Montana Pro Rodeo PRCA Circuit Finals

Despite heavy damage inflicted to the Billings MetraPark in June, the Northern International Livestock Exposition Board of Directors has voted to move ahead with plans for the 43rd annual NILE Stock Show, ProRodeo and Western Expo on Oct. 11-16. “We are extremely confident that this year’s show will truly be one of the most memorable and entertaining NILE fall show events,” NILE President Rob Erickson told the Prairie Star. “Despite one less building, we are moving forward with plans to make this year’s event better than ever.” The plan is to hold the rodeo in the Expo Pavilion at MetraPark, with seating for around 4,000. The NILE will hold a press conference when it is prepared to release a full schedule and details of all events.

Annual Committee Meeting Honors Montana Pro Rodeo Committees - By Jeanne Benson - Cowboy’s Digest

During the Montana Pro Rodeo Finals in Great Falls special attention
is paid to the committees of Pro Rodeo in Montana. Committeeman Representative on the MPRC Board, Dave Wagner, organizes the breakfast to aid the committees with current Pro Rodeo updates, sponsorship opportunities and insight from different perspectives.
This year guest speakers included rodeo contestants Bill Boyce of Lewistown and Kory Mytty of Lolo. Both of these top competitors
were able to offer the contestants side of rodeo competition.

Montana Silversmith presented special award lines offered to Pro Rodeo Committees. New sponsorship ideas and programs were discussed and rodeo committee reps from CM Russell Stampede of Stanford and the Little Belt Cowboy’s Rodeo in Belt, who will be celebrating their 50th Anniversary in 2010, offered what works for their respective rodeos.
Jason Beam discussed FaceBook with rodeo committees and an additional option to promote their rodeo. MPRC and MPRF both have sites offered through FaceBook now.

Theresa Cobb of the PRCA updates and changes on committees programs offered this year through the PRCA. By offering the different speakers, the hope is to allow rodeo committees to adapt new ideas to improve the rodeos in their local communities.

He came pretty close to managing it, too. Costello shared the first-round win with Kruse, won the second round outright and tied Kruse for second the final round to finish with 238 points on three head.

Costello, 34, tore a muscle in his leg last season, leaving him in the bottom half of the qualifiers heading into the circuit finals and something of a longshot to reach his sixth DNCFR.

“It turned out it’s a pretty dang important muscle to ride broncs with” Costello said. “I was healed up and felt good and tickled to have all the good broncs I had here.”

With more than $18,000 in circuit money, Kruse had the year-end title clinched before the rodeo started and so, while he didn’t walk away with the win in his hometown arena, Kruse couldn’t help feeling good.
“About the only thing I hoped for was to win another circuit and to ride to the best of my ability,” Kruse said. “It’s awesome; it’s all these fans. Not only do they come out to cheer for me, they cheer for everyone else. It’s been a great year.”

The other Dodge Montana Circuit Finals Rodeo champions were bareback rider Buck Lunak (234 points on three head), steer wrestler Beau Franzen (11.3 seconds on three head), team ropers Tate Dempewolf and Charlie Lenning (24.9 seconds on three head), tie-down roper Bryant Mikkelson (26.8 seconds on three head), barrel racer Theresa Walter (39.77 seconds on three runs) and bull rider Cody Buller (242 points on three head).

Dick Lyman Honored with Calvin Bohleen Award
- By Jeanne Benson-Cowboy’s Digest

The Calvin Bohleen Award recognizes personalities who have influenced the lives of Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit finalists. Nominated by saddle bronc rider Shane Moran and tie down and team roper Brant Davis, Lyman has helped many young competitors throughout the years. “A few years ago nine kids went to the circuit finals that had started in my backyard,” said Lyman.

Davis and Moran compete at opposite ends of the arena but wrote that Lyman has impacted them in life as much as he has in the rodeo arena. Lyman tries to instill in the kids that he offers his help that life isn’t just about what you do in the arena but your actions outside the arena as well. “I have been married for 33 years we have taken on a kid every year since and mentored and helped to shape their lives,” commented Lyman.

“Dick is the one that started me in rodeo,” said circuit finals roper Davis. “I was running chutes for him and he gave me a rope and a horse and a start. Without him I wouldn’t have been able to get started roping.”
Davis and Moran were able to keep the honor secret from Lyman as they had been planning to nominate him all summer. He first figured out something was up when Davis went and got him out of the grandstands and brought him to the other end of the arena just before it was officially announced in front of a sold out crowd at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls during the Circuit Finals Rodeo.

