Thunder and lightning weren’t the only effects coming out of the North Dakota Winter Show arenas in Valley City this past weekend, September 16-18 as the North Dakota High School Fall rodeo season ended.

Adversity is the word that sums up the last weekend of their fall season. Facing difficulties and misfortune with weather, challenging arena conditions, and the dynamic of various stock draws, contestants used the challenges as stepping stones to face triumph.

Cowgirls soared to the occasion in fall rainstorm conditions and rode their horses in true Dakota fashion to conquer the cloverleaf pattern and leave the raindrops as glimpses of character-building blocks for their rodeo careers and their futures, in general.

When the tough get going, cowgirls just go faster, exclaimed one spectator viewing the barrel racing in the mud.

CeeJay Bohmbach, 14, and her horse, Matlock, shined through the mud with a third-place finish on Saturday and turned around to win 2nd place in the opposite-sized pattern and atmosphere in the indoor arena on Sunday.
The bond between the 13-year-old grey gelding and Stanley Blue Jay freshman has been in the making for three years.

CeeJay has been riding and roping through the ranks of North Dakota youth rodeos, junior high, Roughrider Rodeos, jackpots, and now high school rodeo and NDRAs. The duo sealed up the fall season sitting first in the barrel racing standings.

CeeJay Bohmbach [Photo: Craig Maley]

CeeJay’s brother, Trey, a sophomore, also had a stellar weekend competing in the team roping, steer wrestling, and tie-down events. Both their parents, Jed and Jodi, were standout rodeo athletes throughout North Dakota and the legacy continues.

Will Demontigny, a Bottineau Braves linebacker and all-around North Dakota high school rodeo cowboy, placed in the top four of the bareback riding on Saturday. “I kind of came out of the chute a little weak on #151X yesterday. I kept on fighting for my feet and was looking for the buzzer. It all ended well,” explained Will, “I enjoy high school rodeo because we get two shots in a weekend to compete in all our events from the rough stock to the roping. I have a lot of friends here too.”

Future short-term goals for the Bottineau Brave sophomore include to maintain a 3.5 or above GPA, make it to nationals in high school rodeo this spring and make it to the Fargo Dome with the Braves football team. Playing Saturday evening, the team and Demontigny came out with the win.

Stran Sorenson, a sophomore from Watford City, and his partner, Kash Berdahl, also a sophmore at Watford City, took home Saturday’s team roping win. “It was great. Honestly, I just tracked up and made sure to catch. We are good friends and have been roping together awhile, this win meant a lot,” explained Berdahl.

Stan Sorenson and Kash Berdahl Team Roping Champs [Photo: submitted]

“It was awesome. I just went to make a clean run. Kash and I have been roping together for almost six years. My header is my friend,” laughed Stran as he rode off to compete in the tie-down roping.

Maklain Kleemann, a 15-year-old freshman from Killdeer, had a smoking seven second goat-tying run for a first-place finish. “This is the first goat tying buckle I’ve won between junior high and high school, even qualifying for nationals. I never won a go-round buckle for goats,” added the smiling freshman.

Maklain Kleemann [Photo: submitted]

The Killdeer cowgirl added that she just went out to be smooth on her run. “I really over flanked my goat and got kicked in the head but finished strong.” Maklain homeschools and rodeos, saying those are pretty much her full-time gigs. She has four goats at home and her horse, Lanai, a fourteen-year-old gelding that keep her company along with her siblings and the Killdeer mountains as her backdrop.

Alexander all-around cowgirl Paige Delaney, 15, was excited while discussing the fall North Dakota high school rodeo season. “I was very happy with our home-raised and home-made barrel racing and pole bending mare, Frenchie. She is getting consistent.”

“If my horse a was person, she would be the friend that is there for you no matter the day you’re having. She is going to give you everything she has, every run,” explained Paige about her Palomino mare.

Paige is the fifth generation of her ranching family and is a cowgirl through and through in the heart of western North Dakota.

The Adolf Ruud family homesteaded south of Alexander on the family ranch that Paige spends most her time acquiring her horsemanship, roping, and caring for livestock skill set. Unlike most traditional ranches that are passed down to men, this one has been passed down to each daughter in the next generation. Paige works closely with her grandmother, Claris Madison, and her mother, Darcy Delaney, keeping the ranch alive and flourishing.

Paige Delaney and Frenchie [Photo: Submitted]

“At the end of the day, I like basketball, but ranching and training horses is where I really like to be,” added the cowgirl with a smile.

General Manger of the Valley City Winter Show Brandee Moore stated, “This is a big weekend for the community of Valley City. Between the restaurants, hotels, and fuel stations — it is a huge economic impact. We make sure the businesses have a heads up when the high school rodeo contestants and their families are coming to town.”

Sunday’s champion tie-down roper Weston Lapierre,17, Killdeer tied his calf in 9.67 seconds hunting for his spot at a state title. The young cowboy always gives a smile and ‘thanks’ to his horse, Wild Mike. Weston is a role model to his four siblings.

Weston Lapierre [Photo: Craig Maley]

He competes in the tie-down, team roping, and steer wrestling and was recently on the homecoming court for the Killdeer Cowboys.

Weston also just competed at the South Dakota timed event championships and came home with the title: South Dakota All-Around Timed Event Champion.

As for now, horses and stock are being fed, hay is being put up and ready for the North Dakota winter, and rodeo athletes across the state are going to prepare all winter for their goals and dreams of getting to compete in the spring.