Ride Em': Hi-Line Junior Rodeo is a hit

The Great Northern Fair offers fans a bevy of sporting events to enjoy over the course of the week but Thursday night, inside the arena at the Great Northern Fairgrounds, the participants in the Junior Rodeo took center stage.

Cowboys and cowgirls from across the Hi-Line, ranging from four to 18 years old, competed for prizes in a slew of exciting events that included sheep riding, barrel racing, steer riding, breakaway roping, goat ribbon untying, goat tying, arena boot racing, flag racing, pole bending and team roping.

There were a number of standout participants in the rodeo but nobody took home more prizes than Paige Raty, who finished in the top two in three different events in the 14-18 age group. Raty took first place in breakaway roping with a time of 2.6. Paige Swinney, who also finished in the top two in three different events, came in second with a time of 3.0.

Raty also finished first in the 14-18 pole bending with a time of 22.58, while Sable Swinny came in second with a time of 24.53. In the 14-18 barrel racing, Raty finished second to Paige Swinny, no times were reported.

Paige Swinney also took first place in the team roping competition along with her teammate Colton Bender. No other participants had qualifying scores.

In the 9-13 age group, Kristen Kittson was the top performer as she finished first in barrel racing with a time of 16.60 ahead of Keyara Bahnmiller, who finished with a time of 17.26. Kittson also placed second in the 9-13 pole bending with a time of 24.36, which was bested only by Skyleee Dirden, who edged her out for first place with a time of 24.36.

Rounding out the 9-13 age group, Lexi Swinney came away with first place in goat tying with a time of 16.8, while Rebecca Stroh finished second with a time of 21.4. Also, in steer riding Ryan Russell took first and Kolton Bishop took second, neither had qualifying scores.

In the 4-8 age group, Savanna Jones led the way with a first-place finish in goat ribbon untying with a time of 5.9. Colter Solomon finished second with a time of 8.38. Jones also won the barrel racing with a time of 14.39 just ahead of Kenzie Kallenberger, who posted a time of 16.4.

Wylee Simenson finished first in the 4-8 flag race with a time of 14.66, narrowly edging out Fletcher Anderson, who had a time of 16.90. And rounding out the 4-8 age group was Paisley Branden taking first in the boot race ahead of Tayden Colliflower as well as Teegan Solomon taking home first place in sheep riding with Ryan Bell coming in second.

The action went on for nearly four hours and gave fans in the grandstands a look at a number of cowboys and cowgirls that have a bright future in rodeo.

And for fans that simply can’t get enough rodeo action, things continue tonight and Saturday when the NRA rodeo steps into the limelight at the Great Northern Fair.

Hi-Line Junior Rodeo

Sheep Riding – Teegan Solomon, 73; Ryan Bell, 43.

4-8 Barrel Racing – Savanna Jones, 14.39; Kenzie Kallenberger, 16.4.

4-8 Flag Race – Wylee Simenson, 14.65; Fletcher Anderson, 16.90.

Arena Boot Race – Paisley Brandon, Tayden Colliflower.

Goat Ribbon Untying – Savanna Jones, 5.9; Colter Solomon, 8.38.

9-13 Goat Tying – Lexi Swinny, 16.8; Rebecca Stroh, 21.4.

9-13 Barrel Racing – Kristyn Kittson, 16.60; Keyara Bahnmiller, 17.26;

9-13 Steer Riding – Ryan Russel, 5.7; Kolton Bishop, 5.3.

9-13 Pole Bending – Skylee Dirden, 23.76; Kristen Kittson, 24.36.

14-18 Pole Bending – Paige Raty, 22.58; Sable Swinney, 24.53;

14-18 Breakaway Roping – Paige Raty, 2.6; Paige Swinney, 3.0.

14-18 Barrel Racing – Paige Swinney; Paige Raty.

Team Roping – Colton Bender and Paige Swinney.