Lyman grew up in rodeo. In high school he tied calves, steer wrestled and team roped. He tried riding bareback horses and bulls but his size limited his rough stock competition. He went on to compete at the college level as well.

Standing 6’4” and tipping the scale at 275 offered Lyman another opportunity as a football player at Montana State University. But as a junior in college Lyman was diagnosed with Colitis, an infection of the large intestines, which ulcerates and causes a lot of physical discomfort. He had to red shirt as a junior. He was able to rehab for one year and came back as a senior and made All-American.

There was one thing that stood in his way of a choosing to pursue a life as a professional football player, Dick had met the love of his life Terrie Jo while in college and opted to marry on September 14, 1977 and move back to Great Falls and raise their family. They have four girls Lacey, Fanci, Tiffany and Brittney. Now Dick and Terrie Jo are enjoying several grandchildren as well.

Having the practice pen in the backyard for the past 30 years, Lyman prides himself with helping rodeo competitors. In the life of rodeo there are many ups and downs but Lyman is most proud of the fact that during the down times when a cowboy gets into a slump they get him on the phone and visit with him and want to hear his opinion on what they can do different to make it turn around and get better.

“I am a very lucky man to make a living doing what I love to do,” said Lyman as he produces rodeos and operates Lyman Outfitting.

Back in the late 1960’s Bill Jacobs started putting on some junior rodoes, his son Don took over the business and developed it into Jacobs Livestock Rodeo Company we know today. Growing up helping to produce rodeos it was no surprise upon Don’s retirement Dick took over the reins of his step father’s business and manages the contracting business producing rodeos throughout Montana today.

In addition to rodeo production, in the past, Dick has been voted Northern Rodeo Association’s pickup man of the year 14 times. He and his wife also won the coveted honor of “NRA Personality of the Year.”
The Lyman Outfitting Business is based just outside of White Sulphur Springs, Montana and they hunt the Castle Mountains. In the fall they hunt deer and elk and in the spring they do a little bear hunting. Despite not having trophies of his own he has several clients that have taken home the largest trophies of their lives.

“I am a people person and in the outfitting and rodeo businesses you are dealing with people all the time and have the opportunity to live an interesting life,” said Lyman. He has been able to meet all different types of people from all different walks of life including multi millionaires to others financially struggling.

This was a very emotional and special award for Lyman to be honored for sharing his life with so many throughout the years and making a true impact on people not just in the rodeo arena. Having the Con Williams bronze presented to him by Suze Bohleen in his hometown was just icing on the cake.

Tight Race for Montana WPRA Rookie of the Year
By Jeanne Benson-Cowboy’s Digest

Three different barrel racers came into the recent Montana Pro Rodeo Finals in Great Falls vying for the title of Montana WPRA Rookie of the Year. In addition to the three Rookies there were 3 other first time finalists.

Recording a 13.06 during the Saturday night performance, Annie turned in the fastest time of the weekend. Annie was able to best the field of three and claim the rookie title for 2009 circuit season.

Top 12 Honored at Annual WPRA Breakfast
- By Jeanne Benson - Cowboy’s Digest

The barrel racing is the one event featuring Pro Rodeo women in the arena on fast horses and bright clothes.

This year’s finals featured six racers marking their first trip to the Montana Pro Rodeo Finals Laura McPherson, Mandy Bishop, and Twyla Vaira and the three cowgirls vying for Rookie of the Year Chloe Hoovestal, Emily Kallenberger and Annie Novotny. These first timers took home nearly $5,500 in payoff checks.

Five of the top 12 cowgirls were on horses other than their mounts they qualified for the finals including: Shelly Anzick on her daughter Kahley’s horse; Jill Ferdina Miller was riding Donna Johnson’s horse; Rayna Rice was riding a mount owned by Katie Rasmussen; Emily Kallenberger was using a horse owned by Danna Whitford and Mandy Hamilton was on a horse owned by Jamie Faler.

