hollenbeck, Molt, $2,536.32; 3, Ben Ayre, Glendive, $1,549.39; 4, Chase Mitchell, Shepherd, $1,488.39; 5, Albert Koenig, Belgrade, $1,439.33; 6, Kevin Peterson, Bozeman, $1,409.62; 7, Cyris Robertson, Dillon, $1,160.43; 8, Jesse Medearis, Missoula, $1,069.86; 9, J Billingsley, Glasgow, $1,046.31; 10, Jhet Murphy, Helena, $977.60; 11, Trevin Baumann, Hardin, $786.34; 12, Donnie Benson, Dillon, $770.80; 13, Haven Meged, Miles City, $679.71; 14, Ryan A. Hamilton, Manhattan, $658.66; 15, Brant Davis, Sand Coulee, $601.60;

Saddle Bronc: 1, Cole Thoreson, Dillon, $3,328.80; 2, Dakota Munns, St. Anthony, $3,037.73; 3, Tyler Friend, Driggs, $1,649.70; 4, Tanner Hollenback, Dillon, $1,478.62; 5, Keenan Reinhardt, Bozeman, $1,465.93; 6, Charles Lytle, Arlee, $1,336.68; 7, Monty Johnson, Hamer, $1,257.49; 8, Houston Brown, Miles City, $1,174.30; 9, Yancy Hawley, Hays, $1,029.77; 10, Taylen Nelson, Jordan, $872.09; 11, Connor Murnion, Jordan, $763.53; 12, Cody R. Miller, Pryor, $752.94; 13, Andrew Evjene, Melville, $708.76; 14, Beau Michael, Cut Bank, $578.10; 15, Guy Simanton, Whitewater, $225.37;

Team Roping Heading: 1, Trey Blackmore, Grace, $4,140.00; 2, Jason Carlson, Two Dot, $2,357.26; 3, Kal Fuller, Bozeman, $2,313.69; 4, Jace Bishop, Malta, $1,923.23; 5, Travis Nichols, Helena, $1,818.43; 6, Clay Robertson, Augusta, $1,766.61; 7, Sid Sorge, Sheperd, $1,662.86; 8, Shawn Bird, Cut Bank, $964.39; 9, Mathew Brewer, Ringling, $934.71; 10, Toren Andreasen, Fort Benton, $931.21; 11, Brad Yerian, Corvallis, $796.74; 12, Brandt Ross, Sheridan, $795.24; 13, Dillon Lufkin, Salmon, $738.84; 14, Jade Stoddard, Sugar City, $709.51; 15, Hank Hollenbeck, Molt, $662.70;

Team Roping Heeling: 1, Steve Sherwood, Grace, $4,140.00; 2, Zachary Schweigert, Cody, $2,357.26; 3, Carson Johnson, Casper, $2,313.69; 4, Sam Levine, Wolf Creek, $2,226.27; 5, Chris Barthelmess, Malta, $1,923.23; 6, Shane Bessette, Great Falls, $1,818.43; 7, Taner Sorge, Shepherd, $1,662.86; 8, Shane Sorden, Melrose, $1,457.94; 9, Sid Sporer, Cody, $964.39; 10, Tyler Sarrazin, Livingston, $934.71; 11, Victor Phillips, Havre, $931.21; 12, Michael Sacks, Hamilton, $796.74; 13, Shawn Little, Essex, $739.92; 14, CJ Lufkin, Lemhi, $738.84; 15, Ike Folsom, Dillon, $709.51;

Barrel Racing: 1, Mandy Hamilton, Manhattan, $3,529.98; 2, Shai McDonald, Gardiner, $3,017.27; 3, Cierra Tredway, Belgrade, $2,649.39; 4, Tammy Jo Carpenter, Kalispell, $2,348.40; 5, Milee Dailey, Pray, $2,166.99; 6, Jessie Marreel, Great Falls, $2,141.70; 7, Celie Salmond, Choteau, $2,073.59; 8, Lindsay Kruse, Winston, $1,747.10; 9, Emily Kallenberger, Havre, $1,676.03; 10, Donna Johnson, Belt, $1,555.37; 11, Abby Knight, Charlo, $1,430.92; 12, Rene Cloninger, Helena, $1,367.70; 13, Tara Stimpsen, Lodge Grass, $1,345.70; 14, Kelsy Robinson, Hardin, $1,341.88; 15, Lisa Warfield, Helena, $1,018.08;

Bull Riding: 1, Loncey Johnson, Dillon, $2,391.36; 2, Payton Fitzpatrick, Polson, $2,180.64; 3, Casey Fredericks, Busby, $1,957.05; 4, Grey Fitzpatrick, Polson, $1,572.93; 5, Tyrell Toren, Kalispell, $1,232.34; 6, Shane Rummel, Great Falls, $710.64; 7, Tristan O'Neal, Valier, $658.00; 8, Tucker Zingg, Glendive, $556.95; 9, Devon Mitchell, Shepherd, $440.23;

Men’s All-Around: 1, Hank Hollenbeck, Molt, $4,225.59; 2, Trevin Baumann, Hardin, $3,293.81; 3, Sam Levine, Wolf Creek, $2,500.09; 4, Kyle Clutter, Great Falls, $2,409.00; 5, Ben Ayre, Glendive, $2,230.15; 6, Chase Mitchell, Shepherd, $2,055.68; 7, Kevin Peterson, Bozeman, $1,952.19; 8, Caden Camp, Belgrade, $1,783.44; 9, Tucker Zingg, Glendive, $1,618.65; 10, Brandt Ross, Sheridan, $1,337.81;

Women’s All-Around: 1, Jessie Marreel, Great Falls, $3,447.89; 2, Tammy Jo Carpenter, Kalispell, $3,327.50; 3, Celie Salmond, Choteau, $3,011.90; 4, Tara Stimpsen, Lodge Grass, $2,430.05MISSOULA — They don't give those cute little steers catchy names like nasty bulls and bucking broncs.But don't kid yourself: Those 600-pound buggers build reputations for stubborn behavior on the Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association circuit. Like the one steer wrestler Ty Erickson drew for the first day of the Montana Stampede rodeo Thursday — a critter that didn't seem a bit impressed by his No. 1 world ranking.Erickson, a Helena native, still managed to post the fastest time of the night at 4.9 seconds. Which goes a long way toward explaining why he's on course for his second straight PRCA regular-season money title."These steers have track records and the steer I had tonight didn't have the greatest record," said Erickson, who has earned over $138,000 this year."You still have to run them. I tried to make the best run I could. So far it's working out. We'll see how everyone else does. See if I win anything."This year's most important rodeo for the 6-foot-5 Erickson won't arrive until Dec. 7 in Las Vegas. Last year he entered the NFR with the No. 1 ranking and came away disappointed."I learned a lot from that," said Erickson, who finished second at the NFR in 2014. "I'm pretty excited for this year."I'm not going to approach it any different. You just try to get good starts, make good runs, then you can't worry about that average or what other guys are doing. When you do that, that's when you usually make mistakes." Regardless of how it turns out, Erickson has enjoyed this summer perhaps more than any other on the circuit. He's won more money than even last year and enjoys visiting familiar places like Missoula.Even if it is smoky."I love to be able to represent Montana because this is home, this is where I love to be," he said.In team roping, Polson's John Robertson and his teammate, Clayton Hass of Texas, posted the best time of the night at 4.7 seconds. Robertson, ranked 18th in the heeler world standings, is hoping to take away top honors in Missoula for the second straight year.He'll have to wait to see what transpires in the Stampede the next two nights."I've always done pretty well here," he offered. "It's a good arena, good set-up for team roping. This time of year the steer are usually slowing down a little from being roped all year so it can be pretty good."Among those teams Robertson and Hass beat Thursday were the defending world champion tandem of Levi Simpson and Jeremy Buhler. They failed to post a time along with almost everyone else.

