National Finals Send-Off Party Honoring Jesse Kruse
- Courtesy of the PRCA

An official National Finals Rodeo “send-off” party to honor local cowboy Jesse Kruse, along with Miss Rodeo Montana 2009 Lesli Furniss, will be held on Friday, November 20th, at 7pm at the Paddock Club at Montana ExpoPark. The event is free and open to the public.

Jesse Kruse, who was the 2007 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Saddle Bronc Riding Rookie of the Year, is going into the National Finals Rodeo with a commanding $30,000 lead in the World Saddle Bronc Riding Standings.

Lesli Furniss, the 2009 Miss Rodeo Montana, will also be traveling to Las Vegas to compete for the title of Miss Rodeo America 2010. In the more than fifty years of Miss Rodeo Montana, none have earned the title of Miss Rodeo America, and Lesli hopes to be the first to bring the title home to Montana.

The FREE event will feature an NFR preview with rodeo announcer Will Rasmussen, and folks will have the opportunity to visit with and wish both Jesse and Lesli good luck. There will be a silent auction with proceeds to benefit the charities of Jesse and Lesli’s choice; hors d’oeuvres and a no-host bar.

Montana PRCA Cowboys participate in the first ever American/PRCA endorsed rodeo in Spain
- Courtesy Brent Jordan, PRCA Rodeo Announcer

Brent Jordan, PRCA Rodeo announcer and Paradise Valley, MT resident was a member of the history making rodeo tour that produced and put on the 1st ever American Rodeo in Spain. The tour produced 8 PRCA endorsed performances, spanning a five week touring schedule that took 55 cowboys and cowgirls throughout the country, starting in the capitol city of Madrid with the rodeo being held in the famous bullfighting arena, Plaza De Toro's in Las Ventas.

The initial performances were broadcast live on national television and simulcast. Over 24,000 rodeo fans witnessed the first two performances over two days in Madrid, with continuing strong crowds throughout the remainder of the tour.

Promoted by ESFM Entertainment and GP Spain, the tour was designed to introduce American rodeo to the people of Spain who provided tremendous positive response from not only the live audience, but the print and television media as well. The stock contractor for the tour was Rumford Rodeo of Abbeville Kansas, with well known rodeo producer Bronc Rumford leading the way. The livestock was flown over on a specially configured Boeing 747 from Kansas City to Madrid.

Four time WNFR saddle bronc qualifier Jess Martin of Dillon, PRCA Steer Wrestlers Jabe Anderson of Dillon and Jordan Holland of Belgrade were also members of the tour, playing very prominent roles in the their respective events and bringing home multiple championship plaques from the European tour. Brent commented "It was a great opportunity to be part of this history making event and I feel it was well received by the people of Spain. The crowds were great and very enthusiastic. We spent a lot of time signing autographs and taking pictures with the fans. I think a great foundation has been laid for the future of pro rodeo in Spain"

- Photographs courtesy of Brent Jordan

Ticket Sales - 31st Annual Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals

Turn up the heat with Montana PRCA Pro Rodeo action this January, as the hottest show in Montana comes back to the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls - Tickets for the 31st Annual Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals go on sale Saturday, December 12, at twelve - noon. The rodeo fans spoke, and we listened: this past year, the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit has worked extensively to create a more consumer-friendly ticket purchasing process. There will no longer be extra Ticket Master or the added fees, and when you call (toll free) 877-727-1481 to purchase tickets, you will be speaking with a local State Fair ticket representative that can facilitate your purchase and help you with any questions you may have.

The Montana Circuit Finals, which gathers friends and families alike with the best pro rodeo cowboys, cowgirls and rough stock the State of Montana has to offer will be held January 15, 16 and 17, 2010. Tickets will go on sale December 12, 2009 with the box office being open Monday through Saturday from Noon – 6:00 p.m. You can also stop by the box office at the Four Seasons Arena on the State Fairgrounds in Great Falls to purchase your reserved rodeo tickets during these times, or visit the website at www.montanaprorodeo.com to purchase tickets online. The price of tickets are $27; $22; $17. All seats are reserved. Purchase your tickets early to get great seating for the best PRCA Pro Rodeo event Montana has to offer!

