Jordan Pelton, Halliday, won a first place check at the RAM Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo in Minot, his first check in four years of circuit finals qualifications.

It was aboard a Mosbrucker Rodeo horse named Shooting Star. The horse “had a good day,” Pelton said, “and I had a decent day, I guess.”

It’s the first time he’s come into the circuit finals healthy, having had neck problems and a broken hand and wrist in the past. “I’ve been fortunate, for the most part, but I’ve had my fair share” of injuries.

Pelton has rodeoed less this summer than ever before, in part because of canceled rodeos due to COVID, and in part because of family obligations. He and his wife Tessa are expecting their first child later this month. “My season’s been short and sweet,” he said, “but I’ve been easing around and having fun with it.”

Submitted Photo The first round steer wrestling champion Jake Kraupie (on the right), stands with Cameron Morman, whose horse Kraupie rode. Kraupie is from Bridgeport, Neb.

In the steer wrestling, the first round win went to a Nebraska cowboy.

Jake Kraupie, of Bridgeport, Neb., had a time of 4.5 seconds to win the round and $1,408.

The 31-year-old was aboard a North Dakota horse owned by Cameron Morman, of Glen Ullin.

Steer wrestlers often share horses, and if they win money riding someone else’s horse, they pay a “mount fee” to the owner, a percentage of what they’ve won.

Two other cowboys (Morman and Billy Boldon) both rode Morman’s horse, Rio, in the first round, and Morman also won money in the round, in fourth place.

The 15-year-old buckskin has been Kraupie’s mount on and off all summer. The gelding “is just an outstanding horse,” Kraupie said. “He lets you win. If you do your job, he’s going to take care of you.”

Kraupie works with his family in the auction and real estate business, which enables him to get away and rodeo. “It’s pretty nice to have family there, looking after everything. They take care of things while I’m up here.”

Other first go-round winners team roping brothers Tucker and Cooper White, Hershey, Neb. (5.7 seconds); barrel racer Amanda Welsh, Gillette, Wyo. (13.59); saddle bronc riders Chuck Schmidt, Keldron, S.D., JJ Elshere, Hereford, S.D., and Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D. (83 points each); tie-down roper Tanner Stec, Bassett, Neb. (8.4 seconds); breakaway ropers Katie Mundorf, Mullen, Neb. and Samantha Fulton, Watford City, N.D.; and bull rider Chance Schott, McLaughlin, S.D. (87 points).

The second and third rounds of the Circuit Finals continue Oct. 10-11 with a performance on Saturday night at 6 pm and a Sunday matinee at 1:30 pm. For more information on the rodeo, visit the Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo page on Facebook.

Results, 1st Go-Round Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo, Minot, North Dakota

October 9, 2020

Bareback Riding

1. Jordan Pelton, Halliday, N.D. 86 points on Mosbrucker Rodeo’s Shooting Star; 2. (tie) Shane O’Connell, Rapid City, S.D. and Jamie Howlett, Rapid City, S.D. 85 each; 4. Ben Kramer, Max, N.D. 77.

Steer Wrestling

1. Jake Kraupie, Bridgeport, Neb. 4.5 seconds; 2. (tie) Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D., Joe Nelson, Watford City, N.D., and Cameron Morman, Glen Ullin, N.D. 4.7 each.

Team Roping

1. Cooper White, Hershey, Neb./Tucker White, Hershey, Neb. 5.7 seconds; 2. Jared Odens, Pierre, S.D./Matt Zancanella, Aurora, S.D. 6.2; 3. Cody Hilzendeger, Bismarck, N.D./Ty Talsma, Avon, S.D. 6.4; 4. (tie) Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D./Dustin Harris, O’Neill, Neb. and Brent McInerney, Alzada, Mont./Tanner McInerney, Alzada, Mont. 6.5 each

Saddle bronc riding

1. (tie) Chuck Schmidt, Keldron, S.D. 83 points on Bailey Rodeo’s Big Casino, JJ Elshere, Hereford, S.D., 83 points on Sutton’s Painted Fire, and Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D. 83 points on Sutton’s Flash Drive; 4. Jade Blackwell, Rapid City, S.D. 77.5.

Barrel racing

1. Amanda Welsh, Gillette, Wyo. 13.59 seconds; 2. Heidi Gunderson, Murdock, Minn. 13.77; 3. Bobbi Grann, Sheyenne, N.D. 13.84; 4. Carey Rivinius, Carson, N.D. 13.85.

Tie-down roping

1. Tanner Stec, Bassett, Neb. 8.4 seconds; 2. Clint Kindred, Oral, S.D. 9.2; 3. JT Adamson, Cody, Neb. 9.5; 4. Trey Young, Dupree, S.D. 9.9.

Breakaway roping

1. (tie) Katie Mundorf, Mullen, Neb. and Samantha Fulton, Watford City, N.D. 2.5 seconds each; 3. Lacy Hewitt, Whitewood, S.D. 2.8; 4. Kirby Eppert, Seneca, Neb. 2.9.

Bull riding

1. Chance Schott, McLaughlin, S.D. 87 points on Sutton Rodeo’s Rock N Roll Fantasy; 2. Ardie Maier, Timber Lake, S.D. 80; 3. Thunder Boomer, Interior, S.D. 74; 4. Wade Berg, Chaffee, N.D. 70.

** All results are unofficial.