Whitfield headlines PRCA rodeo

The Daily Inter Lake

Fred Whitfield, the leading tie-down roping cowboy on the PRCA circuit, will headline another star-studded field at the Northwest Montana Fair PRCA Rodeo, which gets under way tonight at 7:30 at the Flathead County Fairgrounds.

Whitfield competed here last year on the final night, but could not crack a top six finish.

The Hockley, Texas, cowboy, who was inducted into the PRCA Hall of Fame a year ago, has won six world titles. As of last year, he was one of three cowboys to pocket over $2 million in career earnings.

Whitfield was inducted into the PRCA Hall of Fame along with rodeo announcer Bob Tallman, who also returns to the fair rodeo.

"Eighteen of the world champion cowboys will be here," said fair manager Jay Scott. "Some of the horses of the year will also be here."

The stock contractor is again Kessler Championship Rodeo, which has a stable of world championship bucking horses and bulls.

Rodeo performances follow on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Ticket prices vary from $8-12.

The specialty act is Flint Rasmussen.

Scott says the U.S. Army will be involved in the grand entry tonight and Wells Fargo Bank will have a stage coach at the arena grounds.

"We have one of the largest purses in the state," said Scott.

"I think that's why we get so many of the top cowboys in the nation to come here."