NW Montana Fair Rodeo: World's finest flock to the fairgrounds
Dozens of the world’s best cowboys and cowgirls and many of the best in the state are coming to Kalispell this weekend for the Northwest Montana Fair Rodeo.
This weekend’s three-day event begins tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Flathead County Fairgrounds, featuring 26 competitors ranked in the top 20 of the world standings and the top stock from Kesler Rodeo.
“The A-team is coming to Kalispell,” said Judy Kesler of Kesler Rodeo.
“The cowboys should be able to win on any one of these horses. The bulls have been super tough this year. It should be pretty good watching.”
The rodeo starts off with a bang tonight, with nine ranked riders set to compete.
Helena’s Ty Erickson, the second-ranked steer wrestler in the world, headlines the night leading a field with four ranked bulldoggers and five more Montanans. In addition to Erickson, the sixth (Alberta’s Tanner Milan), 15th (Texas’ Clayton Hass) and 19th (British Columbia’s Clayton Moore) best steer wrestlers are scheduled to compete on the opening night.
Jake Vold, last year’s bareback winner, is back again ranked 16th in the world and a field of eight Montanans is in saddle bronc.
Caleb Smidt, the fourth-ranked tie-down roper, is also scheduled on Thursday.
Bobby Mote, the world’s second-ranked bareback rider and a regular in Kalispell, opens Friday night. Jacobs and Sterling Crawley, each ranked in the top 20, will headline saddle bronc along with Fortine’s LeRoy Eash.
Edgar, Montana’s Parker Breding, who is rising quickly up the world bull riding standings, entering this week ranked fourth, will cap the night with 16th-ranked Dustin Bowen and Trego’s Gerald Eash.
Eighth-ranked steer wrestler Olin Hannum and five of the world’s top 16 barrel racers are also scheduled for the second night.
Saturday night is filled with local talent, with a pair northwest Montana team roping duos and a Whitefish barrel racer entering the arena before West Glacier’s Beau Hill finishes off the night in bull riding.
Cody DeMoss, the world’s top-ranked saddle bronc rider, will headline the final night along with Riley Pruitt, ranked 19th in tie down roping. Clint Laye, who is ranked 10th, and Austin Foss, 13th, lead a talented field in the final bareback go.
Gates open at 6 p.m.