Rodeo gates open at 5 p.m. nightly. Enjoy shopping at:

• Whoa Cowgirl
• Hoffman's Tack
• Calheim's Western Corner
• Bar S Beadwork
• Promiseland Farms
• Nikon Scopes
• and more! 

Mutton busters let 'r buck July 2 & 3

Ten contestants will be riding nightly in the Northland Financial Mutton Busting on July 2 and 3. Pre-registration was required.

Stickhorse race - July 2 & 3

Sponsored by Touchstone Energy (Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Capital Electric and Mor Gran Sou Electric). Be among the first 25 children age 6 & under thru the gate and willing to race in the arena to receive a free Wrangler stickhorse! $15 RCC gift cards to best dressed cowboy, cowgirl and race winner each night!

Ranch rodeo provides segue to fireworks on July 4th

A ranch rodeo will be held following the July 4th rodeo and before the fireworks while fans are waiting for darkness to fall. Four teams of four cowboys or cowgirls will go head-to-head in trailer relay race, trailer loading, and steer mugging competitions. It'll have you yelling "Yeeeee Hawwww!" Sponsors of the ranch rodeo are:

• Linton Livestock
• Interstate Batteries
• Missouri Valley Feeders

Commemorative Poster Features Chuckwagon Racing

Mandan Rodeo Days is offering its sixth in a series of commemorative posters highlighting memories, notable contestants, and featured events of the annual Fourth of July celebration.

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 at the Mandan Progress Organization office, 411 West Main St, Mandan, phone 751-2983. The cost is $10 each. Only 250 posters are available. The posters also will be sold at the Mandan Rodeo on July 2-4.

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.

When painting “Racing in Wagons,” Knuth’s primary aim was to capture the fast-paced action of each team of four horses. 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 now hang in the North Dakota Supreme Court. 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 feature the artwork of Knuth from 2008 with a print honoring Miss Rodeo America Ashley Andrews of Bowman; and the artwork of Kaye Burian of Manning, N.D., and 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.

Chuckwagon Racing Each Performance

Sponsored by KXMB CBS 12 Reiten Television. Get ready to scream and shout for your favorite team. Reed Rosencrans, Surrey, N.D., and Arlen Kramer, Granville, N.D., won't hold back.

John Harrison - Trick Riding, Comedy & Barrelman

Sponsored by Farm Credit Services of Mandan. John Harrison,of Soper, Oklahoma, will perform at the 2009 Mandan PRCA Rodeo. John comes from a family with rodeo in their blood. Harrison ’s father, Wiley, was a calf roper and his mother, Donna, competed in various events through her youth and adult years. The roots run deeper: John is the grandson of the late World Champion Bull Rider, Freckles Brown.

John’s professional career began when he became a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in 1999 as a contract act specialist. Later, John added barrelman to his card. He now entertains audiences with quick wit, trick roping, comedy acts and trick riding.

Adding to his repertoire of acts, John has created a comedy act to include in his performances. In 2003 Miss Rodeo Universe was crowned and she has been traveling the rodeo circuit ever since displaying her grace and style to audiences all across the nation. She has all of the attributes a great queen needs: poise, articulate expression, a flashy fashion sense, and her horsemanship skills have yet to be seen.

The newest act: comedy trick riding is a crowd favorite where John does numerous vaults and athletic maneuvers, including the difficult shoulder stand all while riding a runaway horse around the arena.

John has been selected to perform at the prestigious Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2001 and again in 2002. He has been nominated 5 times for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Act of the Year.