The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

The 23rd Annual Bear Paw Roundup PRCA Rodeo returns to the Blaine County Fairgrounds this Thursday and Friday. This year's event is expected to bring the house down with top notch entertainment, professional cowboys and cowgirls, and a new event that is sure to be a hit.

Bear Paw Roundup President Dennis Kleinjan is pretty excited about this year's event, "We have got a great committee, it's small but one that really works hard and that wants to put on a great professional show. We want our show to be a top-quality show and not an armature production. We are really focused on putting together a Rodeo that really suits the crowd."

The 2020 Bear Paw Roundup was a success, it was a good show with top talent in all facets of the rodeo, but it was during the pandemic and that made things difficult. "We want this year's show be top notch. Unfortunately, last year kept some people away, but we still had top quality performers. This year we really want to showcase that professionalism and welcome people back," stated Kleinjan.

Each year the Bear Paw Roundup Committee tries to come up with new ways to entertain the crowd and change things up, and this year is no different. "We are bringing in a specialty act this year called 'Magic in Motion Trick Riders'," says Kleinjan. "One member, Shelby Pearson, is a two-time Canadian Pro Rodeo Contract Act of the Year as well as a three-time Canadian Trick Riding Champion. The other is Piper Yule and she has appeared in many top rodeo productions across North America, including the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the Canadian Finals Rodeo and the Calgary Stampede."

In addition to top quality PRCA Rodeo Professionals competing the talent surrounding them is outstanding, "We have got a really great Rodeo Clown with Dennis Halstead," added Kleinjan. Halstead is the 2019 Coors Man in a Can, an eight-time Canadian Pro Rodeo Association Entertainer of the Year as well as a three-time National Circuit Finals Clown/Barrelman, and the 2016 and 2018 NFR Alternate Barrelman. Kleinjan also added, "Our Announcer, Barney Sheridan, has been with us for many years and has done a fantastic job. And we have our rodeo stock coming from the Brookman Rodeo Company and they have always been really good for us."

Having an announcer like Sheridan or a Clown/Barrelman like Halstead as well as the best rodeo stock around with Brookman Rodeo Company is a huge part of what makes the Bear Paw Roundup Rodeo such a success, "We book both (Sheridan and Halstead) a year in advance, I've already talked to them about next year. They both seem to really enjoy coming back each year. It's really nice to be able to count on two important aspects of the rodeo coming back each year as well as having the best Rodeo stock available."

"To get our local people involved we have the 'Famous Mutton Bustin' both nights for kids 50 pounds and under and for the older ones we have the ever popular 'Monkey on the Rope' Thursday night," stated Kleinjan. In addition, the committee is excited to announce a new competition, "New this year we are going to have 'Outhouse Races' on Friday night. The Outhouse Races will consist of a runner that will put his/her head on a baseball bat, spin around 6-8 times then run down the arena and get in the outhouse. Then a rider will drag the outhouse the length of the arena to cross the finish line. This is a timed event and the fastest time wins. Times will be posted on the big screen."

Everyone is welcome to sign up and participate in the local events, however the Mutton Bustin' is completely full with 10 entries each night. "Monkey on a Rope and the Outhouse Race, we will take entries up until the time of the event. Payout is based on Entry fee, and we

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23rd BP Roundup

pay 100%," stated Kleinjan. "We have six or eight entries at the moment for the outhouse race, Monkey on the Rope, it goes so fast we can run a pile of them. Every year we think we're going to be short but then the night of the event comes, and they start flocking in and we end up with a pile of them."

In addition, the Bear Paw Roundup will take time to recognize a long-time contributor to the Blaine County Fair, The Bear Paw Roundup, and the communities of Blaine County as well. "We will be honoring Donnie Richman both nights, he's just been a huge staple for this Fairboard, getting the arena re-built everything. Donnie has been a huge asset to the whole fair in every aspect. It's going to be an honor to be able to recognize his contributions with him being in attendance," Kleinjan stated.

It's always a huge undertaking to put on an event like a PRCA Rodeo, but working with good people certainly makes it easier, "The Fairboard has been incredible to work with, they worked hand in hand with the Bear Paw Roundup getting a new lighting system installed in the Arena. That work was just completed in the past few days," said Kleinjan. "Loren Skoyen has been a huge help with that, he knows the right people and who to call and it wouldn't have got done without him. He has the right contacts and access to the right equipment."

Kleinjan and the rodeo committee as a whole are extremely grateful for the sponsors that stuck by their side through thick and thin, "Last but not least the sponsors have been incredible, they knew last year there would be few fans in the stands and they didn't back down. This year they are all back in full force ready to support the Bear Paw Roundup. Moxley Construction has been incredible, and we couldn't even get things started without this kind of sponsorship support."