MSU-Northern hosts annual fall rodeo

The college rodeo season comes and goes with the blink of an eye this time of year, so local fans aren’t going to want to miss a chance to see the Montana State University-Northern rodeo teams compete at home.

Friday through Sunday, the MSU-N Lights and Skylights will host their annual MSU-N Rodeo at the Great Northern Fairgrounds in Havre.

Friday, the rodeo will begin at 7 p.m., while Saturday’s slack will begin at 9 a.m. Rodeo action will resume at 7 p.m. Saturday, and will continue Sunday at 9 a.m. with the short round. The stock contractor this year is Big Circle Rodeo, and the announcer will be Ray Champ. Also new to the rodeo this year will be a stick horse rodeo and the wild bronc ride Saturday. During the wild bronc ride, contestents will be judged on their ride, as well as their costume, adding an extra fun visual for local fans.

Joining MSU-N this weekend will be the rest of the Big Sky Region. Teams competing will be Montana State University Bozeman, University of Montana, Northwest College-Powell (Wyoming), University of Montana-Western, University of Great Falls, Miles Community College, Dawson Community College and Little Big Horn College.

"Our team has our first weekend of college rodeo under their belt,” MSU-N rodeo coach Doug Kallenberger said. “So the first run jitters are out of the way. MSU-N had four team members with top placings, and earned event points, as well as team standing points. We are competing against some of the best teams in the nation.” 

And both the men’s and women’s teams have plenty of talent to excel at home this weekend.

Charlie Mack will help lead the way for the men, competing in bareback and bull riding. But he is also getting help from Brandon Toren (saddle bronc), Nick Owens (bareback and team roping), Merle Young (saddle bronc and team roping), Adam Mummau (saddle bronc), Austin Wagner (bull riding), Andrew Leo (team roping), Cody Ulsh (saddle bronc), Canyon Rieben (bull riding), Cooper Jenkins (team roping), Jordan Lewis (team roping) and Gus Anderson (team roping).

And the women also have a strong team, including Kassy Brough, Malia VandenBos and Katie Bell in barrel racing. But with a deep roster, the Skylights are also looking to get points from Hanna Heckman (barrel racing, breakaway roping, goat tying and team roping), Kana Wuttunee (breakaway roping), Lexi Eirdam (barrel racing), Amy Nordahl (breakaway roping, goat tying and team roping), Sierra Collins (barrel racing, breakaway roping and goat tying) and Laramie Pursley (barrel racing).

A top team finish won’t be easy with all of the talent in attendance, but MSU-N and coach Kallenberger know they too have plenty of talent to spread around. With two deep rosters, Northern isn’t setting its sights low in its home rodeo.

“We have our team in full force this weekend, and I look for at least a top-five placing from both our men's and women's teams,” Kallenberger said. “It's our home rodeo and we have the advantage, as well as a lot of talent."

Friday the rodeo will begin at 7 p.m., and Saturday’s slack will begin at 9 a.m. Action will resume at 7 p.m. Saturday, and will continue Sunday at 9 a.m. All the action takes place at the Great Northern Fairgrounds Arena.