Hot times at the Great Northern RAM Rodeo

The Great Northern RAM Rodeo finally came back to the Hi-Line this past weekend as some of the best riders from the Northern Rodeo Association competed at the Great Northern Fairgrounds. Over the course of Thursday and Friday, many cowboys and cowgirls finished at the top of their events to take home the cash prizes that went toward their standing in the NRA.

The Montana State University-Northern rodeo team was represented by Garrett Cunningham from Broadus, who earned $345.92 as he took first in saddle bronc riding with a score of 68. Judd Applegate of Deer Lodge was not far behind in second with a score of 67. In third with a score of 66 was Jason Colclough from Libby.

In the prime event, bull riding, Kobe Whitford of Cut Bank took first with a score of 80 to earn the cash prize of $374.12. In second was fellow Cut Bank native Cameron Falcon who had a score of 70.

Dalton May from Kalispell took first in bareback riding with a score of 70, which earned him $233.12. Bucky McAlpine of Anaconda came in second behind him with a score of 66. Garrett Yeager of Choteau took first in steer wrestling with a time of 13.6 seconds to earn $413.60. Ryder Gaasch of Dillon came in second with a time of 18.7 seconds.

In tie down roping, Ben Ayre of Glendive recorded a time of 9.8 seconds to finish first and to earn the cash prize of $526.40. Carson Stevenson of Hobson came in second with a time of 12.5 seconds while Jay Billingsley of Glasgow took third with a time of 14.7 seconds.

Many riders worked together to compete in the team roping event. Dustin Bird and Ike Folsom of Jackson took first in the event with a time of 5.7 seconds to earn $854.93 each in cash prizes. Ian Austiguy and Sam Levine of Wolf Creek took second with a time of 6.4 seconds and the duo of Matt Goings and Jake Cerini of Dillon finished third with a time of 7.2 seconds.

In ladies barrel racing, Alicia Bird of Cut Bank recorded a time of 14.96 seconds to finish first and to win the cash prize of $626.98. Brittney Cox of Chinook finished second with a time of 15.05 seconds and Rene Cloninger of Helena took third with a time of 15.16 seconds.

Ellie Meeks of Geraldine took first in the ladies breakaway with a time of 2.3 seconds, which earned her $725.12 in cash. Tied for second, both Sammy Jo Bird of Cut Bank and Brittany Schweigart of Livingston record a time of 2.6 seconds. Behind them were Katelin Conway of Cut Bank and Molly Salmond of Choteau, who tied for fourth with times of 2.7 seconds.

Some junior events also took place in the professional rodeo.

In junior barrel racing, Tye Brown of Helena finished first with a time of 15.57 seconds to earn the cash prize of $153,60. Havre's own Kenzie Kallenberger came in second with a time of 15.64 seconds while Addison Conway of Cut Bank finished third with a time of 16.70 seconds.

In the junior breakaway roping, Havre local Cooper Fisher won the cash prize of $172.80 as he took first with a time of 3.4 seconds. Just behind him in second was Bailey Billingsley with a time of 3.9 seconds. J.P. Cornwell recorded a time of 4.1 seconds to finish third in the event.

These professional riders still have a while until the NRA finals in October in Kalispell. With many more rodeos between now and then, hopefully these riders used their time at the Great Northern RAM Rodeo to prepare themselves for their ultimate goals at the end of the season.

Great Northern RAM Rodeo

Bareback Riding: 1. Dalton May, 70; 2. Bucky McAlpine, 66.

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1. Garrett Cunningham, 68; 2. Judd Applegate, 67; 3. Jason Colclough, 66.

Bull Riding: 1. Kobe Whitford, 80, 2. Cameron Falcon, 70.

Steer Wrestling: 1. Garret Yeagerm, 13.6; 2. Ryder Gaasch, 18.7.

Tie Down Roping: 1. Ben Ayre, 9.8; 2. Carson Stevenson, 12.5; 3. J. Billingsley, 14.7; 4. Robert Kittson, 16.0.

Team Roping: 1. Dustin Bird and Ike Folsom, 5.7; 2. Ian Austiguy and Sam Levine, 6.4; 3. Matt Goings and Jake Cerini, 7.2; 4. Bronc Speak Thunder and Justin Four Colors, 9.9; 5. Shawn Bird and Zachary Schweigert, 11.4.

Ladies Barrel Racing: 1. Alicia Bird, 14.96; 2. Brittney Cox, 15.05; 3. Rene Cloninger, 15.16; 4. Lindsay Kruse, 15.19; 5. Julie Brown, 15.25; 6. Brynna Wolfe, 15.32.

Ladies Breakaway: 1. Ellie Meeks, 2.3; 2. Sammy Jo Bird, 2.6; 2. Brittany Schweigert, 2.6; 4. Katelin Conway, 2.7; 4. Molly Salmond, 2.7; 6. Celie Salmond, 2.8; 6. Kelsey Ferguson, 2.8.

Junior Barrel Racing: 1. Tye Brown, 15.57; 2. Kenzie Kallenberger, 15.64; 3. Addison Conway, 16.70; 4. Brooke Billingsley, 17.01.

Junior Breakaway Roping: 1. Cooper Fisher, 3.4; 2. Bailey Billingsley, 3.9; 3. JP Cornwell, 4.1; 4. Addison Conway, 4.6.