Other top Montana barrel racers were also recognized through specialty awards which are listed in Tidbits from Tibbetts to the left.
For complete Montana WPRA News throughout the season keep checking the Cowboy’s Digest, the official newsletter of Montana Pro Rodeo or the Montana WPRA website at www.montanawpra.com

Top 12 Montana circuit finalists: back row l-r: Terri Kaye Kirkland, Laura McPherson, Theresa Walter, Jill Ferdina-Miller, Mandy Hamilton, Annie Novotny; front l-r: Chloe Hoovestal, Lindsay Karp, Twyla Vaira, Emily Kallenberger and Rayna Rice. (Not pictured Shelly Anzick)
©2010 Dillon McPherson Photo

Send-off party for Kruse turns into $1,410 donation for JCCF
- Courtesy of the PRCA

The Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund received a check for $1,410.50 thanks to 2009 World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider Jesse Kruse.

“We’re so appreciative when Pro Rodeo Cowboys think of the JCCF when helping organizations direct charitable donations,” said Cindy Schonholtz, JCCF program manager.

That is exactly what the Montana cowboy did at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo send-off party held for the Great Falls native and 2009 Miss Rodeo Montana Lesli Furniss last December. Kruse, 23, chose the JCCF as the recipient of his half of the silent auction proceeds which totaled $705.25, with the Cascade Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans matching the amount.

“I appreciate the Justin Sports Medicine Team and the JCCF,” Kruse said. “The Justin Sports Medicine Team helped me when I injured my foot and my back, and the JCCF helps us when we get hurt (seriously enough to miss part of the season). That is why I picked them.”

Donations to the JCCF can be mailed to:
JCCF, PRCA
101 Pro Rodeo Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80919

JCCF donations can also be made online
- Click HERE to visit the JCCF page

Results from the 2009 Montana PRCA Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals
at the Four Seasons Arena, Great Falls, MT

5th Annual Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame Scholarship Fund Raiser set for January 30th

The Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame Banquet is set for Saturday, January 30th at the Holiday Inn Montana Grand Convention Center in Billings. Doors open at 3pm for visiting and viewing of silent and live auction items and vendor booths. A prime rib dinner is scheduled to begin at 6pm with introduction of special guests and VIP's, followed by induction ceremonies. Country Western dancing starts at 8:30 with Cooper and the Crowd Thinners.

The scholarship fundraiser is held annually to fund $39,000 in scholarships awarded to Montana High School Rodeo competitors each year. Over $100,000 in scholarships have been awarded in the past four years.

This year the following six legends will be inducted during the banquet:
- Jack Carraher
- Calvin Bohleen
- Bud Pilcher
- Corky Schwend
- Ed Solomon,
- Jack Bloxham

All six of these men have made a major impact on pro rodeo in Montana and it is a pleasure to honor them at the banquet coming up in January.

New feature added for this year will be the Heritage Award. The
recipients helped to establish the western way of life through ranching
and rodeo in Montana and are:

- Mildred “Mickey” Styer, Roy, MT
- Glenn Hutchinson, Wibaux, MT
- Danny Cloninger, Helena, MT
- Les & Lorraine Best, Bighorn, MT
- Allan & Ann Pursley, Congress, AZ
- William & Judith Staudenmeyer, Centennial Livestock, Dillon, MT

In addition, everyone will have the chance to visit their way through
the evening, bid on silent auction items and raise their hands during
the live auction to help raise scholarship funding for Montana High
School Rodeo seniors.

For more information or to receive your reservation form, contact the
Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame at 406-256-6515 or
www.montanaprorodeo.org

Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit on Facebook
Great Falls, MT - January 8, 2010

When the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Facebook Fan Page was set up in December of 2009, no one was sure how popular it would turn out be. For over 29 years, Great Falls advertising agency Walker Design Group has provided support for the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals and it was convinced Facebook would be a popular way to bring the Circuit and their fans together online. Now, nearly 1,000 Facebook users have become fans of the page, which keeps them up-to-date on the events of the Circuit Finals, and that number continues to grow.

In addition to promoting the event, the Facebook Fan Page has also been giving fans exclusive "heads up" on other rodeo events such as autograph signings and giveaways - with much more to come in the days leading up to the Circuit Finals Rodeo. Facebook users have found the updates incredibly useful, and the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit is exploring a whole new avenue of communications with it's fans.

Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Secretary Duane Walker comments, "I've seen the people who are following us, the interaction they have with the page and am proud to see that the commitment our fans have for rodeo in Montana has crossed over to social networking sites. We hope that this will continue to enhance communications with our online rodeo enthusiasts by not only allowing them to give feedback, but for us to also help promote all the rodeos in the Circuit during the 2010 season. Investing our time into social networking has generated enormous goodwill for the Circuit Finals and proven that we are committed to building the best rodeo circuit in the nation."

The Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals Facebook page is open for all Facebook users, and can be viewed by visiting www.facebook.com and conducting a search for 'Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals'. A direct link can be found on the official Montana Pro Rodeo website at: www.montanaprorodeo.com, along with all event information.

National Circuit System Started Under the Big Sky

The highly successful PRCA Circuit System was the brainchild of a saddle bronc rider from Montana and got its first test run nearly 30 years ago in the Big Sky state. Then after the 1979 rodeo season, Montana held the first-ever circuit finals rodeo, pioneering a program that now produces hundreds of thousands of extra dollars in the pockets of rodeo cowboy and cowgirls in 12 Circuits covering all 48 contiguous states.

Larry Jordan, a saddle bronc rider who qualified for the 1971 National Finals Rodeo, was representing his event on the PRCA board of directors back in the mid-1970’s when he tossed a bold new idea on the table. “I approached the board with the concept to divide the country up to do more for the cowboys, the stock contractors and the fans,” Jordan said.

Midway through the 1974 season, the board told Jordan to go ahead and give the circuit system concept a trial run in Montana. At the end of the season the Montana cowboys and cowgirls held an awards banquet in Lewistown, where the champions, based on regular season winnings at rodeos within the state, were honored with plaques. However, in the beginning it was called the Montana Summer Circuit before finally becoming the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit.

Jordan called the trial run “very successful” and then he went back to the PRCA board and asked permission to set the system up on a national basis, and the board said “go ahead.” Although there are 12 circuits now, the system started out with 14, most of them named for “the most obvious and recognizable identification with the area, incorporating their western heritage,” Jordan said, with names like Columbia River, Badlands, Prairie and Great Lakes.

Event champions were named in bareback, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, calf roping and steer wrestling in each circuit in 1975, based on regular season winnings at rodeos within each circuit. Team roping and barrel racing champions were not included in the awards program until 1976.

Initially, each circuit was headed up by an appointed secretary who served as the intermediary between the PRCA and the members in each circuit. In the Montana Circuit, Jordan served as the secretary in 1975 with Del Nose handling that position in 1976. Dave Wagner took over for the 1977 season and for the next 13 years, served in a leadership capacity, either as secretary, manager or president. Jack Stensland also served as circuit president for several years and Jim Croff has been the president since 1990.

Jordan emphasized from the beginning, and still believes today, that the circuit system was not intended to change the established rodeo structure, but rather to add to the program. And he calls the implementation of the circuit system a progressive move and “one of the major programs in the history of the PRCA.”

The circuit program was designed primarily for the cowboys who hold down regular jobs. Monday through Friday and then rodeo on the weekend, usually not too far from home. It gives cowboys who are serious about their sport, but because of family or professional obligations, can’t be gone for weeks at a time, a chance to get some local recognition and to win a trophy saddle.

From the beginning, Jordan said he “hoped to see every circuit have its own circuit finals.” And again it was Montana that tested the waters by holding the first-ever circuit finals in January 1980 to determine circuit champions for the 1979 season. Most of the other circuits picked up on the idea in the early 1980’s. Most of the finals feature the top 12 in the final regular season standings in each event, but each circuit has the choice of taking the top 10, 12 or 15. Only two states take the top 15 to the finals.

The advent of circuit finals rodeos added a big chunk of prize money available to the top contestants in each circuit. Then in 1987, the PRCA took the next step to give the best contestants in each circuit the opportunity for more recognition, more money and more trophy saddles. That was the first year for the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo, held each spring in Pocatello, Idaho. The year end champions in each circuit along with the average winners at each circuit finals qualifies for the DNCFR, today, the cowboys and cowgirls ride out of Pocatello with more than $500,000 in prize money.

While some of the circuit champions and DNCFR winners are also world champions, or at least regular qualifiers for the National Finals Rodeo, many of the cowboys and cowgirls picking up the championship saddles are names not familiar to anyone outside their respective circuits. And that proves the concept that the circuit system is working for the so-called “weekend warriors” who do not have the time, or the inclination to rodeo full time and will never be crowned world champions.

