The South Heart, S.D. cowboy also competes in the tie-down roping but did not qualify for the circuit finals in that event this year.

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1 The winning cowboys and cowgirls in each of seven events at the Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo, hosted by the Minot Y's Men's Rodeo, will go on to represent North and South Dakota next March at the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City. For some cowboys, their ticket was punched well before they came to Minot. For others, it came down to the final performance on Sunday, October 9 before they knew if they were headed south. Year end winners and average winners, those who earned the most points or had the fastest times in Minot, will compete at the RNCFR. Bareback riding Bareback rider Joe Gunderson had earned $12,571 during the 2011 rodeo season, and even though he was injured and did not compete, he won the year end title. The average championship, the most points scored in the bareback riding in Minot, went to Mac Erickson. Erickson, Sundance, Wyo., won money in three of four rounds in his first year in the Badlands Circuit. The 26 year old cowboy s secret to riding well is drawing good, and keeping a good attitude, he said. Everybody else complains about what they ve drawn, but not Erickson. You just go ride them. Nobody listens when you complain. Today was the third time Erickson had drawn the Bareback Horse of the Circuit, -303 Crystalyx, of Sutton Rodeo Co., and was complimentary of the horse. He s really good, one you like to get on. He does a good job. Steer Wrestling and All-Around Seth Murphy repeated from last year as all around and steer wrestling champions for the Badlands Circuit, but he wasn t totally pleased. I didn t meet all the goals I set for myself this year, he said. Being a back to back steer wrestling champion is sort of a success itself, he admitted. I ll try for a three-peat next year. The South Heart, S.D. cowboy also competes in the tie-down roping but did not qualify for the circuit finals in that event this year. The fierce competitor will get right back to work. I came short on quite a few of (his goals). But I just go back to the practice pen this winter and come back stronger next year. The average steer wrestling champion was Clay Cowan, Highmore, S.D. He had a time of 17.8 seconds on four head. Cowan rode the circuit s Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year, Cruiser, who belonged to his good friend Levi Wisness. Wisness, a fellow steer wrestler, died of cancer in I used to rodeo with Levi, Clay said. It means a lot to ride Cruiser. Levi s parents, Milo and Julie, were at the rodeo on October 8, where they presented the annual Levi Wisness award to steer wrestler Kody Woodward.

2 Team roping Preston Billadeau, Parshall, N.D., and Jared Bilby, Bridgeport, Neb., won the year end title in the team roping. They just began roping together this year, after Billadeau s partner quit. How did a team roper in North Dakota connect with one in Nebraska? I called a buddy of mine, Jess Tierney, Billadeau said, and he told me to give Jared a call. I did, and we ve been roping ever since. It s been good. Brady Williams, Hammond, Mont., and Ryan Zurcher, Torrington, Wyo., won the average title with a time of seconds on four head. Saddle bronc riding The average title in the saddle bronc riding came down to the only man to make four qualified rides. Ty Manke, Rapid City, S.D., never placed in any of the four rounds of the Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo, but he was the only cowboy to make the eight second buzzer each time. There s a lot of tough bronc riders in this circuit, he said, so that s unusual. This is his fourth year at the circuit finals, and the 24 year old cowboy looks forward to competing at Oklahoma City. The year-end title race was closer in the saddle bronc riding than in any other event. Ryan Elshere, Elm Springs, S.D., won $177 more than Clay Schaeffer to win the year end championship. He s been to circuit finals numerous times. We were talking about that the other day, he said, and it s been so many, we can t remember. Elshere is 35 but not thinking of quitting anytime soon. I m still holding together, still in one piece, he laughed. He has more years in him, he thinks. A few. We ll see. Barrel Racing Lisa Lockhart got on board Louie and never looked back. The Oelrichs, S.D. cowgirl won first place three times and tied for second place once to wrap up the year end and average titles in the barrel racing at the Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo. Louie, her eight year old gelding, was on his second trip to Minot. He was her backup horse last year, when she wasn t sure he was seasoned enough or could handle indoor arenas. But last year, at the National Finals Rodeo, she had to ride the eight year old gelding when her primary horse got hurt. I was forced to get on Louie in Vegas. It was a blessing in disguise. Now Louie is her first choice for indoor pens, and he and Lockhart will be in Las Vegas competing at this year s National Finals Rodeo. It will be Lockhart s fifth trip to the NFR. Tie-down roping

