Kalane Anders Wins RAM Mountain States Circuit Finals Rodeo
A chaotic landscape of wildfires and snowstorms loomed on the Colorado horizon while a dust storm brewed inside the Budweiser Events Center as cowboys competed for the RAM Mountain States Circuit Finals Rodeo.
But, a positive attitude can go a long way, as steer wrestler Kalane Anders found out when he won the RAM MSCFR in Loveland, Colo., Oct. 24, while the night’s snowfall brought a long overdue blanket for the region’s wildfires.
“I was just trying to be smooth on all three of my runs and my hazer kept me positive and going at them,” Anders said of his roommate, traveling partner and fellow steer wrestler, Aaron Vosler. “He put every one of those steers near me and didn’t mess up once. He saved my butt there on my first one, and we were able to go from there.”
The Nebraska cowboy was also quick to credit his mount, Flasher, an 11-year-old American Quarter Horse owned by Anders’ bosses Steve and Sherry Jobman.
“He is truly a blessing to have,” said Anders, 25. “They allowed me to start him and we’ve grown a lot together.”
Anders was out of the money in the first round of the RAM MSCFR but returned with a 5.3-second run to place fourth in the second round.
“On the first one, I was a little too late but I was able to catch him at the end of the arena since Flasher has a lot of run to him,” Anders said.
The final round was the deciding factor for Anders. He tied Gage Hesse with a 4.4-second run that pushed Anders to the top of the average with 15.5 seconds on three head, edging the competition by 1.1 seconds.
“Winning this means a lot, I’ve been looking forward to it and I knew I would win it sometime but didn’t know when,” Anders said. “I am still in shock and awe about it, but pretty happy.”
Anders’ Loveland efforts were worth a $3,561 boost in the 2021 PRCA | RAM World Standings and a qualification to the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Kissimmee, Fla., in April.
“I’m ready to keep going, I wish I could just keep going right now,” Anders said, adding that he intends to compete full time in the 2021 season.
Anders made his ProRodeo debut in 2018, finishing fifth in the PRCA | Resistol Rookie Standings with $14,385. He doubled his money in 2019, earning $27,612.
Since graduating from Chadron (Neb.) State College, he has been focusing on his ProRodeo career. The 2020 season was his first competing full time, and he finished 25th in the world standings. When he’s not on the road, he helps the Jobmans with their 500-head of cattle near Bayard, Neb.
“I had a really good year, but it was tough since it was a lot of rodeos and they weren’t very close together,” Anders said. “You also had to be fast at every rodeo since everyone was there.”
Anders had a strong start in 2020 when he earned $4,500 for placing second in Bracket 2 at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo.
“I’m very hungry and ready for the year to kick off and go at them,” Anders said, adding that he’s eager to return to San Antonio and is looking forward to RodeoHouston. “I went to San Antonio last year and had some luck in the long run, so hopefully I can do even better this time.”
Other winners at the $123,095 rodeo were all-around cowboy Jase Staudt ($9,327, tie-down roping and team roping); bareback rider Cole Reiner (261.5 points on three head); team ropers Jase Staudt/J.C. Flake (16.0 seconds on three head); saddle bronc rider Chet Johnson (243 points on three head); tie-down roper Jase Staudt (28.7 seconds on three head); barrel racer Kelly Yates (44.59 seconds on three runs); and bull rider Nathan Hatchel (251.5 points on three head).
For more coverage on the RAM Mountain States Circuit Finals Rodeo, check out the Oct. 30 edition of ProRodeo Sports News.
Courtesy of PRCA