Article by Brooke Wagner

It’s about to get a little western this weekend at MontanaFair, as the Yellowstone River Roundup Rodeo comes to town. Held on Friday, August 16, and Saturday, August 17, at 7:00 pm, the rodeo brings the excitement of the western industry to the fairgrounds and a chance for cowboys and cowgirls of all ages to show off their skills to a roaring crowd. Although Montana is cowboy country, many newcomers to the state (or even lifelong residents!) may not know the ins and outs of this great All-American sport. Let’s take a closer look at the events that make the evening an unforgettable experience. 

The Yellowstone River Roundup is a PRCA event, which means it’s sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. The world’s largest and oldest professional rodeo association, the PRCA culminates at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) held every year underneath the glittering Las Vegas lights. Cowboys and cowgirls compete in PRCA events to earn enough money to qualify for the NFR in search of that coveted gold buckle. Every PRCA rodeo must include seven events: bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, breakaway roping, saddle bronc riding, barrel racing, and bull riding. The events are classified into two categories - roughstock events and timed events. In roughstock, scores are based on the performance of both the rider and the animal athlete. During timed events, contestants compete against the clock, trying to earn the fastest time of the day. 

Roughstock

Bareback Riding - In this event, riders are required to “mark out” at the beginning of the ride with their feet in front of the horse’s shoulders. Aptly named, cowboys ride bareback with no saddle on the horse. All the cowboy has to hold on to is his “riggin,” a special rope wrapped around the horse with a handle like a suitcase. 

Saddle Bronc - In this event, cowboys use a specialized saddle and rein to ride a bucking horse, focusing on maintaining control and rhythm. The markout rule applies here as well, while judges score both horse and rider for a possible combined total of 100 points. Anything over 80 is considered a great ride. 

Bull Riding - Often considered the most extreme of Western sports, bull riding pits a cowboy against a 1500-pound bucking bull. Grit and determination are needed to ride for the required 8 seconds, with one hand tucked firmly in a rope and the other waving high in the air. A cowboy can earn extra points by “spurring” the bull, showing that he’s fully in control. 

Timed Events

Steer Wrestling - Known as a “bulldogger,” steer wrestlers use strength and technique to bring a steer to the ground as quickly as possible. Cowboys rely on the help of a hazer to drive the steer in a straight line until the bulldogger can glide off his own horse right beside the steer. The steer must be placed on its side with all four feet pointing in the same direction for the clock to stop.

Team roping - This event requires collaboration between two athletes, a header and a heeler, working together to catch a steer in the front and back. Practice makes perfect in this event, which originated on ranches of the Old West when cowboys needed to treat or brand large steers too big for one rider. 

Breakaway Roping - During breakaway, a rider on horseback ropes a calf around the neck while the calf runs down the rodeo arena. The rope is attached to a saddle horn by a string, with the run ending when the calf eventually runs out of rope and breaks the string. The fastest time wins!

Barrel Racing - This ladies-only event features cowgirls atop horses running at breakneck speeds around three barrels set in the arena in a cloverleaf pattern. Known for impossibly fast turns and edge-of-your-seat excitement, barrel racing pairs competitive cowgirls with extraordinary animal athletes, all racing for the fastest time of the night. 

There you have it! An all-in-one guide to this weekend’s main event, the Yellowstone River Roundup Rodeo. Visit their website for ticket information and to secure your seat at this unforgettable and iconic event. 

https://www.metrapark.com/events/2024/yellowstone-river-roundup-rodeo

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