Dillon's Ike Folsom and Idaho's Jade Stoddard sit in second place at 10.8.

"It was good tonight," Robertson said. "(Our steer) had a hickey on the horn to start with but it come off, so it made it legal and it worked out."Bridger's Clint Griffis posted the score to beat in bareback riding at 74. Wyoming's Hawk Whitt had the top score in bull riding (81.5) and Wyoming's Andy Clarys set the top score in saddle bronc riding (80.5). Nevada's Dakota Eldridge had the fastest time in tie down roping (9.2). Bozeman's Lisa Anderson posted the time to beat in barrel racing (17.83).The Stampede rodeo continues at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the fair. Friday is "Tough Enough to Wear Pink" night.After 13 seasons of “Mo” Betta Rodeo serving as stock contractor for Cody Nite Rodeo, the Cody Stampede Board may be looking to replace operators Maury and Nikki Tate.The Tates’ contract is up for renewal after the current season concludes at the end of August, and the Oklahoma-based operators would like to continue what has been a long and, by objective standards, successful relationship.Several people connected to the rodeo, which has been a Cody staple since 1938, mentioned the possibility of opening the operation for bid to other stock contractors.However, few people would go on the record to discuss what is going on behind the scenes within the 15-member board who make decisions by majority vote, with president Mike Darby holding a tie-breaker vote.

“Shortly,” Darby said of when the board is likely to take action for 2018 and perhaps beyond. “Summer is drawing to a close.”Some current and long-time board members said Cody Nite Rodeo has never been better under the Tates’ supervision.“I think they have done an excellent job every year,” said board member Jim Facinelli, the senior member with 47 years of service.The announcer’s booth at Stampede Park is named after  Facinelli and his late wife Colleen.“We’ve made more money with the Tates than ever,” he said.Few figures were readily available, but during the 2012 season Cody Nite Rodeo reported a $202,000 profit.Mo Betta began as stock contractor and operator of Cody Nite Rodeo in 2005.Under the Tates’ leadership, attendance grew for 11 straight years, Maury Tate solicited more sponsorships, Nikki Tate took command of the gift shop at Stampede Park, larger payouts have been made to cowboys and cowgirls, and the popular three-day, season-ending finals were added to the August schedule.Mo Betta’s control immediately made a difference. On Aug. 17, 2005, a headline  above an article in the Enterprise touting improvements read,“Nite Rodeo enjoys resurgence.”Other than saying he would like to continue as Cody Nite Rodeo operator, Maury Tate, 51, a former rodeo cowboy, did not want to engage in discussion about Mo Betta’s Cody future.“Yes, we have told the board we want to continue,” Tate said.Darby praised the Tates.

“Maury and Nikki Tate have done a tremendous job,” Darby said. “They’ve done a great job and great things for Cody.”Initially, Darby said the contract “is up for bid.” Then he said, “Bid isn’t the right word. We haven’t decided.”Asked if there were a compelling reason to make a change, Darby said, “No, no, there isn’t. I would certainly welcome the Tates back.”Season-long attendance was in the 60,000-range when Mo Betta took charge. A few years ago it reached nearly 100,000. Including the Stampede and Xtreme Bulls, an addition urged by Mo Betta, attendance topped 108,000 in 2015.“Oh, gosh, attendance has increased maybe 35-to-40 percent,” Darby said, basically matching those rounded-off figures.Attendance dropped for the first time under the Tates’ management last year, and it has declined again this year.That coincides with the Stampede Board’s taking over advertising responsibilities for the Nite Rodeo.“We did take over advertising,” Facinelli said. “Maury gets a lot of his own sponsors.”The Stampede Board formerly was a committee under the auspices of the Cody Country Chamber of Commerce but severed itself from that authority before the 2016 season.Facinelli said historically stock contractors last only a handful of years, with the exception of the Tates and former contractor Ike Sankey, now of Joliet, Mont., who was in charge for a decade.Marv Allerheiligen has long-range perspective as a board member between 1967 and 2012.“I think it would be a drastic mistake to change,” said Allerheiligen, whose long-time contributions to Cody rodeo are recognized with his name emblazoned on a building on the grounds.“They have increased attendance and for the most part have been easy to work with,” he said. “They have done a wonderful job. I am not in favor (of change).

Some connected to rodeo suggested – without attaching their names to the ideas – possible alternative contractors.Champion bull rider Kanin Asay of Power, who has been working regularly at Cody Nite Rodeo this summer, has said he would like to be that guy someday.Al Schultz, past board president and 32-year board member, who is an active roper, was also proposed.Schultz said he has no interest in taking on the task.“Absolutely not,” he said.While he approves of the job the Tates have done, Facinelli said from a business standpoint, the board should look at options.“We’re all thinking about it right now,” he said. “We know what we’ve got now. Maury’s better than any other contractor we’ve had. I darn sure don’t want any favortism. We have to make it a business decision. It’s a big decision. If Maury presents a good contract, I’m with him. Hopefully, we will do the right thing.”COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Five first-time winners were chosen as American Quarter Horse Association/Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Horses of the Year, which were announced Oct. 10.Three horses were named in each of the six categories, and the lone repeat champion was team roping heeling horse Zans Colonel Shine (Colonel), which is the mount for Jake Long.Long enters his seventh Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Polaris RANGER fifth in the WEATHER GUARD® PRCA World Standings. Long owns the horse with his wife, Tasha, and the horse helped him win rodeos at the Gladewater (Texas) Round-Up Rodeo, and Kit Carson County Fair & Rodeo (Burlington, Colo.) with partner Luke Brown, who is fourth in the team roping header standings.It means a lot to me and my family and any time people recognize your animal with something like this (Horse of the Year), it makes you feel good,” Long said. “Colonel is good in every setup. I can ride him anywhere from Salinas to the (Thomas & Mack Center) at the NFR. He never cost me money and it is never his fault. The cool thing about him is he really likes to go and compete.”On the other side of team roping, Chad Masters’ horse Madison Oak (Clint), an 11-year-old he has owned since the horse was 4, took top honors. Masters, a two-time world champion (2007, 2012), is headed to his 11th WNFR. Masters and his partner, Travis Graves, had a strong regular season, which included Masters riding Clint to the win at California Rodeo Salinas. Masters enters Las Vegas seventh in the world standings.Back in 2015, Clint finished third in the AQHA/PRCA Horse of the Year voting.“For the group of horses that are in there, for mine to do good, means a lot to me,” Masters said.The bulldogging mount which won Horse of the Year is Canted Plan (Scooter), owned by Tyler Pearson and Kyle Irwin. Pearson enters his second WNFR third in the world standings and Irwin is 11th.During Pearson’s career-best regular season he had several wins, including at the Wrangler Champions Challenge presented by Justin Boots (Sioux Falls, S.D.), and the Lawton (Okla.) Rangers Rodeo. Irwin, meanwhile, is headed to his third WNFR and had big wins aboard Scooter at the Cody (Wyo.) Stampede, the Canby (Ore.) Rodeo, and the St. Paul (Ore.) Rodeo.“We’re pumped that he won this award,” Pearson said. “Kyle and I knew he deserved this, and I’m really happy that several other people thought the same.”Irwin concurred with Pearson.

