Gary Rodeo

This year marks the first year that the Gary Rodeo was a PRCA sanctioned rodeo. The annual rodeo was July 5-6th in Gary, South Dakota. The rodeo has a unique history in that it has been held in the same town but in two different states- first Minnesota then moved to South Dakota as the town of Gary straddles the state line between the both. In addition to the main rodeo events, a crowd favorite is the Wild Cow Riding. Although it's not a PRCA sanctioned event one would see at the Thomas and Mack in December, it is extremely entertaining and draws fans year after year to watch which team of three can saddle a cow, ride her across the arena then unsaddling her and getting the saddle back to the bucking chutes the fastest.

This year was the first year seeing professional rodeo athletes as previous years the rodeo has been amateur. Andy Gingerich took first in the bareback riding 78 points on Muddy Creek Pro Rodeo's Schmidt Talker. There was a tie in the steer wrestling with Joe Nelson and Sawyer Strand both having 4.1 second runs. Payton Pirrung/Logan Schliinz took first in the team roping with their 6.0 second run. In the saddle bronc riding Taylen Nelson took first with his 81 points on Muddy Creek Pro Rodeo's Dale Brisby. Thane Lockhart took first in the tie-down roping with his 12.2 seconds run. Hallie Fulton took first in the barrel racing with her 16.97 second run. In the bull riding Raile Joens took first with his 80 point ride on Muddy Creek Pro Rodeo's Freak Acciden. All-around cowboy went to Austin Hurlburt who competed in tie-down roping and steer wrestling.

All-Around Cowboy: Austin Hurlburt, $790, tie-down roping and steer wrestling.

Bareback Riding:

1. Andy Gingerich, 78 points on Muddy Creek Pro Rodeo's Schmidt Talker, $865; 2. Bryce Eck, 73, $649; 3. Montana Duvall, 72.5, $432; 4. Quintonn Lunsford, 71, $216.

Steer Wrestling:

1. (tie) Joe Nelson and Sawyer Strand, 4.1 seconds, $872 each; 3. Landon Sivertsen, 4.2, $498; 4. Wynn Schaack, 5.5, $249.

Team roping:

1. Payton Pirrung/Logan Schliinz, 6.0 seconds, $1,124 each; 2. Cooper White/Tucker White, 6.1, $931; 3. Clint Gorrell/Tel Sorenson, 6.4, $737; 4. Jon Peterson/Cash Hetzel, 7.3, $543; 5. Caden Stoddard/Jade Byrne Byrne, 7.7, $349; 6. Steve Sherwood/Ron McDaniel, 10.9, $194.

Saddle Bronc Riding:

1. Taylen Nelson, 81 points on Muddy Creek Pro Rodeo's Dale Brisby, $1,039; 2. Jackson Ford, 78, $787; 3. Lane Schuelke, 77, $567; 4. Jade Blackwell, 75, $378; 5. (tie) Kash Deal, Christopher Nelson and Taylor Tupper, 73, $126 each.

Tie-Down Roping:

1. Thane Lockhart, 12.2 seconds, $1,053; 2. Austin Hurlburt, 12.3, $790; 3. Lee Sivertsen, 13.2, $526; 4. Chase Lako, 13.4, $263.

Barrel Racing:

1. Hallie Fulton, 16.97 seconds, $644; 2. Deb Cox, 17.09, $560; 3. Heidi Gunderson, 17.18, $476; 4. Sydney Theobald, 17.19, $392; 5. Morgan Addison, 17.20, $308; 6. Chantel Kolb, 17.22, $224; 7. (tie) Lakken Bice and Raelin Jurgens, 17.25, $98 each.

Bull Riding:

1. Raile Joens, 80 points on Muddy Creek Pro Rodeo's Freak Acciden, $1,072; 2. Dylan Rice, 79, $804; 3. Garrett Wall, 73, $536; 4. Riggen Hughes, 71, $268.

Total payoff: $25,519. Stock contractor: Muddy Creek Pro Rodeo. Rodeo secretary: Val Lundquist. Officials: Darin Boots and Justin Robertson. Timers: Leslie Toczek and Bekki Reinert. Announcer: Travis Schauda. Specialty act: Brian Patton. Bullfighters: Nigel Harvey and Wyatt Mason. Clown/barrelman: Brian Patton. Flankman: Andy Podio. Chute boss: Chancy Wilson. Pickup men: Donnie Moore and T.K. Sampson. Music director: Nicky Kimm. Photographer: Doug Jorgensen.