Montana Pro Rodeo PRCA Circuit Finals

Courtesy of the PRCA – Shaun Stroh is a past Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finalist before moving to North Dakota.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Every year that Shaun Stroh qualifies for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo – and this will be the fifth – he rents a house and brings his wife Shannon and their five kids out to Las Vegas for what he has described as “sort of a family vacation.”

It is a way of letting his family know how much he appreciates their support when he is away from the family home in Dickinson, N.D., more than 200 days a year chasing his dream, and the perfect way to celebrate his birthday (Dec. 10).

What may be on the agenda this time around could be a much bigger celebration – a party to end all parties – as Stroh, at age 38, is in the best position of his life to reward his family’s forbearance with a saddle bronc riding gold buckle.

After producing an arena-record 91-point ride in the finals of the Caldwell (Idaho) Night Rodeo Aug. 21, Stroh stands fourth in the PRCA World Standings with earnings of $70,974, trailing first-place Wade Sundell by a margin of about one round win at the Wrangler NFR.
“I don’t feel like I’ve changed things this year,” Stroh said. “I’ve always kind of felt like I had a chance (at a world title), even when I was way down (among the 15 NFR qualifiers). I knew there was a way. I just didn’t know how. I came into this year with a good mental outlook, especially coming off the way last year ended (a win in the NFR average). I was feeling good, and I just kept rolling.”

Canadian champion Rod Hay saw a difference in Stroh’s approach to riding right away.

“I see it in his first jump out,” Hay said. “He is riding with more confidence and riding more aggressively. He’s spurring right away and using the entire eight seconds to get points from judges. A couple of extra points are all it takes to win a round, and that is what he is doing.”

Until last year, Stroh had never entered the Wrangler NFR higher than 11th or finished higher than 12th in the world. The 2009 season was a breakthrough in many respects. He jumped from 22nd to eighth place during the month of September – including a $17,625 check at the Justin Boots Championships in Omaha, Neb. – and then went on to win the NFR average and finish fourth in the world standings.

“Maybe the biggest stepping stone to where I am,” Stroh said, “is how I reacted last year when things were looking bleak. I just kind of knew I’d make it to the NFR. Some guys handle pressure differently. Being able to make it through in that situation, to be able to have it go like it did … that was pretty reassuring.”

He started this season with a big win at Fort Worth, Texas, and has been consistently near the top of the standings all year. Caldwell was his seventh win in a PRCA rodeo, and unquestionably the most dramatic.
Just two turns before he was due to ride, Stroh stood behind the chutes and watched Cody Wright earn 90 points on Burch Rodeo’s Friendly Fire to break an arena record (89) set in 1999 by Kevin Small and equaled a year ago by Stroh’s rodeo hero, Billy Etbauer.

“Cody went out there and made just an outstanding bronc ride,” Stroh said. “I thought, ‘This deal could be sealed already.’ Holy cow, that set the bar high, but I knew I had a great horse, so I just went out there and tried to stay on.”

He did a good deal more than that. Stroh climbed onto Calgary Stampede’s Lynx Mountain and went for a record 91 points to win the round and beat Wright for the average title by one point (174-173).
It continued a fortuitous relationship between Stroh and Calgary Stampede broncs. The only other time Stroh won the two-head average at Caldwell, in 2004, he captured the short round with an 86-point ride on Calgary’s Papa Smurf.

“I had to choose between riding Kesler’s Painted Smile in Kalispell (Mont.) or Papa Smurf in Caldwell on that day (in 2004),” Stroh said. “That was tough – they were both outstanding horses – but I’d wanted to get on Papa Smurf for a long time and, as it turned out, it was the only time I would ever get on him. They retired him shortly after that.”
Steer wrestler Dean Gorsuch overcame a long history of frustration at Caldwell to win the finals in 3.6 seconds and break a tie with two-time World Champion Luke Branquinho for the three-head average title (12.3 seconds).

“Man, I really wanted to win this rodeo,” Gorsuch, the 2006 world champion, told the Idaho Statesman. “I’ve broken the barrier just about every time I’ve come here.”

For Branquinho, there was consolation in the fact that the $10,086 he won in three Idaho rodeos over the weekend – Caldwell, Burley and Gooding – was enough to move him past RodeoHouston champion Cody Cassidy into first place in the world standings.

The team roping win for Spencer Mitchell and Broc Cresta, along with another at Moses Lake, Wash., helped move Cresta closer to his first Wrangler NFR qualification with weekend earnings of $7,204.
Mitchell and Cresta placed in all three rounds at Caldwell for a total time of 16.6 seconds to hold off Kelsey Parchman and Michael Jones by six-tenths of a second. Cresta moved from 14th place among heelers to 11th and Mitchell advanced from 25th to 21st among headers.

The other champions at the Caldwell Night Rodeo Arena were bareback rider Dave Worsfold in what he would call the biggest win of his career (168 points on two head), tie-down roper Matt Shiozawa (26.3 seconds on three head), barrel racer Nancy Hunter (52.17 seconds on three runs) and bull rider Will Farrell (166 points on two head).

• Double-double for teenager Vezain: Already recognized as one of the top teenage stars in the PRCA, roughstock cowboy J.R. Vezain, of Cowley, Wyo., added to his list of credits over the Aug. 18-22 weekend with a pair of checks at both Billings, Mont., and Fort Benton, Mont. Vezain, 18, won the bareback riding and bull riding at the Choteau County Fair & Rodeo in Fort Benton, then tied for first in the bareback riding and finished second in the bull riding at the Yellowstone Stampede ProRodeo in Billings. That parlay, plus a bareback riding win in Baker, Mont., and a sixth-place result in the bareback riding in Kalispell, Mont., paid him $4,145 for the weekend and boosted the total money earned on his permit to $18,590. Vezain finished third in the all-around at this year’s National High School Finals Rodeo.

Parker, Lyman find outlet for competitive needs: Bill Parker, the only Montana cowboy ever to qualify for the Wrangler NFR in tie-down roping (1980) and also an NFR qualifier in team roping, came out of retirement Aug. 19-21 to join forces with 15-time NFR steer wrestling qualifier Rod Lyman and compete in the team roping at the Yellowstone Stampede Pro Rodeo in Billings, Mont. They roped their steer in 11.4 seconds and earned $406 each for finishing fifth. “We didn’t embarrass ourselves,” a smiling Parker told the Billings Gazette. While Lyman had competed as recently as three years ago, it had been 17 years since Parker, 56, had been in a PRCA arena, and he took the task seriously. “We didn’t drive over just to have a good time at the fair,” Parker said. “These kids can laugh at us all they want; we’re here to rope.”

Annual Committee Meeting Honors Montana Pro Rodeo Committess - 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

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

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