Montana PRCA Pro Rodeo Circuit Board

Team ropers Shane Schwenke, Mike Beers post 3.4-second run in Canadian Tour Finals - Courtesy of the PRCA/ Dwayne Erickson

CALGARY, ALBERTA – Americans fared well in the Canadian Tour Championships, Oct. 2-4 at the Calgary Corral. However, Shane Schwenke and Mike Beers did a little something extra. The duo roped their steer in 3.4 seconds – believed to be the fastest recorded time in competition.

“Before they announced our time, I yelled at Mike, ‘How fast were we?’ said Schwenke, a header from Montana. “Mike laughed and said, ‘That was fast." The two tied the Canadian record of 3.7 seconds in the semifinal round, but never dreamed they could be 3.4 in the same arena 45 minutes later.

“That 3.7 was the fastest I’d ever been in my life,” said Schwenke, 42, who was riding Canadian champion Murray Linthicum’s gray horse, Roller. The PRCA-sanctioned world record of 3.5 seconds is shared by five teams and was most recently tied by JoJo LeMond and Randon Adams at the Buc Days Pro Rodeo, April 22, in Corpus Christi, Texas.

“I had an idea how fast it was, and it was the fastest I’d ever been,” said Beers, 51, from Oregon. “I mean, things happened so fast. We had a great steer. Shane did a great job, and I just kind of cleaned it up. It was awesome; we had a good time.” Schwenke and Beers earned $5,000 apiece and are scheduled to compete in the Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton next month.

In other events, Oregon’s Bobby Mote (bareback riding), Idaho’s Nate Baldwin (tie-down roping) and Texan Brittany Pozzi (barrel racing) also won Canadian tour titles. Canadians Cody Cassidy (steer wrestling), Justin Berg (saddle bronc riding) and Ty Elliott (bull riding) were the other Tour winners.

Jesse Kruse scores 91 points and sets an arena record at final tour stop - Courtesy of the PRCA

ELENSBURG, Wash. – It is not too difficult to image the possible newspaper headlines, such as “Kruse Control” or maybe “Krusin.’” Jesse Kruse was the cowboy to make the news at the Ellensburg (Wash.) Rodeo Sept. 7. The Great Falls, Mont., cowboy continued his dominance in the saddle bronc riding with an arena record 91-point ride on Flying Five Rodeo’s Kool Toddy. Kruse’s effort produced the top score of the finals and lifted him to the average title.

“It feels great,” Kruse said. “I can’t ask for much more. I got on a great horse and I was able to get a little revenge on her. I had her at the Dodge (National Circuit) Finals (Rodeo in April in Pocatello, Idaho) and got bucked off.”

Kruse was ready this time, as he broke the previous record of 89 points set by South Dakota’s Jesse Bail in 2007. Kruse finished with a total of 176 points on two head in the final regular-season stop of the Wrangler Million Dollar Tour presented by Justin Boots. Next up is the Justin Boots Playoffs in Puyallup, Wash., Sept. 11-13, and heading into the postseason, few cowboys have been as hot as Kruse. The 23-year-old holds the No. 1 spot in the PRCA World Standings and is third in the Tour standings. He has finished first at more than 15 rodeos and has won more than $120,000 this year. He is poised to win more cash en route to his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in December.
           
Kruse demonstrated his athletic form and quick feet spurring on Kool Toddy and was doubly rewarded. Along with prize money, Kruse and Flying Five Rodeo Company each were awarded a $3,000 bonus from the rodeo committee for the arena record.
           
“I have just gotten more consistent this year,” Kruse said. “(Saddle bronc rider and travel partner) Jake Hayworth is doing my entries for me this year, and he is getting me to where I need to be.”
Along with paychecks, Kruse leaves central Washington with an Ellensburg trophy buckle and other goodies from the organizers. The annual Labor Day rodeo began on Sept. 4 and proudly states it’s been around since 1923.

Other top talents, along with Kruse, demonstrated that they are at the top of their game during crunch time of the ProRodeo season. Reigning All-Around World Champion Trevor Brazile, who knows a thing or two about roping, won the Ellensburg all-around saddle. The nine-time world champion tied for first place in the tie-down roping finals with Ryan Jarrett and also competed in the team roping and steer roping.

