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MINOT, N.D. — The best cowboys and cowgirls in the Dakotas will be in Minot next month for the Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo.
And these number ones lead the charge in their respective events.
North Dakota cowboy Chase Lako leads the tie-down roping. The Mandan man has won more than $17,000, with this being the fifth time he has qualified for the Badlands Circuit Finals.
As a financial advisor by day, rodeo is more of a hobby for him and his wife Kennedi, a barrel racer.
“It’s a hobby but a serious one,” he said. “My wife and I go to the barn every night, and we’re riding five or six horses.”
He said he plans to compete with his nine-year-old gelding named Dunnie, who he trained.
South Dakota cowboy Mason Moody is on top of the pile of bull riders.
The 20-year-old is in his rookie year of PRCA action and went straight from high school to rodeo. He competed in the PBR last year but switched to professional rodeo this spring and has done well, having won money at rodeos in New Town, North Dakota; Mobridge, South Dakota; and Hamel, Minnesota.
“I felt like I could make a pretty good living rodeoing, so I decided to pro rodeo and it’s worked out for me,” he said. “I’m definitely paying my bills, and this is definitely something you’ll always remember when you look back at your rodeo career.”
Moody has more than $31,000 in winnings, ahead of the number two man, Chance Schott, who has won nearly $20,000.
Moody’s first trip to the Badlands Circuit Finals was two years ago, when he was a high school senior. He also qualified last year. He is ranked 36th in the world standings.
In the barrel racing, a fan favorite, Jessica Routier, leads her event.
Jessica Routier, Buffalo, S.D., is a six-time Badlands Circuit barrel racing champion and enters this year’s finals in first place. [Photo: Alaina Stangle]
The South Dakota cowgirl has won more than $20,000 this year, having done well in Mandan and Killdeer, N.D. and Mobridge and Deadwood, S.D.
She also won the NFR Open (previously known as the National Circuit Finals Rodeo), which gave her a big boost in the world standings. Champs from each circuit finals qualify for the NFR Open, held in Colorado Springs in July. It was “super exciting,” she said, “and a result of winning the circuit finals and all the more motivation to try to get back there this year.”
For most of the year, she rode Missy, her twelve-year-old mare who is a multiple Badlands Circuit Barrel Horse of the Year winner. She also rode Nicki, a daughter of the mare she won her first Badlands Circuit title on.
Routier has won six year-end titles in the Badlands Circuit (2010, 2017, 2019-2022).
Another North Dakota cowboy, Joe Nelson, comes into the circuit finals in first place in the steer wrestling.
Steer wrestler Joe Nelson, Watford City, N.D., is the number one man in his event, going into the Badlands Circuit Finals, which will be held Oct. 13-15 in Minot at the N.D. State Fair Center. [Photo: Alaina Stangle]
The Watford City resident had planned to rodeo across the nation, but a horse injury forced him to come home and ride a borrowed horse.
He rode River Voigt’s horse, Woody, and on Woody he won money in Mobridge and Belle Fourche, S.D.; Ashley and Killdeer, N.D.; and Gordon, Nebraska.
Nelson rodeoed in the circuit and worked as a horse shoer and electrician.
As a kid, he said his sport of choice was baseball, not rodeo. One day, he participated in a youth rodeo, winning the dummy roping “and it was game on from there,” he said. “I told my parents I was done playing baseball.”
Nelson, who is 28 years old, won the average at the 2019 Badlands Circuit Finals. This is his fourth trip to the finals.
Other leaders coming into the circuit finals include bareback rider Ben Kramer, Max, N.D.; saddle bronc rider Shorty Garrett, Eagle Butte, S.D.; team ropers Bodie Mattson, Sturgis, S.D. (header) and Cash Hetzel, Lemmon, S.D. (heeler); and breakaway roper Tanegai Zilverberg, Holabird, S.D.
The top twelve contestants in each of eight events after the pro rodeo season compete at the Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo.
The rodeo is Oct. 13-15, with shows starting at 7 pm on Oct. 13-14 and at 1 pm on Oct. 15.
Tickets are $25 for adult general admission and $10 for kids ages 3-10. Gold buckle seats, the five rows closest to the arena floor, are $35 for all ages. The October 15 performance is Family Day with all general admission tickets at $10. They are available online at RodeoMinot.com, at North Country Mercantile in Minot (2000 20th Avenue SE) and at the gate.
For more information, visit the website at RodeoMinot.com or Facebook and Instagram (search for Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo.)
A complete list of contestants follows.