“Scooter is a one-of-a-kind horse,” Irwin said. “He has a personality. He’s a winner.”Shane Hanchey’s tie-down roping horse, Simon Cow (Si), claimed the top spot. Hanchey, the 2013 world champion, has owned the horse since May of 2015, and he helped Hanchey finish third in the regular season world standings and qualify for his eighth career WNFR.

“It’s pretty cool that I now have a Horse of the Year,” Hanchey said. “He’s an easy-going horse that doesn’t care about anything, and he got this Horse of the Year honor because any style of roper can win on him and he’s good at any setup.”The steer roping horse which took the top spot was John Bland’s Carols Sassy Doc (Salty). The horse helped Bland have the best season of his career and powered him to his first appearance at the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping, Nov. 10-11 in Mulvane, Kan.Salty is 16 years old, and Bland has owned him his entire life.“This is unbelievable to know that we’ve been together this long and that everybody thinks as much of him as I do,” Bland said.A few months ago Parker Breding was just looking for eight.These days, 80-plus is more like it for the Edgar bull rider.Breding continued his recent hot streak with an 86-point, eight-second ride aboard a Sankey bull called “Mr. Mustachio” to provide one of many highlights Wednesday night as the $122,528 Big Sky Pro Rodeo Roundup got underway before a jammed grandstand and more than 3,000 fans at Montana ExpoPark.“That was exactly what you want in a bull,” said Breding, a 24-year-old Treasure State star who has qualified twice for the National Finals Rodeo. “He was real strong and bucked the whole time. Actually it felt like he got stronger as the ride went on.”Breding didn’t have much luck during the PRCA winter season. Earning eight-second qualified rides was the problem.“I had to stay positive and just keep going,” he said. “Things have really turned around for me.”On Wednesday night in the final ride of the performance on a breezy night at ExpoPark, Breding gave the Montana folks something to cheer about.“I had to stay really loose to ride him,” said the former high school basketball star from Joliet whose father, Scott, was a five-time NFR bull rider. “And it’s so cool out everything on me hurts right now. But it’s pretty exciting.”There were only two qualified rides made in the bull riding, including a fine 83-point score posted by South Dakotan Corey Meier.And what, Breding was asked, does an 86-point ride feel like? “Oh man,” he said. “That bull bucked. I don’t usually say this but it felt like 90 points if I’ve been that. Hopefully it holds up.”Meanwhile, it was a tough one for several of Montana’s superstar rodeo athletes. Dustin Bird, the four-time NFR team roping star from Cut Bank, and his partner Russell Cardoza failed to register a time in the team roping. They were the defending Roundup champions in the event and will now be relegated to shooting for go-round money, since the Great Falls rodeo is a two-header in the team roping, tie-down roping and steer wrestling.And Jesse Kruse, the world champion bronc rider from Great Falls, finished out of the money after a 70-point marking. Kruse, however, has been on the rebound from several serious injuries and has had a solid summer in the Montana Circuit. The 31-year-old C.M. Russell High graduate owns victories in Augusta and Drummond and on Tuesday night set an arena record in Glasgow with an 87.5-point ride that also earned a title.While the Montana stars might not have been shining as brightly as usual, a few of them from Texas certainly were.Barrel racers Tiany Schuster and Stevi Hillman, both of Texas, are currently ranked first and second, respectively, in the world standings. On Wednesday, Hillman posted a 15.01-second run to take the lead, while Schuster had a 15.19-second effort to place second.Schuster, a New Orleans native who has already clinched her first appearance in the National Finals Rodeo, has taken the WPRA barrel racing scene by storm. She said this is her first trip to Great Falls, and the Big Sky Pro Rodeo Roundup made a good impression.“The ground’s really good, it looks like the grounds crew put a lot of work into it,” Schuster said. “And the people are really friendly. Earl, one of the facility guys here, has been super hospitable and really helped me. Just whatever he could do, Earl did. I met Susan (Shannon) and one of the commissioners and they couldn't have been nicer.We'll be back here again.”Schuster has earned more than $230,000 already this rodeo season and leads the field by more than $100,000. The recent winner at the Calgary Stampede could well be on track to set a new season earnings record, which is now $323,570 set by Lindsay Sears in 2008.

“It’s been just a fairy-tale year,” Schuster smiled. “I’m just really fortunate and lucky. Trying to keep the horses healthy and sound.”Schuster was riding “Show Mance,” a 7-year-old sorrel gelding.“This horse had gotten sick a month before Calgary,” Schuster said. “He had a bad reaction to antibiotics from just a really little minor cut. We gave him antibiotics to prevent a problem, and that ounce of prevention turned out to be not very good.“So we ended up at UC Davis, and the vets there saved his life.”“Show Mance” looked plenty healthy on Wednesday night all right. A few minutes after the slick trip around the barrels the horse wouldn’t leave her owner alone to conduct an interview, rubbing up against Schuster in a display of affection.“I have another really good horse at home that rides in the winter, but this is my summer horse that rides in the big outdoor pens,” she said. “And he’s been doing great.”Bode Scott of Pryor, meanwhile, took the first go-round lead in the steer wrestling (6.7 seconds), and the NFR veteran team of Erich Rogers-Cory Petska is in first place in team roping after a 4.7-second run. Other leaders following Tuesday’s competition are Blade Elliott (80.5 in bareback), Ty Hedrick (8.4 in tie-down roping) and 19-year-old Ryder Wright (80.5 points in saddle bronc).The rodeo continues on Thursday night at 7 with the second of four performances.MEANWHILE, on Saturday the Big Sky Pro Rodeo Roundup features the fourth annual Ranch Rodeo in front of the grandstand.“It’s going to be pretty wicked, really competitive,” said Mike O’Neill, one of the members of the Roundup rodeo committee.The event starts at 11 a.m. with a Calcutta. The competition includes 10 four-person teams competing in five events: team branding, team sorting, team roping, team doctoring and a trailer race.“We have a lot of teams from northcentral Montana, and even one from Idaho,” O’Neill said. “I think the people will enjoy it.”There is no admission charge. Organizers are asking for a $5 donation.Bareback riding leaders: 1. Blade Elliott, 80.5 points on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Robinson Bulls' Irish Eyes; 2. (tie) Kyle Bounds and Richmond Champion, 80 each; 4. Austin Foss, 79; 5. Caleb Bennett, 77; 6. Mike Fred, 73.Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Bode Scott, 6.7 seconds; 2. Dan Mulkey, 6.9; 3. Mike Gollaher, 7.8; 4. Jabe Anderson, 8.3; 5. Jordan Holland, 11.7; 6. Bryant Mikkelson, 12.4. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Erich Rogers/Cory Petska, 4.7 seconds; 2. Aaron Tsinigine/Ty Romo, 4.8; 3. Cody Tew/Matt Robertson, 5.6; 4. Delon Parker/Ryan Zurcher, 10.8; no other qualified runs.Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Ryder Wright, 80.5 points on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Robinson Bulls' Eagles Nest; 2. Jade Blackwell, 80; 3. Spencer Wright, 79.5; 4. Cody Wright, 77.5; 5. Taygen Schuelke, 73; 6. (tie) Chase Brooks and Wyatt Thurston, 72 each.Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Ty Hedrick, 8.4 seconds; 2. Erik Dublanko, 10.8; 3. Bode Scott, 13.7; 4. Haven Meged, 15.0; no other qualified runs.Barrel racing leaders: 1. Stevi Hillman, 15.01 seconds; 2. Tiany Schuster, 15.19; 3. Kellie Collier, 15.24; 4. Jackie Ganter, 15.32; 5. Janie Johnson, 15.46; 6. Nicole Laurence, 15.56.Bull riding leaders: 1. Parker Breding, 86 points on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Robinson Bulls' Mr. Mustachio; 2. Corey Maier, 83; no other qualified rides.LEWISTOWN – Former Belgrade star Cody Tew and roping partner Matt Robertson of Augusta were among the winners Thursday night as the Central Montana PRCA Rodeo concluded here.The  Tew-Robertson duo turned in a 4.8-second time to win the team roping. Both men earned more than $1,500.Other winners at the Sankey Rodeo Co.-produced event included Troy Vaira (81 points in bareback), Justin Shaffer (4.1 seconds in steer wrestling), Taylor Santos (10.2 seconds in tie-down roping), Holly Wright (17.37 seconds in barrel racing) and Garrett Smith (87 points in bull riding).Former National Finals Rodeo stars Cody DeMoss and Jacobs Crawley tied for the victory in saddle bronc, each earning 84 points.Also noteworthy were the efforts of Justin Miller, Jessy Davis and Chase Erickson in the bareback. The talented trio tied for second place behind Vaira. Miller, a Billings native, is after his first NFR appearance and has been ranked among the top 20 money-leaders in the PRCA bareback standings for months.In the bulldogging, meanwhile, hometown hero Bill Boyce of Lewistown tied for third place.

Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit events got started Thursday night in both Plentywood and Helena. The Last Chance Stampede in Helena continues with 8 p.m. shows both Friday and Saturday at the Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds.Bareback riding: 1. Troy Vaira, 81 points on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Robinson Bulls' Lady Killer, $1,632; 2. (tie) Justin Miller, Jessy Davis and Chase Erickson, 80, $906 each; 5. (tie) Tristan Hansen and Lane McGehee, 79, $297 each.Steer wrestling: 1. Justin Shaffer, 4.1 seconds, $1,859; 2. Sterling Lambert, 4.4, $1,617; 3. (tie) Shawn Downing, Bill Boyce and Josh Boka, 5.2, $1,132 each; 6. Kane Cartwright, 5.3, $647; 7. Hunter Cure, 5.5, $404; 8. (tie) Wade Sumpter and Billy Bugenig, 5.6, $81 each.Team roping: 1. Cody Tew/Matt Robertson, 4.8 seconds, $1,512 each; 2. Delon Parker/Ryan Zurcher, 5.4, $1,251; 3. Jason Carlson/Zachary Schweigert, 5.9, $991; 4. Brady Tryan/Travis Tryan, 6.2, $730; 5. Jade Stoddard/Ike Folsom, 6.5, $469; 6. Trey Blackmore/Steve Sherwood, 6.8, $261.Saddle bronc riding: 1. (tie) Cody DeMoss, on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Robinson Bulls' Owl Hoot Trail, and Jacobs Crawley, on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Robinson Bulls' Marquee, 84 points, $2,710 each; 3. Andy Clarys, 83, $1,739; 4. (tie) Chase Brooks and Bradley Harter, 82, $920 each; 6. Audy Reed, 80.5, $511; 7. (tie) Houston Brown, Nick LaDuke, Sage Newman and Wyatt Casper, 80, $179 each.

Tie-down roping: 1. Taylor Santos, 10.2 seconds, $1,730; 2. Ben Robinson, 10.6, $1,504; 3. Brandt Ross, 10.8, $1,278; 4. Jason Schaffer, 11.4, $1,053; 5. Sam Levine, 11.6, $827; 6. Austin Barstow, 12.5, $602; 7. Matt Wznick, 12.7, $376; 8. Hank Hollenbeck, 12.9, $150.Barrel racing: 1. Holly Wright, 17.37 seconds, $2,051; 2. Rene Cloninger, 17.53, $1,758; 3. Mary Walker, 17.55, $1,465; 4. Tara Stimpson, 17.57, $1,270; 5. Becky Fuson, 17.60, $977; 6. Ashley Sudan, 17.63, $781; 7. Dillon McPherson, 17.71, $586; 8. Shelby Blixt, 17.73, $391; 9. Callie Wollenburg, 17.77, $293; 10. Carrie Murnion, 17.79, $195.Steer roping: First round: 1. Scott Snedecor, 10.5 seconds, $902; 2. JoJo LeMond, 13.3, $677; 3. J. Tom Fisher, 13.8, $451; 4. Corey Ross, 14.7, $226. Second round: 1. John Bland, 12.1 seconds, $902; 2. Bill Benson, 12.8, $677; 3. Brian Garr, 13.3, $451; 4. Fred Brown, 15.5, $226. Average: 1. John Bland, 28.1 seconds on two head, $1,354; 2. JoJo LeMond, 29.1, $1,015; 3. Corey Ross, 31.9, $677; 4. Dean Hanson, 45.0, $338.Bull riding: * 1. Garrett Smith, 87 points on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Robinson Bulls' Perculator, $1,922; 2. (tie) Ednei Caminhas and Guy Nordahl, 82, $1,308 each; 4. Jordan Hansen, 81, $801; no other qualified rides. *(all totals include ground money).Bareback riding leaders: 1. Tristan Hansen, 81 points on Kesler Rodeo's Treasure Island; 2. Trenten Montero, 74; 3. Luke Creasy, 73.5; 4. Chase Redfield, 67.5; 5. Shawn Perkins, 65; no other qualified rides.Steer wrestling leaders: 1. Justin Shaffer, 4.3 seconds; 2. Jesse Brown, 5.1; 3. (tie) Wyatt Jurney and Mike McGinn, 5.6 each; 5. Hunter Cure, 15.2; 6. Jason Thomas, 15.5.

Team roping leaders: 1. Shay Carroll/Nano Garza, 5.7 seconds; 2. Aaron Tsinigine/Ryan Motes, 5.8; no other qualified runs.Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Sterling Crawley, 88 points on Kesler Rodeo's Navajo Sun; 2. Jacobs Crawley, 87.5; 3. Sage Newman, 75; 4. Dean Wadsworth, 70; 5. Roper Kiesner, 66; no other qualified rides.Tie-down roping leaders: 1. Chase MItchell, 12.6 seconds; 2. Erik Dublanko, 18.5; no other qualified runs.

Bull riding leaders: 1. Edgar Durazo, 72 points on Kesler Championship Rodeo's Ivy League; no other qualified rides.Bareback riding leaders: 1. Troy Vaira, 78 points on J Bar J's Jailhouse Rock; 2. Tate Schwagler, 65; no other qualified rides.Steer wrestling leaders: 1. Kyle Callaway, 4.1 seconds; 2. Tristan Hall, 4.9; 3. Beau Franzen, 5.0; 4. Tee Burress, 5.1; 5. Jesse Smalis, 24.3; no other qualified runs.Team roping leaders: 1. Turner Harris/Ross Carson, 5.6 seconds; 2. Wyatt Bice/Derick Fleming, 6.2; 3. Drew Gartner/Beau Franzen, 11.5; 4. Chris Witcher/Jason Handy, 21.3; no other qualified runs.

Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Josh Reynolds, 85 points on J Bar J's Wibaux; 2. Tanner Hollenback, 81; 3. Josh Davison, 78; 4. Lane Stirling, 75; 5. (tie) Colter Heckman, Taygen Schuelke and Colton Miller, 74 each.Tie-down roping leaders: 1. Justin Scofield, 10.8 seconds; 2. Cole Fulton, 12.0; 3. Cody Rood, 15.9; no other qualified runs.Barrel racing leaders: 1. Hallie Fulton, 17.73 seconds; 2. Ashley Day, 17.95; 3. Hali Gjermundson, 18.12; 4. Teresa Wolff, 18.24; 5. Dawn Carson, 18.39; 6. Haley Anderson, 18.56.Bull riding leaders: 1. Bart Miller, 84 points on J Bar J's Nixon; 2. Bowyn Allemand, 75; 3. Drew Antone, 69; no other qualified rides.Bareback riding: 1. Steven Dent, 88 points on Frontier Rodeo's Gun Fire, $7,663; 2. Mason Clements, 86.5, $5,875; 3. Bill Tutor, 84, $4,343; 4. (tie) Austin Foss, Richmond Champion, Jessy Davis and Evan Jayne, 83, $1,724 each; 8. J.R. Vezain, 82.5, $766.Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Ross Mosher, 3.5 seconds, $2,486; 2. Rowdy Parrott, 3.6, $2,162; 3. (tie) Jacob Talley and Riley Duvall, 3.7, $1,676 each; 5. (tie) Chason Floyd and Tyler Pearson, 4.0, $1,027 each; 7. (tie) John Franzen and Will Lummus, 4.1, $378 each. Second round: 1. Trell Etbauer, 3.7 seconds, $2,486; 2. (tie) Dakota Eldridge and Sterling Lambert, 3.8, $2,000 each; 4. Nick Guy, 3.9, $1,513; 5. Chason Floyd, 4.1, $1,189; 6. (tie) Riley Duvall, Ross Mosher, Aaron Vosler, Scott Guenthner and Levi Rudd, 4.2, $324 each. Average: 1. Ross Mosher, 7.7 seconds on two head, $3,729; 2. Riley Duvall, 7.9, $3,243; 3. Rowdy Parrott, 8.0, $2,757; 4. Chason Floyd, 8.1, $2,270; 5. Tyler Pearson, 8.3, $1,784; 6. (tie) Dakota Eldridge and Nick Guy, 8.5, $1,054 each; 8. (tie) Timmy Sparing and Jacob Talley, 9.0, $162 each.

