AS I SEE IT
By Neal A. Shipman
Farmer Editor
Rodeo fans in Watford City and McKenzie County are in for a real treat this weekend as the North Dakota Rodeo Association will be bringing its Championship Finals to the Multi-Purpose Building in Watford City.
While some people might say that if you saw one rodeo, you’ve seen them all, they would be wrong. That is like saying if you saw one state basketball tournament, you’ve seen them all.
It would be far better to say if you are only going to see one rodeo, then that rodeo has to be the NDRA Finals.
Why? Because the NDRA Finals is the granddaddy of all rodeos in North Dakota. It is the culmination of a summer of rodeos with only the top competitors in each of the standard nine rodeo events - bareback riding, calf roping, ladies breakaway, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, senior men’s breakaway, and bull riding - qualifying to see who will emerge as state champions.
Imagine going to just one North Dakota rodeo where only the “best of the best” will be competing against each other. And that is just what will be happening this Friday and Saturday. Without a doubt, if someone is going to attend just one rodeo in North Dakota, then the Championship Finals is that rodeo. If you want to see the state’s best cowboys and cowgirls competing, they are going to be in Watford City this weekend. And if you want to see the most rank bucking stock from the best stock contractors in North Dakota, they are going to be here as well.
So if you like to watch rodeo, this is an event you won’t want to miss. And, if you like to watch wild bucking broncs and thousand-pound bulls trying to unseat an 185-pound cowboy, then the NDRA Championship Finals is the place to see the best rodeo action in North Dakota.
See you at the Finals!