The steer wrestling was loaded with clutch cowboys. Canadian titlist and 2005 World Champion Lee Graves sizzled as the lone steer wrestler to post a sub four-second time in the finals with a 3.8-second mark. The Calgary, Alberta, cowboy won the average with a time 12.7 seconds on three head. He prevented an Ellensburg repeat for Luke Branquinho, the reigning and two-time world champion, who finished second.  

“Luke and I were tied going in there (to the finals),” Graves said. “When you’re with company like that, you know you’re doing pretty well.”
While Graves is safely among the leaders in the standings, bareback rider Matt Bright was among the cowboys who really needed a lift with the regular season winding down. Bright, from Azle, Texas, is outside the top 20 in both standings. He shined with an 87-point ride in the finals to win the average with a score of 173 points on two head. Steven Dent, back to competition after a knee injury, had the high-scoring ride in the finals. The Mullen, Neb., cowboy scored 88 points on five-time and reigning U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Bareback Riding Horse of the Year Grated Coconut of the Calgary Stampede string.
All-around hand Clint Robinson clinched the tie-down roping title with a 9.0-second run in the finals. The Spanish Fork, Utah cowboy finished with a time of 27.3 second on three head, and the prize money won should help him narrow the gap on world-standings leader Brazile. Robinson is currently third behind Brazile and Ryan Watkins. 
In other events, Texas cowgirl Jordon Peterson locked up the Ellensburg barrel racing title with a 17.42-second run in the finals. The duo of Garrett Tonozzi, of Fruita, Colo., and Ryan Motes, of Weatherford, Texas, were the team roping champions with a 6.3-second run in the finals and an average time of 17.2 seconds on three head. Tonozzi and Motes should make a considerable rise in both standings. The cowboys were both outside the top 20 in both standings coming into the weekend. Meanwhile, bull rider Corey Navarre further solidified his top-5 spot in the standings with a win in Ellensburg. The Weatherford, Okla., cowboy scored 90 points on Corey & Horst’s Due North in the finals and finished with 176 points on two head.

Unofficial Ellensburg Rodeo results

All-around cowboy: Trevor Brazile, $5,413, tie-down roping, team roping and steer roping.

Bareback riding: 1. Steven Dent, 88 points on Calgary Stampede’s Grated Coconut, $1,650; 2. Matt Bright, 87, $1,250; 3. Will Lowe, 84, $900; 4. (tie) Zac Compton and Ryan Gray, 83, $475 each; 6. (tie) Justin McDaniel, Bobby Mote and Josi Young, 81, $83 each.

Bareback riding average winner: Matt Bright, 173 points on two head, $3,668.

Steer wrestling: 1. Lee Graves, 3.8 seconds, $1,059; 2. Luke Branquinho, 4.1, $876; 3. Kyle Hughes, 4.3, $794; 4. Ronnie Fields, 4.6, $511; 5. Joey Bell Jr., 5.1, $329; 6. Cody Cassidy, 5.2, $183.

Steer wrestling average winner: Lee Graves, 12.7 seconds on three head, $3,735.

Team roping: 1. Kelsey Parchman/J.W. Borrego, 6.0 seconds, $1,100 each; 2. Garrett Tonozzi/Ryan Motes, 6.3, $825; 3. Jake Stanley/Justin Davis, 6.5, $550; 4. (tie) Joel Bach/Allen Bach and Steve Purcella/Jhett Johnson, 6.6, $138 each.

Team roping average winner: Garrett Tonozzi/Ryan Motes, 17.2 seconds on three head, $3,791 each.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Jesse Kruse, 91 points on Flying Five Rodeo’s Kool Toddy (new arena record), $1,200; 2. Rod Hay, 89, $900; 3. Dustin Flundra, 87, $600; 4. Sam Spreadborough, 86, $300.

Saddle bronc riding average winner: Jesse Kruse, 176 points on two head, $3,127.

Tie-down roping: 1. (tie) Trevor Brazile and Ryan Jarrett, 8.6 seconds, $1,047 each; 3. (tie) Cimarron Boardman, Kody Curry and Clint Robinson, 9.0, $553 each; 6. Hunter Herrin, 9.6, $198.

