Iowa Cowboys Take Lead at Mandan Rodeo Days

MANDAN, N.D. – The opening night of the 136th Mandan Rodeo Days started and ended with Iowa cowboys in the driver’s seat in two of the three rough stock events.

Bee Jay Scott, who has been riding bareback broncs for more than two decades, showed the youngsters how to ride in style. The Otley, Iowa, cowboy scored 81 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Blueberry Buckle. Mandan’s National Finals Rodeo (NFR) cowboy Ty Breuer was second with 79.

Another Iowan, Jimmy Maten of Donahue, was the only bull rider to make a qualified ride. The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) rookie scored 80 points on Rock River Red and pocketed $1,400 day money in addition to any prize money he wins in the overall rodeo.

Maten had never been on the bull, but expected Rock River Red to turn back to the right.

“He made one round to the right and then came back around to the left,” he said. Maten was sporting a facial injury from last weekend in Clear Lake, S.D., but was feeling pretty good after his ride.

Texas cowgirl Megan Williams-Mariluch leads the barrel racing with the only time under 16 seconds—15.87. Michelle Lummus of Hiram, Ga., the leader after 86 barrel racers in Thursday morning’s slack, still held second place with a 16.17, despite an early morning storm that dumped more than an inch of rain and left the arena muddy.

Blake Mindemann of Blanchard, Okla., the fourth steer wrestler in the slack, leads that event with 4.2 seconds.

Mandan Rodeo Days continues at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 3 with Patriot Night and concludes at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 4.