The official state sport in South Dakota is rodeo. The state motto is Great Faces, Great Places and its clear why the elite of rodeo come to compete on the prairie. Tradition. Over the summer numerous rodeos, timed events and buck outs are sanctioned within the state borders. The amateur associations provide a starting point for young cowboys and cowgirls while spotlighting small towns and community celebrations for locals and tourists.
Traveling I-90 is scenic from the wide open prairie to the black hills and in between all the Wall Drug signs can be counted before you hit the Badlands National Park exit.
Cooper Crago, 2014 South Dakota State Champion Saddle Bronc Steer Rider
South Dakota is known for producing world champion saddle bronc riders from the beginning of time. The state has 22 gold bucks including the 2014 reigning world championship buckle worn by Chard Ferley from Oelrichs, SD. The very first world champion was Earl Thode from Belvidere, SD in 1929. Twenty years later in 1949 the legendary Casey Tibbs from Ft. Pierre won his first of six gold buckles. The remaining South Dakota World Champions include the Etauber brothers Robert and Billy from Miller; Clint Johnson from Spearfish along with Tom Reeves from Eagle Butte, Jeff Willert from Belvidere. Several NFR qualifiers including Jesse Bail, Dan Etbauer, JJ and Cole Eleshere also reside in South Dakota. Cowboy Lifestyle Network invites our fans to tweet @cowboylifestyle your favorite South Dakota bronc riders. How many can you name? The (PRCA) Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association with signature events year round attracts even the young guns of rodeo. Over the Fourth of July run the Black Hills Roundup in Belle Fourche, South Dakota celebrated its 95th anniversary. After the cattle drive on main street Cowboy Lifestyle Network, Ak-Chin Indian Community and Earnhardt Auto Road Team caught up with the future stars of saddle bronc steer riding. The new crop of riders made an appearance on July 3, 2014 riding steers with saddles. Four riders spurred steers fitted with bronc saddles to showcase the new junior high event. Among the contestants were cowboys Cole Brewer, Cooper Crago, TJ Schmidt and Stran Smith. Crago won the inaugural state championship in June for Saddle Bronc Steer Riding. Follow Cowboy Lifestyle Network’s friend Bronc Riding Nation for complete details on the horses and bronc riders.
Gretchen Kirchmann is a veteran journalist covering a variety of events across the country each year. She founded Kirchmann Media Group in 2009 and works as a marketing consultant with a forte for the western lifestyle industry, festivals, fairs and rodeo world. Her work includes 15 national communication awards plus coverage of Nashville's CMT Awards and CMA Fanfest. A favorite assignment was attending the all cast reunion of the Dukes of Hazard in 2006 and 2007 at Dukesfest. In December you will find her covering the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and Miss Rodeo America pageant live from Las Vegas. Her favorite color is orange, favorite song "Rocky Top" and she loves to dance especially clogging.