Tie-down roping average winner: Clint Robinson, 27.3 seconds on three head, $3,888.

Barrel racing:  1. Jordon Peterson, 17.42 seconds, $1,533; 2. Kelli Tolbert, 17.72, $1,150; 3. Sue Smith, 17.79, $767; 4. Rachael Myllymaki, 17.86, $383.

Barrel racing average winner: Jordon Peterson, 53.00 seconds on three head, $3,105.

Bull riding: 1. Corey Navarre, 90 points on Corey & Horst Rodeo’s Due North, $1,650; 2. Steve Woolsey, 87, $1,250; 3. Chad Denton, 86, $900; 4. (tie) Zack Elliott and J.W. Harris, 85, $475 each.

Bull riding average winner: Corey Navarre, 176 points on two head, $2,770.

Steer roping average winner: Shandon Stalls, 21.0 seconds on two head, $1,630. (No steer roping finals)

Visit ProRodeo.com for complete Ellensburg Rodeo results. In-depth coverage of the Ellensburg Rodeo and the Xtreme Bulls finale will be in the Sept. 18 ProRodeo Sports News, THE Voice of ProRodeo.

Bullfighter recovering from back injury
- Courtesy of the PRCA

Montana bullfighter Loyd Ketchum sustained a mid-back injury on Sept. 5 at the Ellensburg (Wash.) Rodeo and had surgery on Sept. 6 at the Seattle Hospital. Ketchum was thrown into the air by a bull and then landed on his back. He fractured his T12 vertebra and sustained a spinal cord contusion. He was expected to be in the hospital through Sept. 12, according to Ketchum’s wife, Ashlee.

Justin Sportsmedicine staff on site stabilized Ketchum, 47, who was airlifted by helicopter to the hospital. Announcers Hadley Barrett and Randy Corley updated rodeo fans on his condition throughout the rodeo. Barrelman Keith Isley called Ketchum’s cell phone from the arena on Sept. 7, so Ketchum could hear Ellensburg Rodeo fans cheer for him.

“I’m here with a couple thousand of your friends,” said Isley. The crowd then yelled “Get well.”

“Doctors expect a full recovery, but it is going to take a while,” Ashlee Ketchum said.

Ketchum is expected to wear a back brace for about three months.
Visit ProRodeo.com for updates on Ketchum’s recovery.

More than $100,000 raised for son of Montana PRCA steer wrestler, Jesse Peterson
- Courtesy of the PRCA

What had originally been planned as a “small spaghetti dinner” turned into a big fundraiser for 3-year-old Jace Peterson, the son of PRCA steer wrestler Jesse Peterson of Dillon, Montana.

Jace has had seizures since he was 3 months old and is believed to have severe myoclonic epilepsy. Repeated visits to the hospital left Peterson and wife Jenny with high medical costs, so Dillon-area residents and members of the rodeo family stepped in to help.

About 800 people, according to the Dillon Tribune, attended a benefit July 31 at Keltz Arena, on the campus of the University of Montana-Western, where about $80,000 was raised through live and silent auctions. Additional donations came to the family directly, and the Jace Peterson fund exceeded $100,000.

"Tons of cowboys are helping with Jace’s needs,” Jenny said. “They donated stuff. They bought things. It was just unreal.

"I called the hospital and made an appointment with them to go and pay my bill. That is going to be a great feeling.”

Many in the rodeo community have been making phone calls and e-mailing friends to help raise funds. PRCA contestants donated items for the auction and sent money. Among the supporters were reigning World Champion All-Around Cowboy Trevor Brazile, two-time and reigning World Champion Steer Wrestler Luke Branquinho, saddle bronc riders Jake Hayworth and Jake Costello, along with award-winning barrelman and entertainer Flint Rasmussen.

A benefit account has been opened on the Petersons’ behalf at:

State Bank and Trust Company
110 S. Idaho
P.O. Box 1257
Dillon, MT 59725.

Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals to Stay in Great Falls!
- Courtesy of the Great Falls Tribune and Scott Mansch

The Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals are returning to Great Falls for at least one more year, Cascade County and rodeo officials said Tuesday afternoon, July 28, 2009. Jim Croff, president of the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit, said the agreement is for one year. "We're tickled to death that we're going to get something signed," Croff said. "They were very cooperative and I'm comfortable with the agreement." Joe Briggs, chairman of the Cascade County Commission, confirmed late Tuesday afternoon that an agreement had been reached, but he had yet to hear the details from Lisa Bracco, the general manager for Montana ExpoPark, who negotiated with rodeo officials. Reaching a deal with Montana Pro Rodeo has been a priority for Cascade County since it took over management of Montana ExpoPark from private manager SMG in January, Briggs said. The rodeo finals are conducted in ExpoPark's Four Seasons Arena. "We're very pleased," Briggs said. The Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals have been conducted in Great Falls for three decades.

Fears that the popular event would leave town surfaced after the Pro Rodeo Circuit decided not to renew a contract with SMG following the 2009 finals. "They're new blood and this is for just one year, so everybody can see where they're at," Croff said. "I know we're in a tough economy, but we hope this event continues to grow." The three-performance rodeo annually attracts near-sellout crowds of more than 3,500 to Four Seasons Arena. The 31st annual Montana Pro Rodeo Finals is slated for Jan. 15-17, 2010. Croff said he expects discussion of a multi-year deal to take place in the coming months between his group and Cascade County.  

Professional rodeo returned to Great Falls on Tuesday night with the advent of the week-long Big Sky Pro Rodeo Roundup during the Montana State Fair. It was no coincidence that news of an agreement to retain the winter Circuit Finals came hours before the curtain dropped on the summer's major rodeo event here. "I think it's just great," Croff said. "We talked about some of the issues we've had problems with. We were able to express them and get something done about it and at least meet in the middle."

ProRodeo Hall of Fame weekend, July 8-11
- Courtesy of the PRCA



(left to right) Miss Rodeo America Maegan Ridley, Walt Arnold, Dan Mortensen, Doris Basile (great niece of Leonard Ward), Jim Korkow (son of Erv Korkow), Ted Nuce, Ace Berry and PRCA Commissioner Karl Stressman. PRCA ProRodeo Photo/Greg Westfall

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Seven-time World Champion Dan Mortensen, one of the greatest saddle bronc riders in the sport's history, will be inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame July 11 in a six-member class that includes one of rodeo's first Triple Crown winners and one of only two men to win average titles in both roughstock and timed events at the same Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

Mortensen, of Billings, Mont., the late all-around cowboy Leonard Ward of Talent, Ore., bull rider Ted Nuce of Stephenville, Texas, and steer roper Walt Arnold of Silverton, Texas, were all voted in by the ProRodeo Hall of Fame Selection Committee during meetings at the Hall of Fame March 30, along with the late Erv Korkow (stock contractor) of Canning, S.D., and all-around hand Ace Berry (lifetime achievement) of Oakdale, Calif.

The ProRodeo Hall of Fame induction weekend, July 9-11, will include a Special Rodeo, a showing of the Lane Frost documentary film Challenge of Champions, a golf tournament, a pro/am team roping and the Cowboy Ball before the 10 a.m.-noon induction ceremonies in the garden area of the Hall.

Mortensen, 40, and Casey Tibbs share the ProRodeo record for most saddle bronc riding world championships with Mortensen winning his six gold buckles in 1993-95, 1997-98 and 2003. He was the all-around world champion in 1997, edging Joe Beaver by slightly more than $4,000, and qualified for the NFR 16 times in his 17 full seasons as a PRCA member. During his final world championship season of 2003, Mortensen became the first roughstock cowboy in PRCA history to surpass $2 million in career earnings and he remains fifth on the all-time list with $2,555,252. An 18-foot bronze statue of Mortensen is the centerpiece of the Montana Wall of Champions outside Metra Arena in Billings, Mont.

Ward had his greatest year in 1934 when he won 16 rodeos in bronc riding, steer decorating, bull riding and bareback riding. He won the saddle bronc riding, bareback riding and all-around world championships ˆ the second cowboy to ever win three gold buckkles in the same year, following Clay Carr. Ward continued to compete at a high level until he suffered a badly broken leg at the 1937 California Rodeo in Salinas, Calif. Ward left the sport for good at age 38 in 1941 to take a construction job on Midway Island, near Hawaii, where he was captured by the Japanese and held prisoner for 45 months. After his release, Ward returned to ranching and construction work in Oregon until his death on Feb. 15, 1985.

