World champions gather in Havre for fundraiser rodeo

The rodeo is coming back to town today and Saturday with the Extreme Bares and Broncs 2021 PRCA sanctioned rodeo taking place at the Bigger Better Barn at Great Northern Fairgrounds. The event returns after missing 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, so members of the Montana State University-Northern rodeo program are happy to have it back.

"It feels great. Just like anything, you take things for granted," MSU-N rodeo head coach Doug Kallenberger said. "In order to have this again, it means the world to us. We're all excited. Glad to get back at it and have some fun."

The rodeo will be put on by the MSU-N rodeo booster club and will serve as a fundraiser for the rodeo program. Proceeds from this event will go to scholarships for student-athletes in the rodeo program as well as travel and practice expenses. This rodeo is one of two main fundraisers for MSU-N rodeo along with the Cowboy Christmas in December so its return will be a huge boost for the program.

"It's huge," Kallenberger said. "It's one of our two main fundraisers so it's kind of our lifeline."

The event begins tonight at 7 p.m. Before the event, guests can participate in a calcutta and put money on a rider. If that rider finishes in the top four that night, the guest wins some of their money back.

The rodeo's competitors come from the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and will compete in bareback riding and saddle bronc riding at the event. The MSU-N booster club got the world's best cowboys, including 13 world champions, in this weekend's rodeo. Not only will this rodeo help raise funds for the MSU-N rodeo program, but the money the cowboys win this weekend will go to their world standings as they try to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in December.

"We get the best of the best. The who's of the who's of pro rodeo will all be in Havre so it's pretty exciting," Kallenberger said.

Five-time bareback champion and defending world champion Kaycee Feild and three-time bareback champion Tim O'Connell will both compete Saturday. 2019 world champion Clayton Bigelow will compete tonight. Several other elite bareback riders will compete this weekend including Orin Larsen, Tilden Hooper, Richie Champion, Tanner Aus and Jess Pope.

The best saddle bronc riders in the world will also compete this weekend. Wyatt Casper, who finished at the top of the world standings last year, will compete Saturday. Two-time world champion Zeke Thurston and 2018 world champion Wade Sundell will both compete tonight. 2009 world champion Jesse Kruse will compete Saturday. Other top saddle bronc riders competing this weekend include Allen Boore, Cole Elshere, Sterling Crawley and Chase Brooks.

Other entertainment at the rodeo will includes mutton busting where 5- to 7-year olds will ride sheep when the main event is on break. The main event of the Extreme Bares and Broncs 2021 PRCA rodeo starts tonight at 7 p.m. and start up again Saturday at 7 p.m. and will be held at Bigger Better Barn at the Great Northern Fairgrounds.