Team roping: First round: 1. (tie) J.B. James Jr/Brock Hanson and Dustin Bird/Russell Cardoza, 4.5 seconds, $2,398 each; 3. Clay Smith/Paul Eaves, 4.6, $1,896; 4. (tie) Aaron Tsinigine/Ryan Motes and Lane Ivy/Dakota Kirchenschlager, 4.8, $1,394 each; 6. (tie) Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, Tom Richards/Tyler McKnight and Garrett Tonozzi/Wyatt Cox, 4.9, $558 each. Second round: 1. (tie) Shay Carroll/Nano Garza and Caleb Smidt/Marty Yates, 4.3 seconds, $2,398 each; 3. (tie) Clay Smith/Paul Eaves and Cory Kidd V/Cole Davison, 4.4, $1,729 each; 5. (tie) Trevor Brazile/Patrick Smith and Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 4.6, $1,059 each; 7. Cole Sherwood/Casey Cummins, 4.7, $558; 8. Aaron Tsinigine/Ryan Motes, 4.8, $223. Average: 1. Clay Smith/Paul Eaves, 9.0 seconds on two head, $3,848 each; 2. Shay Carroll/Nano Garza, 9.4, $3,346; 3. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 9.5, $2,844; 4. Aaron Tsinigine/Ryan Motes, 9.6, $2,342; 5. Wesley Johnson/Brett Stuart, 10.3, $1,840; 6. Billy Bob Brown/Logan Medlin, 10.8, $1,338; 7. Nick Sartain/Justin Davis, 11.0, $836; 8. Casey Adams/Riley Pedro, 11.8, $335.Saddle bronc riding: 1. Heith DeMoss, 88.5 points on Frontier Rodeo's Medicine Woman, $6,881; 2. Isaac Diaz, 86.5, $5,275; 3. Joaquin Real, 85, $3,899; 4. (tie) Jesse Wright and CoBurn Bradshaw, 84.5, $2,064 each; 6. Wyatt Casper, 84, $1,147; 7. (tie) Shade Etbauer and Sterling Crawley, 83.5, $803 each.Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Cooper Martin, 7.8 seconds, $2,761; 2. Sterling Smith, 8.3, $2,401; 3. Reese Riemer, 8.6, $2,041; 4. Cody Quaney, 8.8, $1,681; 5. Tuf Cooper, 8.9, $1,321; 6. (tie) Michael Otero and Clint Nyegaard, 9.0, $780 each; 8. Ryan Jarrett, 9.2, $240. Second round: 1. Chase Williams, 7.5 seconds, $2,761; 2. Rhen Richard, 8.4, $2,401; 3. (tie) Jake Hannum and Timber Moore, 8.5, $1,861 each; 5. (tie) Caleb Smidt and Jake Pratt, 8.7, $1,140 each; 7. (tie) Reese Riemer and Ike Fontenot, 8.9, $420 each. Average: 1. Reese Riemer, 17.5 seconds on two head, $4,142; 2. Cooper Martin, 17.8, $3,602; 3. Ike Fontenot, 18.4, $3,061; 4. Ryan Jarrett, 18.7, $2,521; 5. Taylor Santos, 18.8, $1,981; 6. Michael Otero, 19.3, $1,441; 7. Chase Williams, 19.4, $900; 8. Shane Hanchey, 19.5, $360.Barrel racing: 1. Stevi Hillman, 16.72 seconds, $7,984; 2. Christine Laughlin, 16.73, $6,387; 3. Katelyn Scott, 16.83, $5,190; 4. Lori Todd, 16.86, $3,992; 5. Taci Bettis, 16.90, $3,194; 6. Hailey Kinsel, 16.91, $2,395; 7. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 16.92, $1,996; 8. Nikki Hansen, 16.94, $1,796; 9. Amberleigh Moore, 16.95, $1,597; 10. Tiany Schuster, 16.97, $1,397; 11. (tie) Tillar Murray and Sidney Forrest, 16.99, $1,098 each; 13. Sabra O'Quinn, 17.00, $798; 14. Jordan Moore, 17.03, $599; 15. Meka Farr, 17.04, $399.Bull riding: 1. Derek Kolbaba, 89.5 points on Frontier Rodeo's Joy Stick, $7,332; 2. Dakota Louis, 88, $5,621; 3. Cole Melancon, 86, $4,155; 4. Brady Portenier, 85.5, $2,688; 5. Ruger Piva, 84, $1,711; 6. (tie) Tim Bingham and Dallee Mason, 83, $1,100 each; 8. Chase Robbins, 82, $733.Bareback riding: 1. Tim O'Connell, 88.5 points on Three Hills Rodeo's Weenie, $5,703; 2. Tanner Aus, 86.5, $4,373; 3. Richmond Champion, 86, $3,232; 4. (tie) Kaycee Feild and Will Lowe, 84, $1,711 each; 6. (tie) Caleb Bennett and Steven Peebles, 83.5, $856 each; 8. (tie) Jamie Howlett, Shane O'Connell and Clayton Biglow, 83, $190 each.Steer wrestling: 1. (tie) Jason Thomas and Kyle Irwin, 3.8 seconds, $4,145 each; 3. (tie) Jacob Talley and J.D. Struxness, 3.9, $3,224 each; 5. Cole Edge, 4.0, $2,533; 6. Justin Morehouse, 4.1, $2,073; 7. (tie) Nick Guy and Kyle Whitaker, 4.2, $1,382 each; 9. Justice Johnson, 4.4, $691; 10. (tie) Rowdy Parrott, Stockton Graves and Blake Knowles, 4.6, $77 each.Team roping: First round: 1. Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill, 5.3 seconds, $1,742 each; 2. Charly Crawford/Joseph Harrison, 5.4, $1,515; 3. J.B. James Jr/Brock Hanson, 5.5, $1,288; 4. (tie) Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira and Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 5.8, $947 each; 6. Derrick Begay/Clay O'Brien Cooper, 5.9, $606; 7. Pace Freed/Jade Anderson, 6.1, $379; 8. Adam Rose/J.W. Beck, 6.2, $151. Second round: 1. Garrett Rogers/Jake Minor, 4.8 seconds, $1,742 each; 2. (tie) Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill and Jake Cooper/Buddy Hawkins II, 5.1, $1,401 each; 4. (tie) Jaguar Terrill/Colby Siddoway and Charly Crawford/Joseph Harrison, 5.3, $947 each; 6. (tie) Brian Winn/Matt Liston and Billy Bob Brown/Logan Medlin, 5.4, $492 each; 8. Chaz Kananen/Dustin Wells, 5.5, $151. Average: 1. Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill, 10.4 seconds on two head, $2,613 each; 2. Charly Crawford/Joseph Harrison, 10.7, $2,272; 3. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 11.4, $1,931; 4. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 11.6, $1,590; 5. Jake Orman/Will Woodfin, 12.1, $1,250; 6. Jaguar Terrill/Colby Siddoway, 12.5, $909; 7. Brian Winn/Matt Liston, 13.9, $568; 8. Tait Gurney/Brian Roundy, 14.2, $227.Saddle bronc riding: 1. Jacobs Crawley, 87.5 points on Three Hills Rodeo's Mona Lisa, $4,907; 2. (tie) Clay Elliott and Heith DeMoss, 86.5, $3,271 each; 4. (tie) Ryder Wright and Bradley Harter, 86, $1,472 each; 6. Hardy Braden, 85.5, $818; 7. Cody Wright, 85, $654; 8. Alex Wright, 84.5, $491.Tie-down roping: 1. Caleb Smidt, 8.7 seconds, $5,287; 2. Ace Slone, 8.8, $4,730; 3. Josh Peek, 8.9, $4,174; 4. Trell Etbauer, 9.0, $3,617; 5. (tie) Ryan Jarrett and Tuf Cooper, 9.1, $2,782 each; 7. Rhen Richard, 9.3, $1,948; 8. Shane Hanchey, 9.4, $1,391; 9. (tie) J.C. Malone and Randall Carlisle, 9.5, $556 each.Barrel racing: 1. Taci Bettis, 17.05 seconds, $4,667; 2. Stevi Hillman, 17.14, $3,734; 3. Haylee Woodward, 17.20, $3,034; 4. Christine Laughlin, 17.27, $2,334; 5. Kim Schulze, 17.32, $1,867; 6. Jennifer Barrett, 17.37, $1,400; 7. Nikki Hansen, 17.38, $1,167; 8. (tie) Lisa Lockhart and Mary Walker, 17.40, $992 each; 10. Mandy Hamilton, 17.41, $817; 11. Sabra O'Quinn, 17.43, $700; 12. (tie) Sherry Cervi and Kathy Grimes, 17.46, $525 each; 14. Michele McLeod, 17.47, $350; 15. Darby Fox, 17.55, $233.Bull riding: 1. Garrett Tribble, 87.5 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeos' Red Man, $5,527; 2. (tie) Guthrie Murray and Freeman Yoder, 84.5, $3,685 each; 4. (tie) Chase Dougherty and Tyler Viers, 83.5, $1,658 each; 6. Bayle Worden, 83, $921; 7. Tristan Mize, 82.5, $737; 8. (tie) Jeff Bertus and Derek Kolbaba, 82, $276 each.Bareback riding: First performance: 1. (tie) Tanner Phipps, on Rosser Rodeo’s Blue Indigo, and Tim O’Connell, on Flying U Rodeo's Misplaced Insanity, 87.5 points, $2,800 each; 3. Justin Miller, 84, 1,600; 4. Caleb Bennett, 83, $800. Second performance: 1. J.R. Vezain, 87.5 points on Diamond G Rodeo’s Miss Nancy, $3,200; 2. Tilden Hooper, 82, $2,400; 3. Jake Brown, 80, $1,600; 4. Ty Breuer, 79.5, $800. Third performance: 1. Steven Peebles, 84 points on Flying U Rodeo’s Cat Caller, $3,200; 2. (tie) Wyatt Denny and Clayton Biglow, 82, $2,000 each; 4. (tie) Shane O’Connell and Bill Tutor, 80.5, $400 each. Fourth performance: 1. Mason Clements, 86 points on Rosser Rodeo’s Peppy Bound, $3,200; 2. Jessy Davis, 84, $2,400; 3. Steven Dent, 83.5, $1,600; 4. Logan Corbett, 81.5, $800. Gold Medal round: 1. Wyatt Denny, 88 pointsn on Diamond G Diamond Hope, $50,000; 2. Tim O'Connell, 87.5, $25,000; 3. Tanner Phipps, 86.5, $12,000; 4. (tie) Jessy Davis and Steven Peebles, 86, $3,000 each. Steer wrestling: First performance: 1. Justin Shaffer, 4.4 seconds, $3,200; 2. Nick Guy, 4.8, $2,400; 3. Hunter Cure, 5.4, $1,600; 4. Tanner Milan, 5.6, $800. Second performance: 1. Jace Melvin, 3.8 seconds, $3,200; 2. Tyler Pearson, 4.1, $2,400; 3. Dirk Tavenner, 4.3, $1,600; 4. Justin Morehouse, 4.5, $800. Third performance: 1. Dakota Eldridge, 3.7 seconds, $3,200; 2. Jesse Brown, 3.9, $2,400; 3. Ty Erickson, 4.1, $1,600; 4. J.D. Struxness, 4.2, $800. Fourth performance: 1. Ryle Smith, 4.0 seconds, $3,200; 2. Jon Ragatz, 4.3, $2,400; 3. Jacob Talley, 4.7, $1,600; 4. (tie) Riley Duvall and Chance Howard, 4.8, $400 each. Gold Medal round: 1. Ryle Smith, 4.0 seconds, $50,000; 2. Tyler Pearson, 4.2, $25,000; 3. (tie) Jon Ragatz and Jace Melvin, 4.4, $9,000 each.Team roping: First performance: 1. Nelson Wyatt/Matt Kasner, 4.4 seconds, $3,200 each; 2. Jr. Dees/Tyler McKnight, 4.5, $2,400; 3. Chad Masters/Travis Graves, 4.6, $1,600; no other qualified runs. Second performance: 1. Brady Tryan/Kory Mytty, 4.4 seconds, $3,200; Tom Richards/Kyle Lockett, 5.7, $2,400; 3. Coleman Proctor/Billie Jack Saebens, 9.8, $1,600; no other qualified runs. Third performance: 1. (tie) Levi Simpson/Jeremy Buhler and Marcus Theriot/Clint Summers, 4.1 seconds, $2,800 each; 3. Kaleb Driggers/Junion Nogueira, 4.6, $1,600; 4. Rhett Anderson/Quinn Kessler, 4.7, $800. Fourth performance: 1. Lane Ivy/Trace Porter, 4.7 seconds, $3,200; 2. Clayton Hass/John Robertson, 4.8, $2,400; 3. Matt Sherwood/Patrick Smith, $1,600; no other qualified rides. Gold Medal round: 1. Jr. Dees/Tyler McKnight, 4.4 seconds, $50,000; 2. Tom Richards/Kyle Lockett, 10.4, $25,000; 3. Nelson Wyatt/Matt Kasner, 14.7, $12,000; no other qualified runs.

