Cowboy culture thrives at Clearwater's annual rodeo

What a show!

Overflow crowds watched nearly 300 cowboys and cowgirls provide thrills and spills over the weekend at Clearwater's Big Rodeo. In the process, competitors took home approximately $34,000 in prize money.

"What an amazing three nights of rodeo," said Curt Thiele, Clearwater Chamber of Commerce president. "We were blessed with very good weather and competition was high, with a big number of competitors."

Sutton Schrunk, of Valentine, scored 77 in bull riding to take home the top prize of $1,215.42.

Danny Perdew of Eaton, Colorado, finished second, scoring a 71. He drew a check for $1,012.85.

Peyton Sterkel, of Merriman, ended third with 69 points. For his efforts, Sterkel walked out of the arena with $810.28.

Two competitors - Cooper Kursave of Arcadia and Trent Frazee of Bennett - split prize money for fourth and fifth. Both scored 64 points and earned $506.43 apiece.

Bareback

A tie for first place in bareback gave Tate Miller of Springview and Koltdyn Heath of Minden each a $490.73 paycheck. Both finished with 76 points.

Taos Weborg, of Gregory, South Dakota, scored 75, placing second. He earned $351.84.

Sutherland's Cole Kerner won $259.25 after scoring 73 points. He placed fourth.

Cinch Kiger, of Overton, ended in fifth place and earned $166.66, after judges awarded him 71 points.

Tanner Olson, of Gordon, finished in the money, taking home $92.59 for a sixth-place finish. He ended with 69 points.

Tie-down roping

Six contestants took home paychecks in tie-down roping. Carter Anderson, of Merriman, had an 8.9 run, giving him first place. He earned $1,076.77.

Layne Wallinger of Stuart ended second with a 9.5 performance. He walked away with $891.12.

Others placing in the open category included Tate Talkington, Scottsbluff, 9.7, $705.47; Levi Fisher, Hershey, 10.1, $519.82; Cooper Phillips, Burwell, 11.0, $259.91 and Patrick Martin, Lexington, 11.0, $259.91.

Tie-down roping 45 and over

Fisher's performance also netted him the 45 and over crown. He took home an additional $831.43.

Brent Hurlburt of Norfolk finished in the runner-up spot, with a 13.6 run. He made $688.08.

Arcadia's Rusty Kluender and Joe Kimmel of Stoneham, Colorado, tied for third with 14.0 runs. They each pocketed $473.06.

Tate Johnston of Thedford ended fifth after a 15.0 performance. He received $258.03 and Arden Garwood of Atkinson earned $143.35. He ran 15.4 seconds.

The top team ropers took home $1,417.52. Cody Hilzendeger of Avon, South Dakota, and Dustin Chohon, of O'Neill, completed a 5.5 run.

Others placing in the money include Jeff Johnston, Thedford, and Levi Tyan, Wallace, 5.7, $1,173.12; Tyler Hobart and Shannon Frascht, both of Alva, Oklahoma, 5.8, $928.72; Joe Macoubrie of Ava, Oklahoma, and Kingston Chang, of Cimarron, Kansas, 6.7, 684.32;

Spencer Jobman of Bayard and Kade Pinneo, Rising City, 6.9, $439.92 and Brent Reichmuth, Humphrey, and Robert Stevens, Norfolk, 7.5, $244.40.

Breakaway roping

Nine breakaway ropers received earnings. Makayla Wray, of Ord, won in 2.6, earning $1,379.36.

Reagan McIntyre, of Grand Island, tied for second with Laynee Ohm, of Hyannis. Both roped the target in 2.7 seconds and took him $1,109.48 apiece.

Cheyenne Vandestouwe, of Inwood, Iowa, and Georgie Lage of Arthur tied for fourth and received $749.65. Both had 2.8 runs.

Four competitors split prize money for sixth place after a 3.0 run. Kit Painter of Springview, Jace Hurlburt of Arcadia, Maddee Doerr of Creighton and Chenoa Vandestouwe, of Weatherford, Oklahoma, each received $224.90.

Saddle broncs

Ridge Ward, of Martin, South Dakota, took home $757.83 as the top saddle bronc rider. He scored 77 points, edging out Chris Nelson, of Lake Andes, South Dakota, who scored 74. Nelson earned $627.17.

Other competitors in the money included Tristan Eklund, Valentine, 72, $431.18; Miles Kreeger, Lake Andes, 72, $431.18; Sage Miller, Springview, 71, $235.19; and Dylan Suhr, Canton, South Dakota, 70, $130.66.

Steer wrestling

Springview's Cinch Painter took top honors in steer wrestling, He had a 4.0 run, earning $1,052.24.

Kaden Haake, of Thedford, and Colten Madison, of Whiting, Iowa, tied for second with runs of 4.2. Both earned a $780.11 payday.

Tying for fourth place, Sage Schrunk, of Valentine, and Quade Potter, Cambridge, both earned $417.27. Both ran 4.4.

Another Springview contestant, Beau Wiebelhaus, had a 4.8 run and earned $181.42.

Barrels

Perennial powerhouse Dori Hollenbeck crossed the line in 16.22 to win barrel racing competition. She received $1,395.71 for her efforts.

Finishing second, Jorden Hermelbracht, of Bancroft, ran 16.69, and earned $1,155.07.

Ashley Odenbach, Taylor, finished third, running 16.70. She earned $914.43.

Ella Lacey, Weston, received $673.79 for her run of 16.74.

Roseann Ewan, Sparks, placed fifth, completing the pattern in 16.75. She received $433.15.

Kylee Ruff, of Ashland, earned $240.64, for her run at 16.78. She placed sixth.