Rodeo lineup loaded with ranked talent
<p>Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake Nolan Conway wrestles a steer during last year's Northwest Montana Fair and Rodeo at the Flathead County Fairgrounds.</p>
If there’s one thing you’ll be sure to see over the next three days at the Northwest Montana Fair PRCA Rodeo, it’s the best roster of cowboys that Kalispell has seen in years.
“This is as good a roster as they’ve had in a long time,” Judy Kesler, of Kesler Rodeo said.
The cards on Thursday and Friday night are jam-packed with some of the best cowboys in the world. The rodeo opens tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Northwest Montana Fairgrounds.
“In every event we have some of the top in the world standings right now,” Kesler said. “How much more can you ask for?”
The rodeo will open tonight with a battle between two of the best bareback riders in the world, led by Bobby Mote, of Culver, Ore., the defending bareback world champion and third all-around cowboy this season, and Power’s Jessy Davis. Davis is currently fifth in the world while Mote is seventh. Steven Dent, of Mullen, Neb., the world’s second-best bareback rider, will compete on Friday in both bareback and saddle bronc.
The second-ranked steer wrestler in the world, Matt Reeves, of Cross Plains, Texas, highlights tonight’s large group that includes Grass Range’s Ross Eickhoff and Alberta’s Cassidy brothers. Helena’s Ty Erickson and Sean Santucci, of Prineville, Ore., both among the best in the world, will compete on Saturday.
Great Falls’ Tyrell Smith, the world’s 17th ranked saddle bronc rider competes tonight atop Mystic River, against a group that includes Fortine’s LeRoy Eash. The roping team of Cut Bank’s Dustin Bird (No. 6 header) and Paul Eaves, of Millsap, Texas, (No. 7 heeler) will compete on Saturday.
Four of the world’s top 10 tie-down ropers will compete on Friday night. Hunter Herrin (No. 2), Shane Hanchey (No. 5), Cody Ohl (No. 8) and Fred Whitfield (No. 10) all come from out of state to compete for the top spot in Kalispell. Also competing on Friday will be Polson’s Tim Bagnell.
West Glacier’s Beau Hill, in the top 50 in the world bull riding standings, drew Whiskey Jack for Saturday, a bull that marked 90 points in Denver and has been one of the top rides on the circuit this season. Colten Jensen will ride Whisky Jack on Thursday.
All that and a large, talented group of barrel racers each night. Among the local riders are Whitefish’s Ashley Sudan and Ronan’s Ty Steele.
“We’re really pleased with the contestant list this year,” fairgrounds manager Mark Campbell said. “There’s a lot of local cowboys too: Columbia Falls, Helena, Browning. (Some of the best cowboys) really are here in this area and they’ll be going against the best.”