Mandan Rodeo Poster Honors Homegrown Barrel Racer & Horse

The Mandan Rodeo Days publicity poster for 2011 honors a local barrel racing duo that is winning big at professional rodeos across the nation. Britany Fleck and her mare Dasher Dude are currently ranked eighth in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association standings with $26,083 in earnings as of May 4, 2011.

The Mandan Rodeo poster featuring Fleck and the horse she affectionately calls “Rootie” is the eighth in a series of prints highlighting memories, notable contestants, contract personnel, and featured events of the annual Fourth of July celebration.

Fleck’s richest victory to date, $14,519, was the pay check for a first place final finish and placing in other rounds of the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo in February. Another major win was a first place tie during the opening round of the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo, Denver, Colo., worth $3,763.  Other earnings came at Clovis and Lakeside, Calif.; Laughlin, Nev.; Houston, San Angelo, and Bay City, Texas; and Tucson, Arizona.

The daughter of Duane and Terri Fleck, Britany grew up on a ranch near Solen and moved to Mandan after college. The 27-year-old made the gutsy decision last June to leave a good job at Northland Financial to compete full-time at more and larger professional rodeos. She finished 17th in 2010 in the WPRA standings with more than $45,000 in winnings and earned nearly that same amount in the Canadian standings. The top 15 WPRA barrel racers qualify to compete at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo held annually in Las Vegas. Fleck is hoping to make her debut there in 2011.

Fleck’s teammate in barrel racing is also a product of North Dakota. She trained Rootie herself, a feat somewhat unusual in the sport of professional barrel racing. The black 11-year-old mare is by Texas High Dasher, a stallion raised by M.G. Olson of Glen Ullin and purchased by the late Leslie Roth, also of Glen Ullin, in the late 1990s. Fleck and Rootie’s successes were covered in the April 2011 issue of Barrel Horse News.

Fleck is proud to appear on this year’s Mandan Rodeo poster. “It is a great honor as a hometown cowgirl to be featured on this year’s poster. Mandan is a great rodeo with an exceptional crowd and committee,” she explains. “We have had many humbling moments, but always try to stay focused on our accomplishments. My teammate Rootie and I are going to continue to work hard and try to make everyone in not only Mandan, but North Dakota proud,” she states.

Fleck is planning to compete at the 2011 Mandan Rodeo where she has been a contender for the last several years, winning second in each 2009 and 2010. She earned the Badland’s Circuit championship in 2009 as the top money earner at WPRA barrel races held North Dakota and South Dakota combined.

The poster features original artwork of Deb Knuth titled “Racin’ with Rootie.” Posters are available at the Mandan Progress Organization office, 411 West Main St, Mandan, phone 751-2983, and at the Mandan Rodeo on July 2 to 4.

Knuth’s other rodeo, horse and western prints have appeared on the cover of Today’s Horse magazine and in American Cowboy and Horses in Art magazines. Among Knuth’s inspirations are her two sons, who formerly competed in rough stock events.  Her pen and inks have been published on covers of books and publications, many of which hang in the North Dakota Supreme Court. Her oil paintings are in private collections. Other samples of Knuth’s work can be viewed at www.debknuth.com.

The Mandan Rodeo Days series of commemorative posters is available at the Mandan Progress Organization office. Previous commemorative Mandan Rodeo posters featuring the artwork of Knuth include prints of a rodeo pickup man, the event of chuckwagon racing, Miss Rodeo America 2007 Ashley Andrews of Bowman. Other posters highlight the artwork of Kaye Burian of Manning, N.D., honoring World Champion Bucking Bull Little Yellow Jacket from the Berger Ranch near Mandan; 1992 World Champion Bareback Rider Wayne Herman of Golden Valley, N.D.; four-time (1981, 1983-1985) World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider Brad Gjermundson of Marshall, N.D., and 1957 World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider Alvin Nelson of Grassy Butte, N.D.

Congrats to the winner of the commemorative rifle: Jerome Werlinger, Bismarck.

Carrie Burt, Mandan, won the commemorative pistol.

Mandan Rodeo Committee Raffled Commemorative Shotgun & Handgun

The Mandan Rodeo Committee raised $3,000 after expenses from the sale of raffle tickets for a commemorative shotgun and handgun. Half the money is being donated to charities tht support injured veterans and half will be used toward rodeo arena and equipment improvements. Thanks to all who sold and bought tickets!

Hats off to Gun Hutt, Mandan, for donating the firearms, to Vi’s Gun Leather & More, Mandan, for the custom holster and scabbord, and to Dakota Awards, Bismarck, for the engraving. 

Collect the other 7 posters

$25 for a set of  7 - save $10. Posters available at the Mandan Progress Organization, 411 W Main Street, phone 751-2983. $5 each

“Bringing the Safety Net—Jim Wilson, Pickup Man.”

The Mandan Rodeo's 2010 publicity poster features pickup man Jim Wilson. He has been helping bareback and bronc riders to safety at the Mandan Rodeo for approximately 15 years. He began picking up broncs and bronc riders at the age of 18, and has worked every level of rodeo from youth to high school, college, amateur and professional rodeos in the five-state area of North and South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Nebraska. He has been a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association since 1994.

