The irony of Shane Gunderson and his path towards becoming a rodeo producer is quite the tale. Growing up and competing in the arena riding wild brutes, the former bull rider and Stanley, North Dakota, native had no plans on becoming one of the regions leading rodeo stock contractors.

“My brother and I produced a bull riding as a fundraising event for the college in Havre, Montana. Having practice bulls on hand, anyways, we kind of decided we were fit for that job,” noted Gunderson.

Still riding bulls and actively involved with the ‘devilish animals’ he appreciated and loved, the cowboy worked for Calvin Nelson, of Kenmare, in his formitive years and that, he explained, was kind of a big game changer.

Calvin Nelson had 35 years’ worth of breeding bucking horses. Nelson Rodeo and Calvin’s horse remuda had infamous stallions, such as Third Dancer and 17 of the horses he raised, ended up going to buck at the NFR.

Gunderson’s Remuda of Bucking Horses [Photo: Alaina Stangle Photography]

“A lot of people don’t realize the fact that his horses were there. He had raised horses and sold enough of the young ones to maintain his livestock herds, while other rodeo companies ended up with his horses and lineage and took them onto really big rodeos, including the NFR,” Gunderson explained.

After the passing of Nelson, his immediate family decided to disperse of the bucking horses. That’s when Gunderson realized he couldn’t pass up the chance to own a part of the breeding legacy that Nelson began.

Gunderson was now galloping into the rodeo business, full force with the bulls he had and now acquired broncs. After four summers providing quality stock for amateur and high school rodeos around the state, Gunderson had yet, another opportunity present itself: to purchase the Bailey Pro Rodeo Company Professional Card. Stepping into one of the forefathers of rodeo stock companies, such as Baily Pro Rodeo, hosting forty years of involvement in pro rodeo. And with that comes, history — lots of history.

Gunderson at work [Photo: Alaina Stangle Photography]

“We chose to keep the name, Bailey Pro Rodeo, because one can’t take away from the history and the legacy that name holds in rodeo. This business is a tough gig, not going to fool you. We knew it would be tough producing rodeos, but we continue it at all levels from the small rodeos to the pros,” described Gunderson. “You must keep getting young horses and bulls out there just as you need to keep helping the young riders and their evolvement. We can’t do enough for the youth across the region. Everyone involved in rodeo needs to keep giving our up-and-coming riders chances at riding good quality stock in a safe atmosphere.’

And so, the evolution began from humble beginnings to eventually obtaining the reins of a rodeo dynasty contracting company, Bailey Pro Rodeo.  Shane Gunderson and his crew produce a lot of staple amateur and pro rodeos across the Badlands Circuit, as well as keeping a strong foundation tied to North Dakota roots by hauling stock to the high school andthriving amateur associations across the state.

“Every local community that hosts a rodeo, big or small, takes pride in that event. So, we have to look at every rodeo as if it is the NFR, just a smaller scale,” confirmed Gunderson.

Present day in Karlsruhe, Gunderson explained that Bailey Pro Rodeo wouldn’t exist without a small army of people that help make these events happen. Brande Moore, Cauy Gunderson, and Gunderson himself ‘rodeo’ every day — it’s just not always in the arena, it’s a seven days a week business.

The Bailey Pro Rodeo Family [Photo: submitted]

With bucking horses like James Bond and Rip Cord engaging crowds across the country at rodeos and their bucking bulls, such as Supertramp and Trinity, out there performing well at rodeos, the future is looking bright.

The support in North Dakota is here for rodeo and the opportunities are endless. “It is mind-blowing as to how many rodeos there are in our state per capita to contestants. The Badlands Circuit Finals really is a small of group of people making it happen, and that’s what rodeo is all about. Cowboy and cowgirl mentality is simple, they make it happen,” assured Gunderson.

Bailey Pro Rodeo, crew, stock, and pride are sure to put on a spectacular show for the crowds of Minot and beyond.

For tickets and information, visit www.rodeominot.com.