Havre gears up for a Great Stampede

The Great Northern Fair brings in thousands of visitors every summer. Jam-packed with carnival rides, games, food, and a number of grand stand attractions, the Hill County fairgrounds has something for the whole family.

But near the top of the list of things do while the fair is in town, is to attend the Great Northern Stampede Rodeo, and all that it has to o

John Salois rides in the saddle bronc competition at the 2011 Great Northern Stampede in Havre. The annual NRA Rodeo begins tonight at 7 and there is also slack on Friday morning as well as a second performance Friday at 7 p.m.

ffer tonight and Friday night. The two day event is one of the biggest attractions of the summer, rounding up over 400 contestants and drawing in over 2,000 spectators over the two days. The NRA rodeo begins at 7 p.m. tonight and 7 p.m. on Friday night as well.

"This is going to be a great event," Clint Solomon said. "We run it really fast and it is going to be nonstop action the whole time. Fans should expect to see some of the top competitors in the state. Competitors come from all over to compete for the NRA finals, as well as we bring in a lot of locals. We take local entries from about a 100 mile radius and that always brings in a lot of local contestants."

Today's events should bring a lot of excitement, especially to those younger visitors to the rodeo, as it is family night.

Rodeo entertainer and bullfighter David Whitmoyer headlines the nights' entertainment, and should put on a great show, while also protecting the cowboys and cowgirls. Whitmoyer will have several acts, including a miniature bull fighting show. Kids can also sit on the bull and get their photograph taken for a small fee. But in the midst of the comedy and lighter side of the rodeo, tonight will also bring sheep riding and junior bull riding for those young thrill seakers.

There will be bullfighters on both nights, but special events like wild cow milking and more doses of junior bull riding will highlight Friday as well.

With the over 400 contestants, fans and spectators will want to find their seats in the grand stands on both nights. This years' rodeo events include bareback bronco riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, junior bull riding, barrel racing, junior barrel racing, breakaway, junior breakaway, team roping, calf roping, tie down roping and the always exciting steer wrestling.

Some local talent will include Cody FourColors (bull riding) Dionne Johnson (junior barrel racing), Preston Watshon (tie down roping) and Darrel Watshon (tie down roping) of Rocky Boy, Cameron Billy and Frank Billy (team roping), Wade Colliflower (steer wrestling), Jesse Colliflower (steer wrestling), and Jesse Colliflower (saddle bronc riding) of Box Elder, Shayne Bishop (team roping), Jordan Handy (team roping), and Cathy Getten (carrel racing) of Chinook, and Chelsea Brown (ladies breakaway/barrel racing) and Weston Brown (saddle bronc riding) of Big Sandy. A handful of Havre competitors will also join in the fun, including CJ Hansen (team roping/tie down roping), Dennis Barta (team roping/tie down roping/steer wrestling), Zane Livingston (team roping), Jordon Lewis (team roping), Bobby LaSalle (team roping), Dave Normandy (Team roping), Casey Solomon (ladies breakaway), ach Bailey (tie down roping), Casey Delaney (steer wrestling), Kassy Brough (barrel racing), Candi Zion (barrel racing), Chamique Houle (barrel racing), and Judy Geldard (barrel racing).

"There is going to be a lot of excitement, especially with the bull riding," Clint Solomon said. "But there are a lot of good events and good competitors."

Tonight is family night, where kids under 12 are admitted free with a food donation. The food is donated to the Havre Food Bank.

There is also a rodeo queen this year. General admission will be $10 for adults, and kids eight years old and under are free on Friday.

Tonight's session of the rodeo starts at 7 and Friday's session also begins at 7 p.m.