Little Britches rodeo comes to Havre for the first time

Hi-Line Rodeo Team is holding a fall 2018 Little Britches Rodeo mini-circuit in Havre in coordination with the Laurel-based Big Sky Little Britches Rodeo group, and entry deadline for the first event is a week away.

Little Britches Rodeo is big across the country, said co-organizer Karen Gibson, but the group in Laurel is the only franchise in Montana. Hi-Line Rodeo is co-hosting the sanctioned events in Havre with Big Sky Little Britches to get interest going in the area and give north-central Montana youth a chance to compete.

The events will feature nine rodeos over three weekends — Oct. 13-14, Oct. 27-28 and Nov. 10-11 — at the Bigger Better Barn on the Great Northern Fairgrounds. Start time is 9 a.m. each day, with two, back-to-back rodeos on Saturdays and one rodeo on Sundays. Entry deadlines are Oct. 1, Oct. 15 and Oct. 29.

Events will include:

• Senior Team, 14-18: Dally ribbon roping and team roping.

• Senior Girls, 14-18: Breakaway roping, pole bending, barrel racing, goat tying and trail.

• Senior Boys, 14-18: Saddle bronc, bareback bronc, bull riding, steer wrestling and tie-down roping.

• Junior Team, 9-13: Dally ribbon roping and team roping.

• Junior Girls, 9-13: Breakaway roping, pole bending, barrel racing, goat tying and trail.

• Junior Boys, 9-13: Saddle bronc steer, bareback steer, bull riding, goat tying and flag racing.

• Little Wrangler, 5-8: Flag racing, pole bending, barrel racing and goat tail untying.

• Trail Hand, 7-younger: Flag race, pole bending, barrel racing, goat untying and dummy roping.

Contestants can compete at three rodeos without being a Little Britches member but will need to pay a nonmember fee of $25, except competitors in the Trail Hand division.

Only Little Britches members will earn points toward qualifying for the national finals in July in Guthrie, Oklahoma. Contestants can pay the $80 annual membership fee to become a Little Britches member.

Each event in the different age groups will have a 60 percent payback to the top contenders. Admission for spectators is free.

To enter, call Michelle Burchard at 390-6570. For general information contact Karen Gibson at 945-1328 or [email protected] or go online to the Hi-Line Rodeo Team Facebook page.