Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo

09/11/2026

Where were you when the world stopped turning?
Let us never forget that somber day, a quarter-century ago

09/10/2026

Meet the leaders! 🏆
Austin Hurlburt , #1 in the steer wrestling and the all-around race.
▪️4th trip to the Badlands Circuit Finals (2022-24, 26)
▪️Home: Scotia, NE 🏠
▪️Horsepower in the steer wrestling: Blue, a 15-year-old blue roan. “He’s pretty easy. Everybody seems to get along with him. He’s the same, every time, it doesn’t matter if I ride him or two or three other guys ride him. He’s not a big fan of people, but he’s getting better.” 🐴
▪️Enters the circuit finals in 3rd place in the tie-down roping.
▪️Favorite candy: Reese’s. 🍫
▪️Favorite beverage: Gatorade, either white or Arctic Blitz. “My traveling partners will vouch for this. They have deals at the gas station, like 2 for $5, and you have to fill the cooler on those deals.” 🍶
▪️About competing in two events: “I really like roping calves, but the bulldogging is also fun. At this level, you have to like both events equally to have a competitive edge in both of them. I hate to lose. It drives me nuts to make little mistakes that you know shouldn’t have happened.”
▪️Favorite holidays: Easter and Thanksgiving
▪️Family: wife, Megan. They are expecting their first child, a girl, in November. 🍼

09/09/2026

‼️Attention rodeo committees!
Join us at the 2nd annual Back in the Saddle committee collaboration on Sat., Oct. 10 during the circuit finals.

Flint Rasmussen is keynote speaker!

📅 Oct. 10 | ⏰ 9–12 | 📍 NDSF Atrium

*Refreshments + take‑home Toolkit

This years summit is PACKED with practical ideas you can take home and use immediately. Connect with committees, learn from industry pros, and elevate your rodeo.

Keynote: Flint Rasmussen- The one and only will share stories from his PBR career, inside perspectives from small to large rodeos, a few jokes, and plenty of behind‑the‑scenes wisdom.

Topics: • Shark Tank Panel • Butts in Seats • Making $5K look like $50K • Networking and more….

Committee Perks: Free rodeo tickets + vendor booth space

🏆 NEW: Rodeo of the Year awards
Don’t miss this.

Don’t let your committee miss this. Share it. Show up. Level up. PRCPRCA ProRodeoopfans

09/08/2026

Announcing our 3 host hotels:
▪️The Clarion Inn: Call 701.852.2504 and ask for the Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo rate of $129/king and $139/double.
Address: 2200 East Burdick Expressway, Minot, ND
▪️Sleep Inn: call 701.837.3100. Rate is $99/double.
Address: 2400 10th Street SW, Minot.
▪️Revel Hotel: call 701.852.4300. Rate is $100/double.
Address: 1510 26th Avenue SW, Minot.
Discounted rates end Sept. 24.

09/05/2026

“𝐒𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞. 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝, 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭. 𝐎𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞, 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐤𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐫𝐮𝐧.” - 𝐌𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐎𝐭𝐭𝐨

When the dust settled at the Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo inside the North Dakota State Fairgrounds a few weeks back, it was a 5-year-old futurity mare who shined brightest. Dashin On Fire (by Firewater Ta Fame x Dash To Honor x Bully Bullion), known as “Mesa,” carried former NFR qualifier Molly Otto to her first-ever Badlands Circuit Finals average title, securing the championship in a three-run battle that paid out nearly $6,500.

The win marked a major milestone not just for Otto, but for owner Katie Lindahl, whose pipeline to Otto has produced standout horses like Teasin Dat Guy (“Chewy”) — the mare Otto rode to her first NFR qualification and is still a dominant force in ProRodeo beneath Emily Beisel.

Mesa’s Minot performance capped off an impressive 5-year-old season that pushed her past $103,000 in QData earnings, a fitting achievement for a mare whose rise has been rooted in patience and partnership. This is a story you won't want to miss, powered by Equinety. ⬇⬇

The 5-year-old mare Dashin On Fire won the Badlands Circuit Finals with Molly Otto, adding another champion to Katie Lindahl's lineup.

09/04/2026

Our sympathies to the Sutton Rodeo family on the passing of their patriarch Jim Sutton. He was instrumental in the rodeo industry. 💔✝️

James (Jim) Sutton Jr.
4-20-1935 ~ 9-3-2026

Today, we said goodbye to our patriarch, an innovator, record setting athlete and a true cowboy legend.

Our legend.

He believed in hard work, high integrity, superior performance and had a true love for competition, quality livestock, production & entertainment.

His wisdom was earned through a lifetime of experiences on the ranch, in the arena, on the court, the field and the rodeo road.

His influence was felt throughout the Western industry, leaving behind a legacy that is far from finished. It lives on in the values he taught, in the land he loved, and the stock he raised.

A great man.
A great cowboy.
A great dad and grandfather.
A great leader.
A life well lived.

We say farewell with sorrow, but also with gratitude.

May he make this final ride knowing he leaves behind a family who loved him deeply and a legacy that they will strive to carry on.

Rest easy, your work here is done.

Visitation:
10:00-11:00am, Monday, September 14, 2026 at the Sully Buttes Gymnasium
Funeral Celebration of Life:
11:00am, Monday, September 14, 2026 at the Sully Buttes Gymnasium
Interment: Onida Cemetery

In preparation for this day, he has requested that in lieu of flowers any memorials be sent to the following organizations that were so important to him throughout his life;
- SDSU Athletic-Rodeo/Basketball
- Casey Tibbs Hall of Fame, Ft Pierre, SD
- ProRodeo Hall of Fame, Colorado Springs, CO

09/03/2026

It's time to let the cat out of the bag... will join us at this year's Circuit Finals👏👏
He will sign autographs, MC the go-round awards ceremonies, and be the keynote speaker at the committee summit!
We're glad to have you, Flint!

09/01/2026

Psssst... we have a little surprise for you.... keep your eyes open 👀👀

08/31/2026

Announcing our 2026 contract personnel:
Announcers Bob Tallman and Garrison Allen
Rodeo clown and barrelman Dalton Morris Entertainer
Music director Jersey Jake
Bullfighters Ely Sharkey and Beau Schueth
Pickup men Brandon Hatzenbuhler and TK Sampson
Rodeo secretary Val Lundquist
Assistant rodeo secretary Rowena Nelson
Timers: Amy Sutton-Muller and Kim Sutton
Photographer: JackieJensenPhotography.com
Congrats to everyone!