MINOT, N.D. (October 15, 2022) – Cameron Morman has a game plan, no matter what rodeo situation he’s in.

The Glen Ullin, N.D. steer wrestler turned in a time of 4.1 seconds to win the second round of the RAM Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo in Minot.

It was a steer he’d seen run the previous night, one that was “a little bit heavy on the ground. But I knew if I’d get my feet on the ground fast enough, I’d dang sure have a chance.”

This is Morman’s ninth consecutive qualification to the circuit finals, pro rodeo’s regional championship, and it never gets old. He gave credit to the rodeo committee for organizing a good event, but also adding purse money to make it a lucrative rodeo. “You really can’t afford to come up here and not do good.”

Morman credited his hazer Jake Kraupie with doing a good job keeping the steer running straight. “Jake did a fine job of hazing for me, and I was fortunate enough to have good horsepower on the steer wrestling side. I just did my job.”

He also gave a shout-out to Scott and Halley Kleemann, owners of Razzle, the haze horse Kraupie rode. The gelding is talented, he said, and has hazed at some big rodeos, including San Antonio, Texas. A former team roping horse, the loss of vision in one of his eyes turned his career to hazing.

The steer wrestling in Minot has turned into a three-way race.

Morman, who won the Saturday night round and tied for fourth in the Friday night round, is less than $100 behind the number two man, Eli Lord, and about $400 behind the number one man, Reed Kraeger. With the average (the fastest combined times on three runs) paying more than $3000 for first place, consistency is important.

“My game plan is to run one steer at a time, do my job, win as much money as I can in these three days, and see where the chips fall.”

For Ty Breuer, who’s done very well on the nationwide pro rodeo scene, the circuit finals in Minot are just as enticing as the big-name rodeos.

Ty Breuer wins the second round of the Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo. The Mandan, N.D. cowboy leads the bareback riding at the 2022 event. [Photo: Alaina Stangle]

Since 2014, the Mandan, N.D. man has won either the season or the circuit finals nine times.

And he’s nearly sewn up this year’s year-end and average titles, with a first place win last night and another first place win on Saturday.

He rode the Sutton horse Dirty Dance for 86 points, one less than last night’s first place.

“That horse bucks hard and tries hard every time,” he said. “I was happy to have drawn her. I knew she wouldn’t be a day off, that’s for sure. “

Breuer excels not only at the circuit level but at the national level, having qualified for five National Finals Rodeos, where world champs are determined. He rodeos across the country, but makes sure to come home for Badlands Circuit rodeos, as contestants must compete at nine of them to be eligible for the circuit finals.

He was quick to point out that the circuit final wins never get old. “That’s why we do this. A guy works hard to get to all of the circuit rodeos, and it makes it all worth it at the end of the year, to (qualify) for here.”

Other second go-round winners include team ropers Clay Ullery, Valleyview, Alb. and Matt Zancanella, Aurora, S.D. (5.1 seconds); saddle bronc riders Jade Blackwell, Rapid City, S.D. and Shorty Garrett, Dupree, S.D. (81.5 points each); breakaway roper Syerra Christensen, Kennebec, S.D. (2.3 seconds); tie-down roper Austin Hurlburt, Norfolk, Neb. (8.2 seconds); barrel racer Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D. (13.72 seconds) and bull rider Chance Schott, McLaughlin, S.D. (88.5 points).

The third and final round of the Badlands Circuit Finals takes place Oct. 16 with a 1 p.m. matinee performance, and will honor and recognize the military. Tickets purchased at the gate are discounted $5 for anyone with a military ID. For more information on the rodeo, visit RodeoMinot.com.

For full results from this night’s rodeo, visit ProRodeo.com.

Results – 2^nd round of the Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo, Minot, N.D. – October 15, 2022

Bareback Riding

1. Ty Breuer, Mandan, N.D. 86 points on Sutton Rodeo’s Dirty Dance; 2. (tie) Whitten Hoover, Springview, Neb. and Shane O’Connell, Rapid City, S.D. 82 each;  4. Ben Kramer, Max, N.D. 79.

Steer Wrestling

1. Cameron Morman, Glen Ullin, N.D. 4.1 seconds; 2. (tie) Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D. and  Sandstrom, Ray, N.D. 4.2 each; 4. Cyler Dowling, Newell, S.D. 4.3.

Team Roping

1. Clay Ullery, Valleyview, Alb./Matt Zancanella, Aurora, S.D. 5.1 seconds; 2. Jake Schmidt, Box Elder, S.D./Jade Nelson, Midland, S.D. 5.7;  3. Clay Holz, Springfield, S.D./Ty Talsma, Avon, S.D. 6.4; 4. Shaw Loiseau, Flandreau, S.D./Dylan Hart, Flandreau, S.D. 6.5.

Saddle bronc riding

1. (tie) Jade Blackwell, Rapid City, S.D., 81.5 points on Sutton Rodeo’s South Point, and Shorty Garrett, Dupree, S.D. 81.5 points on Bailey Pro Rodeo’s Capone; 3. Lane Schuelke, Newell, S.D. 80; 4. Taygen Schuelke, Newell, S.D. 78.5.

Breakaway roping

1. Syerra Christensen, Kennebec, S.D. 2.3 seconds; 2. Sawyer Gilbert, Buffalo, S.D. 2.5; 3. Misti Brown, Valentine, Neb. 3.0; 4. Samantha Fulton, Miller, S.D. 3.3.

Tie-down roping

1. Austin Hurlburt, Norfolk, Neb. 8.2 seconds; 2. Clint Kindred, Oral, S.D. 9.3; 3. Ty Moser, Volga, S.D. 10.4; 4. Joe Schmidt, Belfield, N.D. 10.9.

Barrel racing

1. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D. 13.72 seconds; 2. Molly Otto, Grand Forks, N.D. 13.81; 3. Hallie Fulton, Miller, S.D. 13.82; 4. Nikki Hansen, Dickinson, N.D. 13.91.

Bull riding

1. Chance Schott, McLaughlin, S.D. 88.5 points on Sutton Rodeo’s Crystalyx; 2. Mason Moody, Letcher, S.D. 86; 3. Jeff Bertus, Avon, S.D. 83.5; 4. Jestyn Woodward, Custer, S.D. 82.

** All results are unofficial.