Pistol Creek Rodeo has another strong turnout at Fairgrounds

Pistol Creek rodeo owner Pete White wanted to throw some wrinkles into this year’s Flathead River Rodeo.

On the first night of the rodeo, White wanted the fans to get a demonstration of the western lifestyle and his rodeo turned everyday ranching skills into a competitive event.

The Flathead River Rodeo had competitive events such as trailer loading. They also incorporated events such as bareback bronc riding, bull riding, cowgirl barrel racing, junior barrel racing, saddle bronc riding, senior breakaway, senior team roping steer wrestling and team roping on Thursday before the competitive qualifying events Fridayand Saturday.

“They really liked it and it was kind of refreshing to have something new and different,” White said. “That is really the grass root (of rodeo) is a ranching community. There is so much stuff that may happen day to day. Everyone that attended the rodeo had a blast and there were no bad words about the event. I just felt very good and pleased about that.”

The Flathead River Rodeo also marks the end of the rodeo season for Pistol Creek this year.

“You know this season was good and we covered four different rodeos,” White said. “We started in Hot Springs and went down to Lincoln Montana, the Ronan Pioneer Days and Polson. You can’t beat doing something that you love because then it just doesn’t seem like it is work.”

White, who is in his first year as the owner and operator of Pistol Creek, said the transition was “smooth.”

“You know it was a smooth transition because I’ve been involved and it wasn’t much more than a little extra work on the side,” White said. “The Flathead River Rodeo is usually a year’s worth of planning that we did in less than six months. I’ve been exposed to rodeo for a long time and there is a lot more time I’ve spent making phone calls and introductions.”

Many of the contestants that participated in this rodeo had their collective on going to the National Indian Rodeo Finals in Las Vegas in Nov.

Chris Lamere, a contestant from Rocky Boy, said the Flathead River Rodeo will be his last rodeo of the season.

“This is the last one for us on the circuit and there are still a lot of contestants that are trying to get points to the go to the finals in Vegas,” Lamere said.

Lamere, who began his rodeo career riding steers and later graduated to bulls before he got “too old” then transitioned into team roping.

“My daughter is a barrel racer and my son bull rides,” Lamer said. “The rodeo has become a family thing.”

Lamere said he likes the fact he can be stationary now that he is in the later part of his rodeo career.

“You don’t have to get off a horse like calf roping or bull riding,” Lamere said. “You can do this at any age. It just comes down to team effort and your partner (on your team).”

Lamere said he participates in approximately 20 rodeo contests a year and he liked to travel to Polson.

“This is good place and when you have your time off away from the rodeo, you just get up and jump into the lake,” Lamer said. “This is a great place to spend your time.”

Rodeo contestant Jimmy Racine is a veteran on the circuit. For the last 18 seasons he has participated in Indian Rodeos and pro rodeos for the past ten years.

Racine has team roped with his partner Tatsey Neil.

“I love the camaraderie and the family atmosphere of being in the rodeo,” Racine said. “When you go to any rodeo, you will always see someone that you know. You can depend on someone wherever you are at.”

Racine is hoping to qualify for the United Indian Rodeo Association finals that will be held in Browing.

“My summer is starting to slow down,” Racine said. “I’ve been going to a lot of rodeos and I am trying to have my horse ready.”

Racine, with his horse Denny, hopes to qualify to the National Indian Rodeo in Las Vegas.

“So far, I will probably eye the National Indian Rodeo in Vegas,” the 18-year rodeo veteran said.