Opheim 'Cowboys Up' for 2020 Rodeo

The Opheim Rodeo grounds were the hot spot to be on June 28 despite the cooler temperatures that followed Saturday night's storm. The mud puddles in the arena may have slowed down the horses and riders, but they were not enough to prevent the social event of the year in north Valley County.

Cowboys and cowgirls from across the region and the state traveled to the remote town for the Northern Rodeo Association sanctioned event, a first for the community. Competitors were forced to contend with less-than-ideal arena conditions, yet many had also experienced worse. And being cowboys, they knew how to buck up and keep riding.

The 2020 Opheim Rodeo featured all the events known to keep the fans entertained from steer wrestling to team roping to bronc riding, and of course the finale bull riding. The cowgirls put on a show with barrel racing and roping. A young and upcoming generation of rodeoers gave the crowd a show and a chuckle with the Tiny Tots 10 & Under Barrel Racing event.

Local favorite Chase Redfield took home top honors in bareback riding, adding $233.12 to his winnings. Brant Griesedale of Glasgow placed fourth in saddle bronc riding with a score of 66. Jill Ferdina of Glasgow took top spot in ladies barrel racing with a time of 17.53 seconds. Richland's Stacy Harris took fourth with a time of 13.4 in the ladies breakaway. In junior barrel racing, Blake Billingsly of Glasgow took third with 18.44 seconds and Saco's Blake Ozark had a time of 18.51 for fourth place.

Preceding the rodeo was the traditional parade down Main Street in Opheim, and following the the competition was a street dance in front of the Mint Bar.

Brian Austin served as the day's announcer with help from Doriz Ozark and Jody Pankratz who were the timers this year. Jim Duval and Ron Nelson were the judges, and Walter Ozark and Ted Brown served as pickup men. Gus Rosencrans and Russell Solberg were the 2020 arena bosses while Tanner Solberg and Tyler Svenskie donned colorful garb in their bullfighting efforts.

Opheim Rodeo Results

Place Bareback Riding Town Score $$$ Won

1 Chase Redfield Opheim 128/2 $233.12

Place Saddle Bronc Riding Town Score $$$ Won

1 / 2 Kolby Kittson Cut Bank 71 $444.62

1 / 2 Alan Gobert Browning 71 $444.62

3 Connor Murnion Jordan 69 $161.68

4 Brant Grisedale Glasgow 66 $80.84

Place Bull Riding Town Score $$$ Won

1 Payton Fitzpatrick Polson 79 $477.52

2 Connor Murnion Jordan 74 $358.14

3 Cole Hould Havre 71 $238.76

4 Grey Fitzpatrick Polson 70 $119.38

Place Steer Wrestling Town Time $$$ Won

1 Kaiden Whiten Bear Wolf Point 26.1 $150.40

Place Tie Down Roping Town Time $$$ Won

1 George Marcenko Havre 10.5 $413.60

2 Tate Benson Scobey 13.4 $310.20

3 Ben Ayre Glendive 14.4 $206.80

4 Josh Harris Ronan 20.8 $103.40

Place Team Roping Town Time $$$ Won

1 Dustin Datisman Ronan 6.09 $500.08

Josh Harris

2 Travis Winters Columbus 10.91 $375.06

Jake Griffel

3 Shane Bishop Malta 11.05 $250.04

Jace Bishop

4 David Madison Wolf Point 12.87 $125.02

Kaiden White Bear

Place Ladies Barrel Racing Town Time $$$ Won

1 Jill Ferdina Glasgow 17.53 $394.80

2 Kaylee Hughes Butte 17.59 $296.10

3 Brooklin Baukol Clyde Park 18.07 $197.40

4 Valerie White Chinook 18.21 $98.70

Place Ladies Breakaway Town Time $$$ Won

1 Georgia Orahood Malta 4.7 $368.48

2 Brooklin Baukol Clyde Park 5.8 4276.36

3 Chalee Harms Miles City 12.6 $184.24

4 Stacy Harris Richland 13.4 $92.12

Place Jr Barrel Racing Town Time $$$ Won

1 Kierra Hougen Melstone 17.84 $105.60

2 Maci DeHaan Belgrade 18.37 $79.20

3 Brooke Billingsly Glasgow 18.44 $52.80

4 Blake Ozark Saco 18.51 $26.40

Place Jr Breakaway Roping Town Time $$$ Won

1 Landry Larson Sidney 14.3 $153.60

Place Senior Mens Breakaway Town Score $$$ Won

1 Curt Wittkopp Circle 4.5 $144.76

2 Mike Forest Peerless 14.9 $108.57