Daily Archives: September 16, 2009

JOE KUSEK Of The Gazette Staff | Posted: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 12:55 am

Rodeo is family.

Every summer weekend somewhere in Montana, families hauling trailers compete at rodeos.

Fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, chew a little dirt, yell some encouragement and share the common bond of competition. They celebrate the good days, shake off the bad ones.

And families take care of each other.

It’s not uncommon to have one set of parents ask another set to watch their children when it’s time to ride, rope or race. And why not? The children, the families, have grown up together.

 Tight-knit group

 ”It’s a pretty tight-knit group,” said Great Falls stock contractor Dick Lyman of the Montana rodeo community. “You’re going down the road together every weekend. You get to know each other pretty well.”

So when a member of the rodeo family stumbles or falls, everybody is ready to reach with a helping hand.

In late July, a “small spaghetti dinner,” blossomed into a huge fundraiser as the rodeo world help raised more than $100,000 for Jace Peterson, the three-year-old son of PRCA steer wrestler Jesse Peterson and his wife Jenny of Dillon.

Jace Peterson has suffered seizures since he was three months old. Numerous visits to the hospital had left the Petersons with staggering medical bills…(read more)

With the PRCA 2009 season ending Oct. 1, there is a meaningful race for the 15th slot in barrel racing.

Savannah Reeves of Dublin is sitting in the 15th in her bid to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo in December in Las Vegas. However, her season earnings of $53,219 as of Monday is only $2,575 ahead of 16th place Rachael Ross of Murrieta, Calif.

Reeves is a member of the Koenig family in Cross Plains. Her father, Sam, is in town competing in steer wrestling.

Terra Bynum of Colorado City is up Thursday in barrel racing. Her earned money total of $49,474 in 17th place is only $1,170 out of the 15th place NFR qualifying slot.

Another local barrel racer, Lizzy Allen of Potosi, is up tonight, while Reeves and Raylene Cox of Abilene are up Friday. Jan Burns of Anson, Lee Ann Rust of Abilene and Angela Ganter are up Saturday night. (read more)