It might have been dubbed rodeo cowboy family night at the Central States Fair on Thursday as some of the best known South Dakota rodeo families took turns competing for top honors at the Range Days Rodeo.

When the dust cleared, the winner of rodeo's version of the family feud was the Cowan clan from the Fort Pierre, area as

18-year-old Travis - on the final bull ride of the evening - hung up an 87-point ride and the first-day lead in the bull riding event.

Not only did Travis cover his animal in spectacular fashion, he wreaked a little revenge in the process.

"Actually, about a month ago this same bull bucked me off in two jumps at the Days of '76," he said. "Tonight, I was a little better prepared for him though, and it just felt good right from the start and a little revenge is nice too."

Earlier in the evening, cousin Clay Cowan did his own good work for the family name posting the day's best time in tie-down roping, bundling his steer in 9.4 seconds.

The Maier boys - Ardie and Rory of Timber Lake - both competed in bull riding, but neither was able to stay aboard for the required eight seconds. While the Elsheres - J.J., Ryan and Cole - faired a little better in the saddle bronc competition with J.J.'s 81-point ride which was good enough for second behind event winner Chuck Schmidt of Keldron.

Travis, who skipped his final year of high school rodeo competition this year to compete on the professional circuit, is currently 26th in world average and moving up. He has been competing in the northwest and is headed tomorrow to Kennebec, Wash., and another Friday night at the rodeo.

The Range Days Rodeo resumes tonight at the Grandstands Arena with slack at 9 a.m. and the evening performance scheduled for a 7 p.m. start.