By Tiffany L. Rehbein
The Great Northern Stampede looks to be another two days of fast-paced rodeo action again this year.
The PRCA rodeo will highlight the grandstand portion of entertainment Saturday, Aug. 14, and Sunday, Aug. 15, at the Hill County Fair.
Action begins at 7 p.m. on Saturday and 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. The slack begins at 9 a.m. on Sunday. This year, the rodeo will close out the fair fun.
For the second straight year, Ike Sankey will provide the stock for the rodeo.
Hes got some of the best stock in the world, said fair manager, Mike Spencer. He is a top contractor.
In addition to the Sankey stock, the No. 1 barrel man and rodeo clown, Flint Rasmussen will be featured at the rodeo.
National award-winning rodeo clown and barrel man Rasmussen will be on-hand Saturday and Sunday at the Great Northern Stampede.
Rasmussen will have his non-traditional rodeo style tuned and ready for a fine performance.
Rasmussen, a former Havre High School math and history teacher, has most recently been awarded the 1998 PRCA Clown of the Year, 1998 Original Coors Man in the Can award and the 1998 Barrel Man of the Year at the National Finals Rodeo.
He has worked the Montana circuit finals during the past four years and has clowned in the College National Finals Rodeo three times.
I use a non-traditional rodeo clown style, Rasmussen said. I use lots of music, lots of dancing. I like off-the-wall type comedy, the stand-up type.
Rasmussen said the uniqueness of his style lends to his popularity.
Its stuff most people havent seen, he said.
Originally from Choteau, Mont., Rasmussen attended Western Montana College at Dillon. He married Katie Larson of Havre and they have a five-month-old baby Shelby.
Reserved seats are $8 and general admission is $6.
