By Robbi Longbrake
NISLAND—This year’s Nisland Fair Rodeo brought out a record number of contestants. They had over 72 kids sign up to compete on August 3, 2024, that’s up from a past average of 40-50 contestants. High temperatures didn’t stop the kids.
A variety of events were offered to boys and girls from under age six to age 18. They were as follows: Pee-Wees under 6 (all events on ground/stick horse): Barrels, Flag Race, Goat Tail Untying, Boot Race, Dummy Roping; Ages 7-9: Barrels, Poles, Goat Tail Untying, Flag Race; Ages 10-13: Barrels, Poles, Goat Tying, Flag Race; Ages 14-18 Girls: Barrels, Poles. Goat Tying, Breakaway; Ages 14-18 Boys: Steer Dobbing, Breakaway, Flag Race, Gated Keyhole.
In her seventh year of running the rodeo, Alicia Jacobs explained that putting on the Nisland Fair Rodeo was a family affair. Her older sister, Meg McNeese, ran the rodeo for five years prior to her taking over and before that, her dad, Rich Kokesh, put on the Nisland Fair Rodeo. “So I guess we just kept handing it down to each other,” said Jacobs. Her other sister, Katy Winter, does all the office work the day of the rodeo and her husband, Les Jacobs, helps out where he can. “My whole family helps, my husband does so much for it, and he knows little to nothing about rodeo, but bless his heart, he’s out there every year,” she said. “It’s definitely nothing fancy, but it’s fun.”
For the first time, the contestants wore back numbers. The Black Hills Roundup Committee had leftover back numbers from the PRCA rodeo, and Shannon Howell got them and donated them for the kids. “They all had Justin boots back numbers this year,” said Jacobs. “They loved that, it was really cool, they felt pretty special,” she said.
For the second year in a row, belt buckles were awarded to event winners. All of the money raised via sponsorships or entries goes back to the event. “We don’t keep anything,” said Jacobs. For the first time ever, a bank account was opened for the organization. Any leftover money goes back into that account. “I just want to keep growing our account so we can buy better prizes for second and third place too,” she added.
Putting on the rodeo for kids takes a volunteer effort. According to Jacobs, they have from 12 to 15 volunteers that help put on the event. “I have the same ones every year, the Tetrault family, they do a huge part of it, and Casey Miller, he always is helping. Even though his kids are in 4H and he has a lot going on, he still is there, getting everything lined out.”
According to Jacobs, the Butte-Lawrence County Fair Board received a grant to fix up the arena grounds and pens. “A lot of committee members did a lot of work this year to make the arena, the structure of it, a lot better, more functional.” She added, “it’s really awesome that they are doing that.”
Results:
Pee Wee:
Boot Race: 1st-Maxon Dell, 2nd-Jackson Clement, 3rd-Duke
Goat Tail Untying: 1st-Weston Miller, 2nd-Maxon Dell, 3rd-Audie Witty
Barrels: 1st-Prairie Lei, 2nd-Weston Miller, 3rd-Jackson Clement
Flag Race: 1st-Prairie Lei, 2nd-Maxon Dell, 3rd-Weston Miller
Dummy Roping: 1st-Maxon Dell, 2nd-Jackson Clement, 3rd-Savannah Bonefield
Ages 7-9:
Barrels: 1st-Paisley Braun, 19.83, buckle; 2nd-Brekken Samuelson, 20.91, $68; 3rd-Mesa Dell, 21.23, $51
Flag Race: 1st-Mesa Dell, 7.60, buckle; 2nd-Range Lei, 8.30, $60; 3rd-Jerzee Samuelson, 8.65, $45
Poles:1st-Mesa Dell, 23.45, buckle; 2nd-Paisley Braun, 24.79, $60; 3rd-Mariah Todd, 28.86, $45
Goat Tail Untying: 1st-Range Lei, 7.86, buckle; 2nd-Paisley Braun, 8.31, $90; 3rd-Mesa Dell, 9.06, $67.50
Ages 10-13
Barrels: 1st-Madison Cooper, 17.78, buckle; 2nd-Kaylee Lambert, 18.08, $76, 3rd-Tayzi Herrmann, 18.78, $57
Flag Race: 1st-Ragan Miller, 5.80, buckle; 2nd-Tripp Uherka, 6.12, $72; 3rd-Ryker Samuelson, 6.65, $54
Poles: 1st-Kaylee Lambert, 22.00, buckle; 2nd-Tierny Kudlock, 23.45, $80; 3rd-Remi Crago, 25.53, $60
Goats: 1st-Scout Casteel, 13.00, buckle; 2nd-Remi Crago, 15.17, $60; 3rd-Hallie Christenson, 15.22, $45
Ages 14-18
Barrels: 1st-Atty Eastman, 18.24, buckle; 2nd-Alexys Glines, 18.31, $36; 3rd-Brooke Garman, 18.66, $27
Poles: 1st-Alexys Glines, 23.08, buckle; 2nd-Brooke Garman, 23.48, $36; 3rd-Atty Eastman, 23.73, $27
Goats: 1st-Sorrel Nation, 11.54, buckle; 2nd-Kaydence Lei, 12.14, $36; 3rd-Taya Uherka, 12.21, $27
Girls Breakaway: 1st-Tylee Tetrault, 3.17, buckle; 2nd-Kaylor Kudlock, 3.47, $60; 3rd-Taya Uherka, 5.15, $45
Boys Flag Race: 1st-Mickey Strawn, 7.03, buckle
Boys Keyhole: 1st-Mickey Strawn, 8.86, buckle; 2nd-Tyce Uherka, 9.60, $12; 3rd-Treyson Hewitt, 9.78, $9
Boys Breakaway: 1st-Mickey Strawn, 7.27, buckle; 2nd-Treyson Hewitt, 9.26, $18
Boys Steer Dobbing: 1st-Treyson Hewitt, 2.69, buckle; 2nd-Mickey Strawn, 3.11, $12; 3rd-Tyce Uherka, 4.39, $9
