Montana High School Rodeo – History of Rodeo
Association of Montana High School Rodeo (MHSRA) was founded by Claude Mullins in 1947. Montana High School Rodeo Association is headquartered in Billings, Montana. MHSRA are a member of the National High School Rodeo Association with the NHSFR being held annually in July in Las Vegas. It is the largest high school rodeo in the world. High School Rodeos through out Montana are sanctioned by MHSRA. Only the top four rodeo participants from Montana in each event qualify to go to the NHSFR in July.
Other events sponsored by the MHSRA every year are Junior High Rodeo Finals, High School Rodeo Finals, College Rodeo Finals and World Rodeo Finals. If you are student in Montana a great way to start a career in Rodeo is through the MHSRA, they offer several programs.
Many successful rodeo athletes have come from the MHSRA to have great careers in Rodeo few of the alumni. Some of the most known are Rachael Myllymaki All-Around title in NHSFR in 1996, Lisa Sheffer Barrel Racing title at the NHSFR in 1980, Kimball S., Bull Riding Title in NHSFR in 1960, and Ron Stanford All-Around title in NHSFR in 1960.
Montana High School Rodeo Schedule
High School Rodeo events are held in the fall and spring with eight meets in both seasons
Break Away Roping More Galleries Below
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- Coming out of the gate
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- Every step counts
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- Making the Break
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- The Chase is on
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- Cowgirls Breakaway Roping Timing is everything
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- Montana High School Rodeo Breakaway roping event
Rodeo History
Spanish are the first to have held some of the first Rodeo’s in the 1500’s. Con1quistadors were bring cattle and horses to the “New World”. In the early 1800’s cowboys of American West learned these skills from the Spanish vaqueros.
First known American rodeo was believed to have been held in Deer Trail, Colorado in 1869. Wild West Show created by Buffalo Bill Cody hits the world stage in 1882. Prescott, Arizona has the honor of holding the first professional rodeo in 1888. In Pendleton, Oregon in 1908 the National Rodeo Final (NRF) was created. Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) was created in 1929. In 1948 women created the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA). A demonstration sport to the Olympic Games in 1972 and the World Games in 1980. Rodeo made it to the Pan American Games in 2018 and so it goes.
Popular rodeo events today are barrel racing, tie down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, and bull riding.
Montana Summer Rodeos
Montana has rodeo’s all summer long. Fourth of July is the biggest show of rodeos of the year. Enjoy rodeo’s everyday all summer in these Montana towns, Big Timber, Gardiner, and Columbia Falls. In June the Augusta Rodeo is pretty awesome and a lot fun, have been several times. Fourth of July weekend offers some great rodeo action in Ennis, Harlowton, Lincoln is holding there 71st Annual Rodeo, and Livingston. Other July rodeos through out the month are held in Bozeman the Roundup Ranch Rodeo, Big Fork, Big Sky, Helena, Lewistown, and Three Forks. As summer winds down August offers Bozeman Stampede, Missoula, Ronan, Townsend, and the White Sulphur Springs Labor Day Weekend Rodeo.
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Barrel Racing History
First Rodeo Barrel Race was held Stamford, Texas in 1931. In it’s beginning barrel racing was a figure eight pattern till 1935 in became a three barrel clover leaf pattern. WPRA upon it’s formation has regulated and promoted the sport of barrel racing. As the governing body of barrel racing WPRA has over 4,000 members. WPRA has over 700 sanctioned events with $10 million in prize money. Barrel Racing is a competitive event exhibiting the skills of horse and rider. Now of days it’s a well known sport for Women and Men.
Some of the best known women barrel racers are Katie Monahan-Pruitt a 3-time WPRA World Champion known for here powerful athletic style. Sissy Jasper a 4-time WPRA World Champion. Sissy Jasper is in the Pro-Rodeo Hall of Fame and known for effortless smooth riding style. Tia Coleman a 7-time WPRA World Champion, a Pro-Rodeo Hall of Fame member. She is the only barrel racer to win four consecutive championships in a row. Rhonda Lawrence a 13-time WPRA World Champion winning over $2.5 million dollars as well as a member of the Rodeo Hall of Fame. Pam Anderson is a 10-time WPRA World Champion and she is considered the best barrel racer of all-time. Rhonda also won the Barrel Racing event four consecutive times.
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- Barrel Racing Event the next images are of the same rider doing her run
Breakaway Roping History
In 1953 High School Rodeo held it’s first women’s breakaway roping event and 1969 colleges held there first break away roping event.