Looking back on the program he pioneered, Jordan said, “the circuit system in the past 30 years has contributed more to the sport of rodeo than any other program when considering the media coverage, trophy saddles, trophy buckles, added money, new rodeos (circuit finals) and most importantly, holding the membership together.” While the PRCA has done a lot for the top end of rodeo, Jordan said “they also raised the membership fees and most members who went to only a few rodeos a year didn’t want to pay the extra money. But now they don’t have to compete against the top hands and the added finals make it worthwhile to join. It (circuit system) has helped keep a lot of cowboys in the PRCA.”

The circuit system consists of 12 geographic regions that include as few as one state or as many as 13 states. Montana is one of three circuits covering a single state.

Montana PRCA Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals: 30 Years and Still Growing

Back in the spring of 1979 Dave and Barb Wagner, Pat Linger and Jack Stensland met in Great Falls with Bill Chiesa, manager and Duane Walker, Advertising Director of the State Fair, to talk about using the Four Seasons Arena to hold a Circuit Finals Rodeo to cap off the season on the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit. Chiesa said okay and the PRCA said go ahead so the first-ever Circuit Finals was held January 24-26, 1980, and that small inaugural event grew into the richest PRCA rodeo in the state.

The PRCA Circuit System started with a trial run in Montana in 1974 and was adopted nationwide the following year. And Montana led the way again in becoming the first circuit to hold a finals rodeo with the other circuits following suit over the next few years. The 1979 MPRC Finals (actually held in January 1980 just as all subsequent finals were held in January following the completion of the regular rodeo season) was also the first rodeo to be held in the Four Seasons Arena at the Montana State Fairgrounds.

It wasn’t easy to get the first finals off the ground. There was no money in the Circuit bank account and the rodeo purse was so small organizers had trouble getting enough cowboys to come to fill out the program of 10 contestants in each event.

Dave Wagner, who took over the leadership of the Montana PRCA Pro Rodeo Circuit in the fall of 1976 and is credited by many for really getting the Circuit Finals off the ground and turning it into a big success, said “the first couple of years were tough. No one wanted to come for a $500 purse. Financially, it cost some of the cowboys more to go to the rodeo then they could win at the rodeo. But the contestants hung in there and the board members stuck with it.” He added, “it (finals) has really been good. It gives cowboys a reason to go to the (regular season) rodeos.”

The circuit started offering Finals Rodeo jackets the second year, but because there wasn’t enough money in the circuit treasury to pay for them each contestant had to pay for his, or her own jacket. But with cooperation, sacrifice, financial support and a lot of hard work from circuit board members, the circuit not only survived, but it thrived. And with the 2008 season finale this event is 30 years old.

Wagner, who was a five-time circuit bull riding champion, said, “The people at the Four Seasons were very receptive. They bent over backwards to make it work. Bill (Chiesa), Duane Walker and the staff were awesome.” And Stensland, who was the bullfighter at the first circuit finals, added “the businesses in Great Falls were absolutely wonderful. They believed in it. And we have had a good relationship with the fair board.”

Sonny Linger, Reg Kesler and Marvin Brookman were the stock contractors for those early circuit finals rodeos.

Many of the cowboys and directors also worked hard and contributed hundreds of hours of labor over the years to make the finals a success. One of them is Jim Croff, the circuit saddle bronc riding champion in 1979 and 1980, which happened to be the first two years the finals were held. He has been on the circuit board of directors since the inception of the finals, first as the saddle bronc riding director and then in 1990 he took over as the circuit president, a position he still holds.

Because there was no money to hire much help, for the first few years Croff along with fellow contestants Dave and Pat Urick and stock contractor Sonny Linger worked together to set up the arena, pens for the livestock and they made sure hay was available for the livestock. With help from the other contestants, they also took down the panels and chutes and made sure they were hauled out of the Four Seasons Arena.

After offering $500 per event in prize money the first year, the purse was raised to $750 per event the second year. The circuit has continued to increase the purse almost annually and is putting up $9,500 per event this year.

The total payoff for the first circuit finals was about $9,000. This year the total payoff will be over to $100,000. In addition to the purse put up by the circuit and the entry fees paid by the contestants, there is some sponsorship money that goes into the purse. Also every contestant who enters a PRCA rodeo pays an additional fee that goes to the circuit where that rodeo is held. Most of that added fee, which started at $1 but is now up to $3, goes into prize money for the circuit finals.

