Rodeo returns with big competition, fun for county fair

by Sanders County Fair Board

The 2023 PRCA Rodeo is coming to the Sanders County Fair August 31 – September 2 and it’s bound to bring some big name riders again this year. Top riders have been competing in our rodeo for years, which is such a treat for how inexpensive it is to attend.

The world’s current top three saddle bronc riders – Montana-made Sage Newman, Zeke Thurston, and Stetson Wright – all rode at the Plains PRCA Rodeo in 2022. On bareback we had another Montana-grown favorite Caleb Bennett (currently #25 in the world standings). Tackling the bulls last year we had Stetson Wright (currently #1) and Trey Holston (#5), plus world champion team ropers Kaleb Driggers and Junior Noguiera. And that’s just the tip of the spur!

The caliber of show at the rodeo would not be possible if it wasn’t for ongoing support from Powder River Rodeo out of Riverton, WY. They started their PRCA journey by supplying rodeo stock for us 37 years ago. Since 1988, they have had stock attend the National Finals Rodeo, and most of their animal athletes have made an appearance at the NFR over the years. Accolades go to Powder River for the multitude of awards they’ve won over the years, including the 2019 Remuda Award, 11-time nominee for stock contractor of the year, three-time bareback horse of the year winner Khadafy Skoal was also inducted into the PRCA Hall of Fame, Craig at Midnight won bareback horse of the year in 2016, and Miss Congeniality is a two-time saddle bronc horse of the year. Other favorites that have graced the arena in Plains include saddle broncs Bet the Ranch and Good Lord Lori, bareback broncs Two Buck Chuck and Knot So Foxy, and bulls Cherry Bomb and Juju.

Rodeo is one big family and the Sanders County Fair and Rodeo couldn’t be happier to be a part of the Powder River Rodeo family!

But that’s not where it ends. There’s a lot more to rodeo than riders and animal athletes. It takes an announcer that knows the game, the riders, and the animals on a personal level, and we’ve got the best in the business, the voice of rodeo, ProRodeo Hall of Famer Bob Tallman. He is backed up by Jill Franzen Loden (Jill’s Sound) to bring the beats, as well as bullfighters Kaleb Barrett and Dakota Simmes, the man in the can Scott Allderings, and pickup men (the unsung heroes of the arena) Jay Shaw and Clint Humble.

Felix Santana will wow the crowd with his Andalusian stallion Romano. It’s guaranteed to be another star-studded performance this year, so get your tickets at http://www.sanderscountyfair.com and come on out to the 2023 PRCA Rodeo!