Saddle bronc riding: First performance: 1. Jacobs Crawley, 85.5 points on Flying 5 Rodeo's Front Page, $3,200; 2. Zeke Thurston, 84, $2,400; 3. Sterling Crawley, 80.5, $1,600; 4. Austin Joseph, 71, $800. Second performance: 1. Rusty Wright, 79 points on Diamond G Rodeo’s Black Eye Gus, $3,200; 2. Ryder Wright, 75, $2,400; 3. Cody Wright, 72, $1,600; 4. Nat Stratton, 65, $800. Third performance: 1. Hardy Braden, 81.5 points on Big Bend Rodeo’s Broken Camp, $3,200; 2. (tie) Heith DeMoss and Brody Cress, 81, $2,000; 4. CoBurn Bradshaw, 75.5, $800. Fourth performance: 1. Jake Wright, 83.5 points on Big Bend Rodeo’s Major Clover, $3,200; 2. (tie) Cody DeMoss, Isaac Diaz and Cort Scheer, 81.5, $1,600 each.  Gold Medal round: 1. Cody DeMoss, 87 points on Diamond G Rodeo's Owen's Mistake, $50,000; 2. Jake Wright, 84.5, $25,000; 3. Zeke Thurston, 84, $12,000; 4. Heith DeMoss, 83, $6,000. Tie-down roping: First performance: 1. Marty Yates, 7.6 seconds, $3,200; 2. Tuf Cooper, 8.5, $2,400; 3. Cooper Martin, 8.8, $1,600; 4. Randall Carlisle, 9.7, $800. Second performance: 1. Shane Hanchey, 7.7 seconds, $3,200; 2. Hunter Herrin, 8.0, $2,400; 3. Caleb Smidt, 8.1, $1,600; 4. Kevin Peterson, 8.6, $800. Third performance: 1. Ryan Jarrett, 7.2 seconds, $3,200; 2. Ryle Smith, 8.6, $2,400; 3. Blake Ash, 8.8, $1,600; 4. Tyson Durfey, 11.1, $800. Fourth performance: 1. Cimarron Boardman, 7.9 seconds, $3,200; 2. Trevor Brazile, 8.4, $2,400; 3. Cory Solomon, 8.8, $1,600; 4. Blane Cox, 10.4, $800. Gold Medal round: 1. Tuf Cooper, 7.5 seconds, $50,000; 2. Trevor Brazile, 7.7, $25,000; 3. Ryle Smith, 8.2, $12,000; 4. Cimarron Boardman, 8.8, $6,000.Barrel racing: First performance: 1. Kassie Mowry, 17.04 seconds, $3,200; 2. Stevi Hillman, 17.07, $2,400; 3. Nellie Miller, 17.27, $1,600; 4. Kris Gadbois, 17.37, $800. Second performance: 1. Tiany Schuster, 17.17 seconds, $3,200; 2. Ari-Anna Flynn, 17.25, $2,400; 3. Tillar Murray, 17.26, $1,600; 4. Tammy Fischer, 17.36, $800. Third performance: 1. Lisa Lockhart, 17.20 seconds, $3,200; 2. Kellie Collier, 17.47, $2,400; 3. Lori Todd, 17.59, $1,600; 4. Taci Bettis, 17.60, $800. Fourth performance: 1. Hailey Kinsel, 16.94 seconds, $3,200; 2. Kelly Tovar, 17.16, $2,400; 3. Ericka Nelson, 17.31, $1,600; 4. Ivy Hurst, 17.62, $800. Gold Medal round: 1. Hailey Kinsel, 17.06 seconds, $50,000; 2. Kelly Tovar, 17.29, $25,000; 3. Lisa Lockhart, 17.38, $12,000; 4. Kellie Collier, 17.39, $6,000. Bull riding: First performance: *1. Shane Proctor, 89.5 points on Diamond G Rodeo’s Tawa Ii, $3,467; 2. Sage Kimzey, 85, $2,667; 3. Joe Frost, 84.5, $1,867; no other qualified rides. Second performance: 1. Garrett Smith, 83.5 points on Diamond G Rodeo’s Elk Bug, $3,200; 2. Ty Wallace, 79, $2,400; 3. Trey Benton, 76, $1,600; 4. Jordan Spears, 75.5, $800. Third performance: 1. Jeffrey Ramagos, 83 points on Diamond G Rodeo’s Gig’s Night Train, $3,200; 2. Tim Bingham, 81.5, $2,400; 3. Brennon Eldred, 81, $1,600; 4. Trevor Kastner, 76, $800. Fourth performance: *1. (tie) Kurtis Turner, on Diamond G Rodeo’s Magic Snowball and Tyler Bingham, on Diamond G Rodeo’s Tawa, 81.5 points, $3,067 each; 3. Eli Vastbinder, 55.5, $1,600; no other qualified rides. Gold Medal round: 1. Sage Kimzey, 90 points on Diamond G Rodeo's War Party, $50,000; 2. (tie) Tyler Bingham and Ty Wallace, 87.5, $18,500 each; 4. Shane Proctor, 86, $6,000. *(all totals include ground money).Bareback riding: 1. J.R. Vezain, 87.25 point on C5 Rodeo’s Make Up Face, $13,243; 2. Jake Vold, 86.75, $10,484; 3. Tanner Aus, 84.75, $8,828; 4. Caleb Bennett, 84, $7,173; 5. (tie) Seth Hardwick and Dylan Bilton, 83.75, $3,862 each; 7. Colin Adams, 83.50, $2,759; 8. Steven Dent, 82.5, $2,207; 9. Tyler Nelson, 81.5, $1,655; 10. (tie) Wyatt Denny and Dantan Bertsch, 80.75, $552 each.Steer wrestling: 1. Straws Milan, 2.9 seconds, $9,983; 2. Chance Butterfield 3.3, $9,151; 3. Jonathan Ragatz, 3.9, $8,042; 4. (tie) Curtis Cassidy, Matt Reeves and Tyler Pearson, 4.0, $5,823 each; 7. Riley Duvall, 4.2, $3,605; 8. (tie) Morgan Grant, Stephen Culling and Dustin Walker, 4.3, $2,403 each.Tie-down roping: 1. (tie) Tuf Cooper and Blane Cox, 8.1 seconds, $9,616 each; 3. (tie) Stetson Vest and Timber Moore, 8.2, $7,525 each; 5. Logan Bird, 8.3, $5,853; 6. Riley Warren, 8.6, $4,738; 7. Justin Malone, 8.8, $3,623; 8. (tie) Jesse Popescul and Ben Robinson, 8.9, $2,787 each; 10. Rhen Richard, 9.1, $1,672.Saddle bronc riding: 1. Zeke Thurston, 88.75 points on Northcott-Macza’s Get Smart, $13,310; 2. Layton Green, 85.25, $10,537; 3. Sterling Crawley, 84.25, $8,874; 4. Taos Muncy, 83.5, $7,210; 5. Cort Scheer, 83, $4,437; 6. (tie) Jacobs Crawley and Troy Crowser, 81, $3,050 each; 8. (tie) Josh Harden and Tyler Corrington, 80.5, $1,941 each; 10. Tyrel Larsen, 79, $1,109.Team roping: 1. Dustin Bird/Russell Cardoza, 4.2 seconds, $9,983 each; 2. Roland McFadden/Devin Wigemyr, 4.4, $9,151; 3. (tie) Levi Simpson/Jeremy Buhler, Matt Sherwood/Walt Woodard and Brady Tryan/Lane Mitchell, 4.7, $6,933 each; 6. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 4.8, $4,714; 7. (tie) Jesse Popescul/Kevin Schreiner and Brett Buss/Tyrel Flewelling, 4.9, $3,328 each; 9. Brady Minor/Riley Minor, 5.2, $2,496; 10. Clint Buhler/Rocky Dallyn, 5.3, $1,664.

