Rodeo at Polson Fairgrounds draws thousands

Great Falls steer wrestler and team roper Kyle Clutter experienced his second-ever National Rodeo Association Rodeo Friday and Saturday at the Les Baldwin Arena.

Relatively new to the sport, Clutter was encouraged by Mike Golloher and Josh Grenall, who introduced him to the sport four years ago.

“Mike is like a second dad to me and I started when I was a freshman at college,” Clutter said. “We had relatively good success this summer, won check at four out of our six events, and even placed in Big Timber, Conrad, and Gardiner.”

A former athlete, Clutter played baseball and all of the other sports. Prior to his graduation, he said he never had the time to partake in events like the rodeo.

“I plan on trying out in the pro rodeo next summer,” Clutter said. “Hopefully, by then I’ll have a better job and a way to finance all of that stuff.”

Clutter also filled in for his friend in team roping. His friend hurt his shoulders and knees in steer wrestling and was forced to wear an ankle brace so Clutter took his place.

Clutter, unlike his steer wrestling friend, said he has been relatively “injury free” in his limited experience in the rodeo.

“I haven’t had to wear any braces,” Clutter said. “I did separate my joint and shoulder last summer but pretty much I’ve been virtually injury-free.”

Tie down and team roper Donnie Benson has estimated he has won over $100,000 as supplemental income and a participant in the NRA Rodeo. Benson, a real estate broker by trade, says his earnings “pay for the hobby” after expenses are incurred.

“I do this because I love it, not because it makes money,” Benson said. “I work at the office and after work I rope until dark, get up the next morning and do it all over again. My wife is a barrel racer.”

Benson, who also participates in the professional rodeo circuit, said this is the first year he will not participate in a professional rodeo since he was 18 years old.

UnaRose Graham, director of the Polson Fairgrounds and promoter of the NRA Rodeo, said it was another successful weekend as the Fairgrounds held its 77th National Rodeo Association Rodeo at the Polson Fairgrounds.

“We had a great weekend, the weather was perfect and we possibly had about 3,000 people over the weekend,” Graham said. “It was just a good weekend for a rodeo. It wasn’t too hot and it wasn’t too cold and it was very comfortable. We had great music on Friday night. I appreciate everyone that sponsored this event that came out, watched the rodeo, and were able to help us produce this event.”

Graham said the NRA continues to grow in popularity and they are becoming a big event all over the Northwest.

“Rodeos are a big event, especially here in Montana, and we have contestants from all over the Northwest at different states and all over the United States,” Graham said. “The rodeos are all very competitive and they are family oriented. We have a lot of families that do calf roping, break-away roping, and they travel as families. The kids do Mutton Busting and ride mini bull and mini buckers. It’s just a wide variety of entertainment.”