Locals headline fair rodeo

By DAVID LESNICK

The Daily Inter Lake

Dede Mikowski of Bigfork is over the fear factor of competing in the Northwest Montana Fair PRCA Rodeo.

"When I first signed up, I wasn't too sure what I did (got myself into)," admitted Mikowski.

"But I'm excited (now). I'm very excited."

Mikowski will be one of 11 barrel racers competing Friday night along with Bigfork's Kirstin Gallien. Eight of those entrants list Montana as home.

The rodeo opens Thursday and concludes with a final show on Saturday.

All three performances begin at 7:30 p.m.

Mikowski will be aboard Dash Dorothy, an 8-year-old sorrel mare. The two have been competing together for two years.

Thursday's barrel racing lineup will feature 12 riders, all from Montana. Terri Kaye Kirkland of Billings, who is ranked ninth in the standings with earnings of $48,847, will headline that performance.

"I keep challenging myself," Mikowski said of why she finally entered this year.

"My horse is running well, so I just thought this is another way of keeping the challenge going."

This will be Mikowski's first fair rodeo. She carries a Women's Pro Rodeo Association permit and is a National Barrel Horse Association and a Barrel Racers National 4D (BRN4D) member.

"This will be the second rodeo," she said for the season.

"I've gone to quite a few other shows."

One of those shows was Memorial Day weekend where she finished 18th out of 424 competitors at the BRN4D Finals in Pasco, Wash.

"I'm glad I drew up Friday night," she said for this rodeo.

"I didn't want to drop into the slack (Thursday day). I wanted this for better experience. The community is there to have fun, see a good show and for support."

Mikowski says she will attend Thursday night's performance as a fan and to get mentally ready.

"Going to watch will help me be more comfortable with it," she said.

"And to cheer on my competitors. We're all winners for being out there."

As far as her expectations for the event …

"As far as I can go," she said.

"I just wanna do the best I can on the horse I have. I'm not expecting too much."

Mikowski's daughter, 19-year-old Shanea, will be there to cheer her on along with her husband, Anthony. Shanea, a student at Montana State University, is hoping to get her permit next year and participate in the fair rodeo.

This year's event is loaded with local talent.

Tim Bagnell of Polson is also up Friday in tie-down roping along with Beau Hill, a two-time NFR participant from West Glacier, who will headline the bull riding.

On Thursday, Kalispell's Andy Bauer is entered in bull riding.

Saturday's lineup features Brett Crump of Lone Pine in bull riding, Luke Warner of Whitefish in bareback riding and Chris Westphal and Chris Lynch, both of Ronan, will team rope. Lynch will also do tie-down roping.

Again, this rodeo will attract some of the top cowboys and cowgirls on the pro circuit.

Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., is ranked seventh in the bareback ($53,249) and will ride Friday. He has drawn Alley Trail from the Kesler Rodeo Company stock. That horse has won many National Finals Rodeo (NFR) awards.

Dan Mortensen of Billings, the current saddle bronc leader ($119,079 for 56 rodeos), is also up on Friday. The world champion has drawn Cool Five, another award winning horse from the Kesler stock.

Cool Alley, the only horse to win bareback and saddle bronc horse of the year honors in the same year, is scheduled to go Friday night. Jake Hayworth of St. Anthony, Idaho, has drawn the 11-year-old mare.

"A very big horse, but very athletic," said Judy Kesler.

"He has won (horse of the year honors) in broncs twice and bareback twice."

Kesler said Cool Alley was in action last week at Dawson Creek, British Columbia, and bucked off a cowboy.

Painted Smile, an 11-year-old mare who has won three consecutive world titles and claimed every award given to a saddle bronc horse, will be in the chute on Saturday. Kevin Keller of Harlem has drawn that bronc.

Another horse to watch for is Country Cat. He will be in action Friday night. Todd Herzog of Penhold, Alberta, has drawn the six-year-old stud.

"We're kinda hoping that will be our next world champion," said Kesler.