Locals win big at Great Northern Ram Rodeo

Every year, fans pack the rodeo arena at the Great Northern Fairgrounds for the Great Northern Ram Rodeo and this year was no different, as a number of local contestants and rodeo professionals put on a show for fans.

While those in attendance got to see plenty of excitement over the two-day event, which took place last Thursday and Friday and included a huge contingent of slack competitors Friday morning, the best show probably came Friday night, when local cowgirl Emily Kallenberger took home the first-place prize in ladies barrel racing.

Knowing that she needed to beat the 15.10 time that Heather Knerr had posted, Kallengerger took to her long-time racing partner, Eagle, and put together an electrifying ride of 15.09 seconds, which was good enough to give her first place.

“It was very fun to hear everyone cheering,” Kallenberger said. “I think that it actually made my horse ride a little harder because he could hear everyone cheering us on, so it was very fun. It means (a lot) to do it here in front of family, who don’t always get to see you rodeo.”

Kallenberger, who took home a prize of $870 dollars, has now earned close to $3,000 on 2016 Montana WPRA circuit. Coming into the Great Northern Ram Rodeo, Kallenberger, who is also an assistant rodeo coach for Montana State University-Northern rodeo team, ranked seventh in the official standings, something she credits largely to her horse, Eagle, which was recently named the barrel racing horse of the year for the Montana PRCA.

“The biggest is taking care of Eagle,” Kallenbeger said. “Making sure he is fed and rested and taken care of. As long as we take good care of him, he takes good care of us, so it’s been a good match.”

In addition to Kallenberger, there were plenty of other participants who took home big checks Friday night and the one who took home the most was A.J. Crasco, who won the bull riding competition with 78 points, thanks to a spectacular showing in the final ride of the competition. Crasco walked away with $1,410 in prize money.

John Salois also had a pretty good weekend, taking home $1,200 for winning the bareback riding with 71 points, while Chase Brooks also cleared $1,100 with a first-place showing in saddle bronc riding.

Other first-place finishers were J.C. Crowley, who won calf roping with a time of 11.54, Havre’s Josh Granell, who won steer wrestling with a time of 4.4 and Neil Tatsey and Alex Watson, who won the team-roping competition, earning $1,131 each.

Tracy Bolich also finished first in the ladies breakaway with a time of 3.19, while Nyis Colliflower of Box Elder won the junior barrel racing with a time of 15.88. In the junior steer riding it was Brad Cichosz, who emerged as the winner, while Spur White Clay won the junior breakaway with a time of 12.62.

Great Northern Ram Rodeo

Great Northern Fairgrounds

Bareback riding - 1. John Salois, 71, $1,200; 2. Dustin Monigeau, 44, $800.

Saddle bronc - 1 Chase Brook, 81, $1,100; 2. Andrew Evjene, 77, $825; 3. Seth Fenner, 75, $550; 4. Cody Miller, 66, $275.

Bull riding - 1. A.J. Crasco, 78, $1,410; 2. Michael Butterfly, 71, $940.

Calf Roping - 1. J.C. Crowley, 11.54, $820; 2. Marty Watson, 13, $615; 3. Sam Levine, 15.23, $410; 4. Weston Brown, 18.18, $205;

Steer wrestling - 1. Josh Granell, 4.42, $780; 2. Kolby Bignell, 5.51, $390; 3. Parker Bignell, 14.49, $195.

Team Roping - 1. Neil Tatsey and Alex Watson, 6.4, $1, 131; 2. Delon Parker and Ryan Zurcher, 6.48, $936; 3. Austin Christ and Shawn Little, 6.97, $741; 4. Casey Cummins and Shawn Bird, 7.07, $546. 5. Delon Parker and Justin Viles, 7.25, $351; 6. Terry Wellman and Mike Loring, 9.09, $195.

Ladies barrel racing - 1. Emily Kallenberger, 15.09, $870; 2. Heather Knerr, 15.10, $720; 3. Teri Jo Kirkland, 15.11, $570; 4. Debbie Hertz, 15.17, $420; 5. Rylie Strauser, 15.39, $270; 6. Reagan Tracy, 15.42, $150.

Ladies breakaway - 1. Tracy Bolich, 3,19, $899; 2. Sierra Kunish, 3.54, $744; 3. Taylor Kramer, 4.34, $589; 4. Casey Solomon, 4.60, $434; 5. Jade Benson, 4.86, $279; 6. Megan Raty, 13.02, $155;

Junior barrel racing - 1. Nyis Colliflower, 15.88, $172; 2. Talyassa Horn, 16.13, $129; 3. Mary Gibson, 16.28; $43; 4. Tory Yeager, 16.31, $43.

Junior steer riding - 1. Brad Cichosz, 60, $255; 2. Cole Hould, 55, $153; 3. Tucker Johnson, 42, $102.

Junior breakaway - 1. Spur White Clay, 12.62, $246; 2. Tobin Cummins, 13.62, $164.