Barrel racing: 1. Crystal Christman, 14.726, $11,446; 2. Diane Skocdopole, 14.736, $9,157; 3. Taylor Jacob, 14.739, $7,440; 4. Sarah Gerard, 14.785, $5,723; 5. Kellie Collier, 14.837, $4,578; 6. Kendra Edey, 14.843, $3,434; 7. Callahan Crossley, 14.848, $2,862; 8. Rene Leclercq, 14.867, $2,575; 9. Kirsty White, 14.888, $2,289; 10. Nicole Pana, 14.911, $2,003; 11. Shalayne Lewis, 14.941, $1,717; 12. Bobbie Goodwin, 14.961, $1,431; 13. Sydney Daines, 14.970, $1,145; 14. Brett Wills, 15.066, $858; 15. Nancy Csabay, 15.075, $572.

Bull riding: 1. Sage Kimzey, 88 points on C5 Rodeo’s Big Dip, $12,261; 2. Timothy Lipsett, 87, $9,707; 3. Scott Schiffner, 86.75, $8,174; 4. Garrett Smith, 85.5, $6,642; 5. Brock Radford, 84.5, $4,087; 6. Jared Parsonage, 84, $3,065; 7. Josh Frost, 83.5, $2,554; 8. Riker Carter, 82.5, $2,044; 9. Kyle Brown, 82, $1,533; 10. Jordan Hansen, 77, $1022.Cottonwood >> They’re keeping it in the family in the Williams and Miller households.Nellie Williams Miller, born and raised in Cottonwood, is headed to her second Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualification aboard a horse bred, raised, broke and trained by her father, Sam Williams.And that horse, Rafter W Minnie Reba (Sister), has just won the 2017 AQHA Barrel Horse of the Year honors.Sister, a 9-year-old blue roan, has won the award, after carrying her rider, Miller, to her second WNFR qualification this December.It’s unusual for a barrel racer making the WNFR to be riding a horse that was not only trained by a family member, but also bred and raised by that person.Sister is the daughter of a horse given to Williams by his friends, Joe and Cathy Murray. Nellie rode that horse, Reba, for high school and college rodeos, not only for the barrels but for breakaway, and her brother team roped on Reba.When Sam bred Reba the first time, he got Blue Duck, who was Nellie’s mount for her first WNFR in 2010. That year, she finished the rodeo season eleventh in the world.Two years prior, Reba had another foal, this time a mare, named Sister. Sister is a half-sister to Blue Duck, and after Sam broke her and trained her, she became Nellie’s horse.It’s also unusual for a barrel racer in the top fifteen in the world to have only one horse going up and down the road; most cowgirls have two, three, or even four of them, but Nellie has made it work with one. She’s ridden Blue Duck at a few rodeos, but Sister has carried the majority of the work load: out of the 47 rodeos Nellie has counted as her official rodeo count, Sister has been her mount at 42 of them.Sister is very good at her job, Nellie said.“She’s just a really confident horse,” she said. “She knows exactly what she’s supposed to do. She’s very consistent and does her job every time, which makes my job easier, because I know I can trust her to do that.”Different rodeo arenas have different set-ups and barrel patterns, but they don’t distract Sister from her job. “She got a test this year,” Nellie said, “going to a bunch of different arenas. But she handled all of them really well. It doesn’t seem to faze her. She’s pretty consistent.”Keeping a horse healthy throughout the grueling rodeo season can be difficult, but Nellie and Sister’s veterinarian have worked hard to keep her healthy. Sister has had a couple of “little issues, but nothing that set us back. “I tried to give her breaks, as much as I could, being the only horse I was really hauling. I gave her time off, as much as possible. I think that helped stave off a lot of issues, too.”Sister’s personality is good. “She’s really nice to be around,” Nellie said. Her only quirk is she doesn’t like to be without other horses. So long as she can see other horses, she’s ok. “She’ll throw a fit if she’s absolutely the only horse there. But normally, there are other horses around that she can see,” Nellie said.Not only did Nellie qualify for two WNFRS on horses that are half-siblings, but she and her dad share a special tie. Her dad, a former team roper, won the Salinas rodeo in 1980, and the St. Paul, Oregon rodeo in 1977. His daughter did the same thing, winning Salinas last year and St. Paul this year.In fact, Nellie had a fabulous year, winning not only Salinas and St. Paul, but Reno, Nevada, Ellensburg, Washington, reserve champion at the Calgary Stampede and reserve champion at the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Kissimmee, Fla., and placing at San Antonio and Houston. Out of her 47 rodeos that were officially counted for the WNFR, she won $130,536, which averages to wins of $2,777 per rodeo.The fact that Nellie was able to win so much at so few rodeos is a feat in itself. The number one and two cowgirls in the world standings have gone to nearly 100 rodeos, compared to Nellie’s 47. Less travel has meant less wear and tear on Nellie and Sister, and more time at home.Nellie and her husband James have two daughters, ages five and two; the girls often traveled with their mom this summer, as did James, until the elder started kindergarten this fall.The whole family will be in Las Vegas in December for the WNFR, as will Nellie’s parents, Sam and Roxy. And Sister will be there, too, doing what she does best: running barrels.Finishing second in the AQHA’s Barrel Horse of the Year Awards is MCM Imsasharpguy (“Sharpie”), owned by Matt and Bendi Dunn and ridden by Stevi Hillman, and third place went to Show Mance, owned and ridden by Tiany Shuster. Nellie’s horse Sister is by KS Cash N Fame and out of Espuela Roan by Blue Light Ike.

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