The purse money put up by the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit, over $131,000 this year, is the largest purse put up by any circuit organization compared to $76,000 in 2003. However, the other money sources that go into the prize fund are much higher in many other states. In addition to more sponsor money in some states, the added fee paid by the cowboys every time they enter a rodeo produces so much more money in many of the other circuits. For example, while Montana had 32 PRCA rodeos in 2008, the Texas Circuit had more than 100 rodeos, including big winter indoor rodeos in Houston, Fort Worth and San Antonio where nearly all of the top PRCA cowboys compete. Also, the California Circuit and the Columbia River Circuit (Washington, Oregon and the panhandle of Idaho) each had at least 50 rodeos, including some of the major rodeos on the pro circuit. Money put up by the circuit for purse money comes from a variety of sources. In addition to ticket sales at the rodeo the circuit has used different means over the years to raise extra money, like raffling off a pickup to the present program of selling cash calendars.

The purse put up at the circuit finals is also the highest of any rodeo in Montana. However, with the limited entry list of 12 per event the total payoff is not the highest because of the several thousands of dollars generated through entry fees at some of the other major rodeos in the state.

When Wagner took over leadership of the circuit after the 1976 season, he inherited a program with a $5,000 debt, going back to paying for the trophy saddles in 1975. The first thing he did was to institute a $10 membership fee for all contestants in the circuit. That money helped to pay off the existing debt by the time the first circuit finals was held, but Wagner said, financially, “we started that first finals at zero.” However, he is proud to report “the finals has never had a bad year,” as most of the 91 performances held to date (they tried a 4-performance rodeo the second year) have been sold out, or close to it. The circuit membership fee was later raised to $25 per year, and then in 2003 it was upped to $50. Most of the money raised through the dues is used to pay the operational costs of the circuit.

While Wagner admits the board had to almost beg cowboys to come to the first circuit finals, that is no longer the case. With such a small purse offered for that first circuit finals, many of the cowboys were hesitant to come because they didn’t figure they could win enough to cover their expenses of travel, lodging and meals. The top 10 cowboys in each event were invited, but there were so many rejections that in order to fill out one of the events a cowboy who had won only $12 in that event during the year was asked to please enter.

A few years later the entry list was raised to the top 12 in each event and now most of the cowboys and cowgirls in Montana set a goal of making the circuit finals before the rodeo season gets under way each spring. And no one has to be “begged” to come and compete since it is now possible to win close to $6,700 at the rodeo with three go-rounds and the average.

In the past years, the last regular rodeo of the season was in Billings in October, so the circuit decided on January for the finals “to get far away from the Nile,” according to Wagner. The January date also avoids conflicts with the Canadian Finals Rodeo in November and the National Finals Rodeo in December. And while the CFR doesn’t really affect Montana cowboys it does involve some of the stock contractors in Montana. And as for the late date for the finals, Wagner said, “Is it working? Yes! And that’s the bottom line. The holidays are over and people are ready to do something.”

Croff has some vivid memories of the cold weather. “I can remember the first years of the finals it was below zero and there was no door on the Four Seasons Arena where the bucking stock was loaded and the cool air was coming through the door like a fog. It sure got your nerves up when those rank bucking horses of Kesler, Linger and Brookman came into the chutes snorting and blowing with frost on their backs.”

With the 30th annual MPRC Finals here, and cowboys and cowgirls competing for their biggest purse ever, Stensland said, “we crawled for a little while, but we are up and running now. The cowboys are satisfied. Success breeds success.”

Croff said, since the early 1980s we have hadr an active board and everyone pitched in to make our event a success.” And in addition to the contestants and board members, Croff had words of praise for Duane Walker of Walker Design Group in Great Falls. “Duane has been a big asset to our circuit,” Croff said. “He has hustled up a lot of our sponsorships and done some fantastic posters, banners, and calendar art work.”

And the circuit finals isn’t just about riding broncs and bulls, roping calves and running around barrels in search of a big check. Rodeo is a family sport and it is one where sportsmanship is still commonplace with contestants helping each other even when they are vying for the same paycheck. Around rodeo you hear the word “family” used a lot.
The most satisfying part for Croff has been to watch the circuit finals “keep growing and getting better all the time.” And he believes “the level of professionalism has gone up since the first Pro Circuit Finals.” As he leads the circuit into its 25th Finals Rodeo, Croff said, “It’s great. I’ve gotten a lot of self satisfaction out of watching it grow.” And this baby is still growing.

montanaprorodeo.com
All content and images ©2009 Montana PRCA Pro Rodeo Circuit unless noted.
Contact the webmaster - Site design by Walker Design Group