Program to launch rodeo stars to NFR

By Milo Dailey, Butte County Post staff | Saturday, November 22, 2008

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Some of the region's top rodeo competitors will be feted Saturday, Nov. 22, at the annual NFR Sendoff in Belle Fourche.

Black Hills Roundup Chairman Gabby Bush said that turnout among top cowboy and cowgirl competitors is expected to include a large percentage of the region's rough stock and barrel race riders who will be at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

He said the unique aspect of the event celebrating the area's rural and rodeo heritage is "the fact that so many of the top names in the sport are willing to drive for hours to get here."

Since rodeo is the major professional sport on the Northern Plains, Bush said, the event is an opportunity for the entire community to join in wishing a unique group of professional athletes good luck toward the year's top paychecks.

Area competitors are preparing for the 10 rounds of this year's 50th anniversary Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Dec. 4-13, in Las Vegas -- and the Belle Fourche event is an emotional tune-up toward the big event.

The sendoff activities will be at the Branding Iron on U.S. Highway 85 at the southern edge of Belle Fourche. The free event starts with a 6:30 p.m. social and autograph session. Introductions to the cowboys by rodeo announcer Rory Lemmel begins at 7 p.m., followed by a cowboy auction at 7:30 p.m. Brock Finn will provide musical entertainment.

Bush said that the Deadwood Days of '76 Rodeo Committee will join in the event. Deadwood has again been nominated as the best medium-size outdoor rodeo of the year, and the Roundup has been a recent nominee in the same category.

Among the region's top rodeo competitors expected at the event are former world champions Marvin and Mark Garrett.

Some of the current top-ranking rodeo athletes expected are:

* Steven Dent of Mullen, Neb., heads to the NFR as No. 1 in bareback competition.

* Saddle bronc is the classic rodeo event, and area NFR competitors include third-ranked J.J. Elshere of Quinn, sixth-ranked Chad Ferley of Oelrichs, seventh-ranked Dusty Hausauer of Dickinson, and the cowboys ranked 10th through 12th, Bryce Miller of Buffalo, Shaun Stroh of Dickinson, N.D., and Chet Johnson of Gillette, Wyo.

* Newell's Clint Humble, a former NFR pick-up man, also plans to attend. Some other top competitors in rodeo specialty circuits and past NFR qualifiers who plan to attend include Belle Fourche bull rider Brian Curtis and rough stock riders Cleve Schmidt and Jesse Bail.

* Two of the top barrel racers also will be on hand for autographs. Jill Moody of Letcher is ranked third nationally, and Lisa Lockhart is ranked eighth.

Bush said that the sendoff gives the competitors a chance to gather as a regional team with their fans.