Wilson calls Alzada, Montana, home. He ranches there with his wife Louise. They run a commercial herd of 400 Angus cows and about 1,000 head of Columbia sheep. Jim was born and raised on the ranch they now operate. He attended country schools and on weekends worked for his uncle at the ranch. He attended high school in Belle Fourche, S.D. After graduation he went to work on the ranch full-time and begin building his own cow herd a bit at a time. He took over the full operations in 1972 and ownership in 1976. He recently added another ranch to the operation by leasing the place next door, across the Wyoming border.

Wilson says the cowboy is his first priority in the arena, getting him to the ground safely. His second priority is to safely and efficiently return the horse or bull to the pen. To accomplish this job he keeps anywhere from 10 to 14 head of pickup horses ready to go at all times, plus a long rope! For most rodeos, he hauls five or six horses, depending on the number of cowboys entered in each event, and the format of the rodeo. That way if a horse becomes sore or injured, Wilson always has a backup. In order to have that many pickup horses, it is necessary to try a lot of different horses in the arena. Wilson explains that only about one in ten will actually “go there and get the job done.” Most horses are scared of a bucking, kicking animal and it is impossible to get to the cowboy and put him safely on the ground. 

The poster features original artwork of Deb Knuth titled “Bringing the Safety Net—Jim Wilson, Pickup Man.” Posters are available  at the Mandan Progress Organization office, 411 West Main St, Mandan, phone 751-2983.

Racin' Wagons

The 2009 poster, titled “Racing in Wagons,” showcases a crowd favorite from the Mandan Rodeo -- the chuckwagon racing. Limited edition poster prints of the original oil painting by artist Deb Knuth of Wilton are on sale for $5 each at the Mandan Progress Organization office, 411 West Main St, Mandan, phone 751-2983.

The flash and excitement of chuckwagon racing has its roots in the history of the old west. After finishing a long day on the range, cowboys would return to the wagon for a meal, some songs and stories with friends, and a well-earned rest. At the end of the week, cowboys in the area would meet up and head to town for some entertainment. The last one to town would have to buy the first round at the local saloon, so the cowboys were motivated to be as quick as possible in loading up and heading out. A fast team and efficient packing were the name of the game and still are in today’s races.

Chuckwagon racing remains especially popular in Canada. Alberta's first competition took place at the 1923 Calgary Stampede. Racers were urged to imitate the cowboys' breaking of camp, with all the speed, horsemanship, and skill required. Chuckwagon racing has been bringing Mandan Rodeo fans to their feet since 1997.

North Dakota's Miss Rodeo America Ashley Andrews subject of '08 poster 

North Dakota cowgirl Ashley Andrews was Miss Rodeo America 2007. She came to the honor by way of serving as Miss Rodeo Mandan in 2005 before winning the state title in 2006. It had been 24 years since a North Dakota cowgirl won the national title.

Ashley is a cancer survivor. During her reign as Miss Rodeo North Dakota, she was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. After receiving six months of chemotherapy treatment she was given a clean bill of health to compete at the Miss Rodeo America Pageant.

"Having cancer was unexpected and I realized I had to cowgirl up," said Andrews. "Having the love and support of my family and friends helped make my recovery a success."

Taking challenges in stride is a predominant trait for Ashley Andrews. One of Ashley’s favorite quotes is "Opportunity is often missed because it is dressed in overalls and disguised as work."

As Miss Rodeo America, Ashley traveled more than 100,000 miles and appeared at over 100 rodeos during 2007. In addition to rodeo, Ashley also enjoys motivational speaking. Her community service has included the Lance Armstrong Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, American Cancer Society and the North Dakota Cancer Coalition.

Since giving up her crown in December, Ashley has returned to her hometown of Bowman, N.D. In January 2008, she was hired as Executive Director of the Bowman County Development Corporation. She is simultaneously completing her studies in communications, public relations and political science through the University of Mary, Bismarck.

Little Yellow Jacket honored with 2007 commemorative poster 

Painting by Kaye Burian, Manning

Little Yellow Jacket from the Berger Ranch near Mandan will be featured on this year’s commemorative poster for the Mandan Rodeo.

Inducted into the N.D. Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2006, Little Yellow Jacket is not only the most famous bull in the state, but the most famous bull in the world. He was named the World Champion Bucking Bull in 2002, 2003 and 2004 by the Professional Bullriders Association (PBR). He was recently retired and moved back to the ranch near Mandan, while his offspring are currently making their mark in the world of professional bull riding.

Little Yellow Jacket is the only bull in the history of the PBR to capture the illustrious World Champion Bull title for three years running. At the end of 2004, Little Yellow Jacket had been ridden only 11 times in 76 attempts to an average score of 93 points (of a possible 100). On a scale of one to twenty-five possible points, Little Yellow Jacket's average bull ranking statistic reflects 22.9. Bulls are scored on every "out," regardless of the rider successfully completing the required eight seconds on the clock. The bull rating is an average of the scores the bull receives.

Little Yellow Jacket was last covered by 1997 PBR World Champion Michael Gaffney on April 24, 2004 for an outstanding score of 96.5 points, which tied the record shared by Chris Shivers and Bubba Dunn for the highest marked ride in PBR history.

Little Yellow Jacket merchandise including miniature collector bulls are available at local western shops.

World Bareback Champ Wayne Herman Honored with 2006 poster

World Champion Bareback Rider Wayne Herman, a Golden Valley, N.D., native, was the subject of the 2006 commemorative poster by artist Kaye Burian.

Other posters feature four-time World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider Brad Gjermundson of Marshall, N.D., and 1957 World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider Alvin Nelson of Grassy Butte, N.D.