3 The tie-down roping race was close, but a few bobbles opened the door and allowed Justin Scofield to slide in. Tyler Fagerhaug and Boe Brown, both threats to Scofield, won money in two rounds, but it wasn t enough to hold him off. The St. Lawrence, S.D. cowboy roped four calves in a time of 38.7 seconds to edge out Brown, whose average on four was only two-tenths of a second slower. I just drew really good, Scofield said. My horse worked good. I just needed to stay in the average, is the way I had it figured. Scofield won both the year end and the average title and will make his third trip to the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo next year. The race was close against good friends, and it was fun. Bull riding Charles Zoss rode only one of four bulls at this year s Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo, but his lead coming into the finals was enough to hold off the other eleven bull riders. Zoss, Forestburg, S.D., won the year end title. Having a $2500 lead over the number two man at circuit finals was not to his advantage, he thought. I think it makes it tougher. I d rather have pressure. This will be Zoss first trip to the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo. No bull rider rode all four bulls, and only three men covered three bulls. Shawn Coleman, Springfield, S.D., scored 232 points on three head to win the average title at the rodeo. Prior to the rodeo, the 2012 Miss Rodeo North Dakota was crowned. Sadie Wardner, of Cole Harbor, N.D. won the title and will serve as lady in waiting until January 1, She was the Miss Rodeo Bison Stampede for the Fargo, N.D. event. The Minot Y's Men's Rodeo is a not-for-profit venture by the YMCA Men of Minot, N.D. Proceeds from each year s rodeo benefit the Triangle Y Camp at Lake Sakakawea, near Garrison, N.D. Next year s Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo will be October 4-7, Your Touchstone Energy Cooperatives and 4- Bears Casino & Lodge are proud sponsors of the Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo. Cutline: Bareback rider Mac Erickson rides -303 Crystalyx for 81 points and the round win. Photo courtesy Ram Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo, Minot, ND 4th performance October 9 Year end and average winners for the Badlands Circuit

4 Bareback riding 1 Mac Erickson, Sundance WY, 81 points on -303 Crystalyx; 2 Scott Montague, Rapid City SD, 79; 3 Casey Breuer, Mandan ND, 77; 4 Sam Nordick, Mohall ND, 70 Bareback Riding Year End Champion Joe Gunderson, Agar, SD Bareback Riding Average Champion Mac Erickson, Sundance, WY Steer Wrestling 1 Sheldon Portwine, Dickinson ND, 3.6; 2 tie Garrett Nokes, McCook NE, 3.8 and Reed Petersek, Colome SD Clay Cowan, Highmore SD, 3.9 Steer Wrestling Year End Champion: Seth Murphy, South Heart, SD Steer Wrestling Average Champion: Clay Cowan, Highmore, SD Team Roping 1 Drew Gartner, Killdeer ND and Levi Tyan Hayes, Center NE, 4.2; 2 Jake Nelson, Creighton SD and Jeff Nelson, Philip SD, 4.5; 3 Tim Nelson, Midland SD and Matt Zancanella, Aurora SD, 4.9; 4 Chase Carson, Dickinson ND and Elliott Gourneau, Kennebec SD, 5.0 Team Roping Year End Champion Header: Preston Billeadeau, Parshall, ND Heeler: Jared Bilby, Bridgeport, NE Team Roping Average Champion Header: Brady Williams, Hammond, MT Heeler: Ryan Zurcher, Torrington, WY Saddle Bronc Riding 1 Chase Kukuchka, Dickinson ND, 81 points on 627 Fraid Knot; 2 Dawson Jandreau, Kennebec SD, 80; 3 Clay Schaeffer, Dickinson ND 79; 4 Troy Crowser, Whitewood, SD 77 Saddle Bronc Year End Champion: Ryan Elshere, Elm Springs, SD

5 Saddle Bronc Average Champion: Ty Manke, Rapid City, SD Barrel Racing 1 Jessica Routier, Buffalo ND, 13.27; 2 tie Nikki Steffes, Vale SD, and Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs SD, 13.38; 4 Amy Holmes, Rapid City SD, Barrel Racing Year End Champion: Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, SD Barrel Racing Average Champion: Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, SD Tie-down Roping 1 Paul David Tierney, Oral SD, 7.7; 2 Clint Kindred, Oral SD, 7.9; 3 Tyler Fagerhaug, Wessington Springs SD, 8.1; 4 Kean Edwards, Gillette WY, 8.4 Tie Down Roping Year End Champion: Justin Scofield, St. Lawrence, SD Tie Down Roping Average Champion: Justin Scofield, St. Lawrence, SD Bull Riding 1 Charles Zoss, Forestburg SD, 84 points on 68 Crank That; 2 Abe Dillman, Grassy Butte ND, 78; 3 Garrett Vig, Newell SD, 75; 4 Allen Auer, Whitewood SD, 74 Bull Riding Year End Champion: Charles Zoss, Forestburg, SD Bull Riding Average Champion: Shawn Coleman, Springfield, SD