Bareback riding
1. Ben Kramer, Max, N.D.
2. Shane O’Connell, Rapid City, S.D.
3. Nate McFadden, Elsmere, Neb.
4. Andy Gingerich, Aberdeen, S.D.
5. Clay Jorgenson, Watford City, N.D.
6. Bobby Reynolds, Humboldt, S.D.
7. Kaden Clark, Black Hawk, S.D.
8. Kyle Bloomquist, Raymond, Minn.
9. Steven DeWolfe-Shedeed, Buffalo Gap, S.D.
10. Ty Breuer, Mandan, N.D.
11. Cole Gerhardt, Mandan, N.D.
12. Chase Yellow Hawk, Blunt, S.D.
Steer wrestling
1. Joe Nelson, Watford City, N.D.
2. Cameron Morman, Glen Ullin, N.D.
3. Tyler Thorson, Manning, N.D.
4. Kaden Wooters, Elwood, Neb.
5. Logan Lemmel, Whitewood, S.D.
6. Reed Kraeger, Waco, Neb.
7. Scott Kleeman, Killdeer, N.D.
8. Jake Kraupie, Bridgeport, Neb.
9. Cole Fulton, Miller, S.D.
10. Austin Hurlburt, Norfolk, Neb.
11. Justice Johnson, Bismarck, N.D.
12. Joe Wilson, Martin, S.D.
Team roping – headers
1. Bodie Mattson, Sturgis, S.D.
2. Braden Pirrung, Hartford, S.D.
3. Brent McInerney, Alzada, Mont.
4. Guy Howell, Belle Fourche, S.D.
5. Cooper White, Hershey, Neb.
6. Clay Holz, Niobrara, Neb.
7. Jade Schmidt, Rapid City, S.D.
8. Tucker Dale, Halliday, N.D.
9. Jr Dees, Aurora, S.D.
10. Jon Peterson, Belle Fourche, S.D.
11. Reece Weber, Valentine, Neb.
12. Trevor Olson, Mud Butte, S.D.
Team roping – heelers
1. Cash Hetzel, Lemmon, S.D.
2. Jade Nelson, Midland, S.D.
3. Tanner McInerney, Alzada, Mont.
4. Riley Curuchet, Kaycee, Wyo.
5. Tucker White, Hershey, Neb.
6. Matt Zancanella, Aurora, S.D.
7. Conner Herren, Crooks, S.D.
8. Taylor Brower, Parshall, N.D.
9. Ros Ashford, Lott, Texas
10. Trae Smith, Georgetown, Idaho
11. Matt Kasner, Cody, Neb.
12. Jace Engesser, Spearfish, S.D.
Saddle bronc riding
1. Shorty Garrett, Eagle Butte, S.D.
2. Lane Schuelke, Newell, S.D.
3. Kash Deal, Faith, S.D.
4. Cash Wilson, Wall, S.D.
5. Taygen Schuelke, Newell, S.D.
6. Lavern Borntreger, Elsmere, Neb.
7. Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D.
8. Jake Foster, Faith, S.D.
9. Jade Blackwell, Rapid City, S.D.
10. Traylin Martin, Faith, S.D.
11. Ty Manke, Rapid City, S.D.
12. Brady Hill, Onida, S.D.
Breakaway roping
1. Tanegai Zilverberg, Holabird, S.D.
2. Brooke Howell, Belle Fourche, S.D.
3. CY Christensen, Kennebec, S.D.
4. Rickie Engesser, Spearfish, S.D.
5. Jessica Holmes, Buffalo, S.D.
6. Kayla Olson, Chadron, Neb.
7. Taylor Engesser, Spearfish, S.D.
8. Samantha Fulton, Miller, S.D.
9. Danielle Wray, Ord, Neb.
10. Sawyer Gilbert, Buffalo, S.D.
11. Hailey Kleeman, Killdeer, N.D.
12. Misti Brown, Valentine, Neb.
Tie-down roping
1. Chase Lako, Arthur, N.D.
2. Jason Schaffer, Broadus, Mont.
3. Ty Moser, Volga, S.D.
4. Grant Turek, St. Paul, Neb.
5. Trey Young, Dupree, S.D.
6. Bodie Mattson, Sturgis, S.D.
7. Austin Hurlburt, Norfolk, Neb.
8. Matt Peters, Hot Springs, S.D.
9. Brock Belkham, Flandreau, S.D.
10. Rex Treeby, Hecla, S.D.
11. Cole Robinson, Moorcroft, Wyo.
12. Thane Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D.
Barrel racing
1. Jessica Routier, Buffalo, S.D.
2. Hallie Fulton, Miller, S.D.
3. Lakken Bice, Killdeer, N.D.
4. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D.
5. Fonda Melby, Backus, Minn.
6. Nicole Bice, Killdeer, N.D.
7. Molly Otto, Grand Forks, N.D.
8. Taylor Hanson, St Onge, S.D.
9. Britany Diaz, Desdemona, Texas
10. Bobbi Olson, Sheyenne, N.D.
11. Britta Thiel, Belle Fourche, S.D.
12. Amanda Lewis, Oreana, Idaho
Bull riding
1. Mason Moody, Letcher, S.D.
2. Chance Schott, McLaughlin, S.D.
3. Jeff Bertus, Avon, S.D.
4. Riggin Shippy, Colome, S.D.
5. Jayden Hicks, Dunn Center, N.D.
6. Riley Shippy, Colome, S.D.
7. TJ Schmidt, Belle Fourche, S.D.
8. Dalton Wright, Keene, N.D.
9. Levi Schoenbaum, Burke, S.D.
10. Billy Stephenson, Jasper, Texas
11. Reid Helgoth, Burwell, Neb.
Unofficial list; subject to change.