Pro Rodeo returns to the Hi-Line

The Hi-Line summer has been anything but a normal one. In the world of sports, a lot was missing. And one big thing missing from the Hi-Line this summer has been...rodeo.

That is about to change however.

Thursday and Friday, the annual Bear Paw Roundup PRCA Rodeo will take place as part of the rescheduled Blaine County Fair in Chinook. The fair is on this week, though it's a reduced fair, but the rodeo is one of the big attractions that is still scheduled.

Of course, the Bear Paw Roundup is annually one of the biggest and best rodeos on the Montana PRCA circuit, and, despite the coronavirus pandemic, it should be no different this week.

The rodeo will be a two-night event as usual, starting with Thursday night's 7 p.m. performance in which fans are asked to wear red, white and blue. There's also slack Friday morning, followed by a final performance at 7 p.m. Friday night.

As usual, the rodeo will be big, but this week, it might even be bigger because so many of the summer rodeos on the PRCA circuit have been canceled due to the coronavrius. That also means there will be top draws on both nights, as many of the top cowboys and cowgirls in pro rodeo, especially in Montana, will be on hand to compete in saddle bronc, bareback, bull riding, team roping, calf roping, steer wrestling and more. There will also be two special performances of mutton bustin', which will be a treat since the annual Blaine County Kids' Rodeo was canceled.

The 2020 Bear Paw Roundup will also feature announcer Barney Sheridan, rodeo clown Backflip Johnny Dudley and Money on a Rope.

The Bear Paw Roundup, presented by Moxley Construction, has performances at 7 p.m. both Thursday and Friday night. The rodeo will be held at the Grand Arena at the Blaine County Fairgrounds.