NWMT Fair PRCA Rodeo kicks off today
The Northwest Montana Fair PRCA Rodeo looks to kick off in style this weekend with a roll call of world-class cowboys rolling through the Flathead County Fairgrounds today through Saturday.
The rodeo begins at 7:30 p.m. each night, and will start with quite the lineup in the first go tonight.
Jacobs Crawley, the 2015 world saddle bronc champion and current world leader, highlights the first day of action.
Crawley, and his brother, Sterling, are scheduled along with Utah’s Wright brothers — Jake, Ryder and Jesse — in a family affair that will feature a third of the top 15 riders in the world in one event.
Top 10 barrel racer Taci Bettis is also on the program for an opening night that features a deep roster of Montana cowboys.
All of the bareback riders and steer wrestlers entered in the first round are from Montana.
Leading the local contingent, Fortine’s LeRoy Eash is scheduled to ride saddle bronc and Trego’s Gerald Eash to compete in bull riding today.
Billings’ Justin Miller, ranked 14th in bareback, is scheduled for Friday night as are top-20 steer wrestlers Nick Guy (10th), Jacob Talley (14th) and Jason Thomas (16th).
Cody DeMoss, ranked third in the world saddle bronc standings, is on the schedule for the second round as is 13th-ranked tie-down roper Bryson Sechrist and 13th-ranked bull rider Guthrie Murray.
West Glacier bull rider Beau Hill is scheduled to cap off the star-studded final night of action on Saturday, with what could be his final ride at his hometown rodeo. Hill has hinted at retiring after this season.
Helena’s Ty Erickson, the current world leader in steer wrestling, is also scheduled for the final night. World No. 4 Olin Hannum and No. 8 Dakota Eldridge are also on the program in the event.
World bareback leader Tim O’Connell is also on the schedule with No. 7 J.R. Vezain.
Clay Elliott, the world No. 8 in saddle bronc, tie-down world No. 14 Matt Shiozawa and bull riding No. 14 Jordan Hansen add to the final night set.
The last round of barrel racing features a handful of local riders from the Flathead Valley. Kalispell’s Tammy Carpenter and Whitefish’s Ashley Sudan round out a group that includes nationally-ranked pair of riders in Sydni Blanchard (16th) and Roy, Montana’s Carmel Wright (32nd).