Nuce, 48, was the 1985 world champion bull rider and qualified for the National Finals Rodeo a record 14 consecutive years (1982-95); he shares the record for total appearances (also14) with Wacey Cathey. The PRCA Rookie of the Year in 1980, just a year out of high school, Nuce competed in his first NFR at 21 and was as consistent as anyone of his era, finishing as reserve world champion four times, in 1986-88 and 1991. He won two gold medallions for the United States in the bull riding and team competitions in the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Alberta.

Although he didn't compete full time until he was 25 years old, Arnold qualified for the National Finals Steer Roping 19 times (1965-67, 1969-72, 1974-82, 1984-86), a number surpassed only by Guy Allen and Arnold Felts in steer roping history. Arnold, 70, won the world championship in 1969 and finished as reserve champion three other times (1971, 1978-79), missing out on the '71 title by just $538 to Olin Young. He won the NFSR average title twice (1965 and 1978) and competed in team roping at the NFR in 1966 and '68. He served as the PRCA's steer roping director from 1974 to 1977.

Just 15 years, 11 months old when he qualified for the NFR the first time in 1962, Berry remained a fixture there into the mid-1970s, competing at both ends of the arena. He qualified for the NFR in team roping 14 consecutive years (1962-75) and six years in bareback riding (1967, 1969-73). Along with Phil Lyne, he is the only man to win NFR average titles in a roughstock event and a timed event in the same year. Berry won the 1972 NFR team roping title with John Miller and the bareback riding with what was then a rodeo record 685 points, the same year that Lyne won the average in bull riding and tie-down roping. Berry, 62, also won NFR average titles in team roping in 1967 and in bareback riding in 1971.

After a decade of producing amateur rodeos, Korkow joined the PRCA in 1958 and formed Korkow-Sutton Rodeo Company with fellow South Dakota stock contractor James Sutton Sr. They had stock in every National Finals Rodeo from its inception in 1959 through the dissolution of their partnership at the end of 1968. Thereafter Korkow and his son, Jim, operated Korkow Rodeos. They lay claim to being just one of three stock contracting companies to have had bucking stock at all of the first 50 NFRs. The only year that Korkow Rodeos does not show in the stock lists for the NFR is 1982, the year in which they auctioned five of their top horses late in the season, after they had already been accepted to the rodeo in Oklahoma City. Korkow received the 1970 PRCA Award of Merit, was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame in 1992 and was twiced honored with an Erv Korkow Day in his home state. Korkow died on Nov. 25, 1993.

Since the ProRodeo Hall of Fame's opening in 1979, and not including the 2009 class, 206 people, 25 animals and 16 rodeos have been inducted. More than 40,000 people visit the 30,000 square-foot facility that is located adjacent to the national headquarters of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association each year.

Kruse takes over lead in saddle bronc riding world standings
- Courtesy of the PRCA

Saddle bronc rider Jesse Kruse says he doesn’t pay attention to the PRCA World Standing because “it doesn’t matter until December.” For people who do follow the race for world titles, however, it is getting very interesting.

After the June 11-14 results, Kruse moved ahead of Bryce Miller to take over first place in the PRCA World Standings. Kruse trailed Miller by $3,011 last week and made up the ground with a win at the Sisters (Ore.) Rodeo, where he collected $4,195. He also shared first place with Justin Arnold at the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show & Rodeo in Union and pocketed $1,088. Miller finished second at the Beef Empire Days PRCA Rodeo in Garden City, Kan., and won $1,604.
When the dust settled, Kruse had $68,792 in unofficial earnings and Miller $68,093. For now, making high-scoring rides is more important to Kruse than mulling over calculations. The 23-year-old from Great Falls, Mont., is focused on riding whatever bucking horse is underneath him as he attempts to qualify for his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

“To tell you the truth, I have no idea (where contestants are in the world standings),” said Kruse about the small margin between himself and Miller. The Wrangler NFR is still six months away. However, paychecks won in the summer will set the stage for what happens in Las Vegas Dec. 3-12. Cowboys who are jockeying for positions among the top 15 money leaders begin to evaluate whether they should stay on the road or head home. Leaders seek to secure as big a lead as possible.
Welcome to the front end of crunch time in ProRodeo.
Kruse is one to watch as the race heats up – even if he himself isn’t glued to the Internet watching the numbers. Kruse essentially ran down Miller, overcoming the advantage that came with the South Dakota cowboy’s victory at RodeoHouston in March, where he won $53,500. Kruse has narrowed the gap by winning rodeos at Laughlin, Nev., and Red Bluff, Calif., along with setting an arena record with an 86-point ride to claim the title at the 69th Annual Sisters Rodeo, June 12-14.

“I drew a really good horse, and that horse is pretty hard to beat,” said Kruse about Flying Five Rodeo Company’s Spring Blues. “I stuck to the basics and made a decent ride on him.”

Kruse’s modesty aside, the judges must have felt the Saturday night ride packed some punch. It bested an earlier arena record of 85 points set by Anthony Bello aboard Big Bend Rodeo Rodeo Company’s Echo Valley from Saturday afternoon. The previous saddle bronc riding arena record of 84 points was shared by reigning World Champion Cody Wright (2008), Sam MacKenzie (2005) and Glen O’Neill (2002).
Kruse’s record-setting ride was a good matchup on paper. Spring Blues had carried Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo Champion Wade Sundell to an 87-point ride en route to a national title in April. In fact, Spring Blues and Iowa’s Sundell led the DNCFR coverage and are pictured inside the May 1 ProRodeo Sports News.
Spring Blues, a distinctive looking blue roan, certainly did deliver again this month. Kruse gave the horse much of the credit for the arena record.

“I’m riding OK, I guess, probably not at the top of my game,” he said. “I’m getting by. I have a bit of a bum foot, but I’m working on getting that figured out.”

Kruse worked his way to the top of the world standings despite the bumps and bruises that come with riding bucking horses for a living. Stay tuned to see what happens if he gets 100-percent healthy.
“It does take a lot to get up there (in the standings),” he added.
The other event winners at the Sisters Rodeo were Jason Havens (bareback riding, Michael Reger (steer wrestling), Travis Tryan and Michael Jones (team roping), Randall Carlisle (tie-down roping), Lindsay Sears (barrel racing) and Wesley Silcox (bull riding). Steven Dent won the all-around cowboy title, competing in bareback riding and saddle bronc riding.

For a complete listing of the other top finishers from Sisters and other rodeos from the weekend, go to the results section on ProRodeo.com.

Montana Pro Rodeo To Kick Into High Gear!
 
Pro Rodeo for the Montana Circuit is about ready to kick into high gear with the first rodeo of the summer season, the JS Rodeo Summer Soltice rodeo to be held at Vaughn, Montana on June 12th and 13th.   Also on the same weekend  (June 12th & 13th) the Cody Night Rodeo is a co-approved rodeo for the Montana Circuit. On to Father’s Day weekend for the 49th Annual Belt Rodeo in Belt, Montana. The final weekend of June host the Bear Paw Roundup in Chinook, Montana on June 26th & 27th. The same days (June 26th & 27th) Montana contestants can travel to Polson, Montana for the Mission Mountain PRCA Rodeo and then to Augusta, Montana on June 28th for the Augusta American Legion Rodeo. After this warm up, contestants will move right into the 4th of July “Cowboy Christmas” with Circuit rodeos in Livingston, Red Lodge and Drummond. As you can see from the list of Montana Pro Rodeos, spectators from all over the state can enjoy the sights and sounds of  Pro Rodeo at its best. For a complete listing of Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Rodeos check out the website at Montanaprorodeo.com. 
 
The 2009 Montana Pro Rodeo season officially started back in October of 2008 with the NILE Rodeo in Billings, Montana. Even though this rodeo was held in 2008, it counts toward the standings for 2009. Listed below are the current 2009 standings after the NILE Rodeo. All summer long be sure to check out the Montana Pro Rodeo website at Montanaprorodeo.com to get up to date and current standings and rodeo information.