Annual Mission Mountain Rodeo draws thousands to Polson
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Story and photo by Marko Kagi for the Valley Journal
POLSON – Crowds were electrified by the suspenseful hum of eight-second buzzers and stamping horses as cowboys and cowgirls alike filtered in and out of the arena during the annual Mission Mountain Rodeo last weekend. Though some contestants enjoyed a home grounds advantage, rodeo stars as far as Glendive, MT and Lander, WY traveled hundreds of miles across state and county lines to compete in Polson’s annual rodeo. Despite the great range of places competitors came from, a common theme presented itself throughout the dusty, boisterous evening: family. When taking a break from dashing around Coors-branded kegs, barrel racer mothers could be seen attending to their children in strollers on the sidelines as their husbands swapped spots with them to ride bulls and wrestle steer. Paige Turner, owner of Turner Performance Horses in East Helena, a company that sells specially trained horses worldwide, competed alongside her husband Chad and teenage daughter Hannah. Turner points out that unlike most other collegiate and professional sports that typically either end or continue at the point of recruitment and drafting, the vast amount of different leagues and age brackets in rodeo allow people, and in many cases, families, to keep competing for as long as their bodies will allow.
Travis Langan, who lives in eastern Montana but has come to Polson’s rodeo for about 15 years, views rodeo as an extension of the ranching lifestyle that many competitors grow up with, a shared culture that contributes to the family aspect of rodeo. “You’ll hear my daughter cheering for her friends to beat her,” he said. “You don’t see that in many sports.” He added that since contestants often attend the same competitions together weekend after weekend, deeper connections and friendships among members of the rodeo community are nearly inevitable. “The Polson Committee, they’re awesome. They’ve basically watched my girls grow up. The first year we brought my oldest daughter here, she was two years old. She’s 16 now.”
With an estimated attendance of 2,500, the two-day show had a sellout crowd, according to Tommy Seifert, president of the Polson Fairgrounds. As a non-profit, all money from the rodeo goes back to maintaining the grounds, which are run and managed completely by local volunteers. With the many events that the fairgrounds host, from weddings, to reunions and concerts, Seifert says the biggest challenge currently facing the organization is finding enough help to put on large events such as the rodeo. Though the annual rodeo often gets the most attention, the upcoming Paddle Palooza and Dragon Boat Festival, events that offer support to breast cancer survivors, take place July 11-13 and July 18-20, respectively.
While most in attendance Friday and Saturday night were focused on the activity inside the arena, lots happened on the perimeter too, as merchants sold shaved ice and country clothes, ambulances sat parked outside the gates, and human rights organizations set up shop promoting their cause.
Her first time as a vendor at Mission Mountain Rodeo, Maria Bell of Bells and Whistles, worked a stand that offered lemonade and shaved ice. Bell knows the world of rodeo well, having two sons who are bull riders. She also paints steer skulls in her free time.
Based out of the back of her pickup truck, Dannah Freesebrand, a barrel racer herself, exchanges cash for her “Freesebrand” clothing – named after her last name. Selling both new and used attire that is sourced through old-school trading methods, potential customers sifted through stylish pairs of jeans laid out on denim-covered tables as they compared them to the jeans and boot outfits that many rodeo-goers were already wearing on the Western-themed occasion.
Though no major incidents were reported, Polson Ambulance, which serves Ronan, St. Ignatius, and surrounding areas, remained on standby throughout the rodeo, with the van’s windshield pointed directly towards the dirt arena where footprints from both animals and thrown-off riders were made. Teri Miller, an EMT present Saturday evening, applauds the close proximity ambulances, as first responders like her are able to see exactly what happens at the time of any accidents, compared to the typical detective work that is required when ambulances are called after the fact. From her elevated vantage point, Miller can’t help but shudder when she sees riders get thrown from animals.
Acknowledging the roughness and rugged mentality associated with the sport, as a medical professional, Millers still wishes that all injuries get checked thoroughly rather than the typical cowboy response of “rub some dirt on it.”
Upon review of the Northern Rodeo Association Rulebook, it was not clearly stated that helmets were required for adults or children, an issue that some medical experts are pushing to address, despite the headwear standing at odds with cowboy hats, a classic symbol of the Western front.
Also present at last weekend’s event was the Flathead Reservation Human Rights Coalition. FRHRC advocates for “Hate-Free Zones,” hosts cultural gatherings such as the Ingenious Film Festival, and petitions city governments to stand by and adopt non-discriminatory policies.
Tammy Miller, current FRHRC president, says that her goal in attending events like the rodeo are to reach a wider audience of the local population, people who may not fully understand the organization’s mission and goals. She came prepared this past weekend with pamphlets and pins in support of human rights and Pride Month initiatives.
As the night wound down, results and times were tabulated, the Polson High School cheer squad sold the last bit of popcorn, lines for cotton candy died down and trailers were reloaded with livestock. Audience members moved from the grandstands to a grassy area just north of the arena where live music was performed. Rancher and former cowboy Buddy Westphal reflected on how the rodeo has changed in the nearly 50 years since he started coming. Though some may expect a nostalgic point of view, Westphal insisted that each year, he has witnessed competitors get better, with the wranglers of today training harder, both in the arena and the gym. “I think that the Cowboy Channel has made it to where people watch rodeo, understand rodeo, and like rodeo, and there’s more fans than there ever was in the past.” He also noted a moral component at play – saying he’s witnessed increased prayer and patriotism in modern competitions.
2025 POLSON RODEO RESULTS
PlaceBareback Riding Town Score$$$ Won
1Trevar McAllisterRonan81$573.40
2Leighton LaFromboiseHelena76$430.05
3Trapper McAllisterRonan63$286.70
4Cooper Haefs Livingston56$143.35
PlaceSaddle Bronc RidingTown Score$$$ Won
1Kolby Kittson Browning73$686.20
2Koy McAllister Ronan70$514.65
3Randin Wagner Browning68$343.10
4Wind Augare Cut Bank53$171.55
PlaceBull Riding Town Score$$$ Won
1Caleb OsheaHelena 72$703.12
2Kelly MurnionJordan 62$537.68
PlaceSteer WrestlingTown Time $$$ Won
1Justus PetersonDillon7.9$488.80
PlaceTie Down Roping TownTime $$$ Won
1Quinn McQueary Belgrade10.8 $727.09
2Craig BagnellPolson10.9 $556.01
3Kelly MurnionJordan13.9 $427.70
4Jade GardnerBallantine16.9 $278.01
5Teagen ArnoldConrad19.7 $149.70
PlaceTeam RopingTown Time$$$ Won
1Preston BirdCut Bank6.5$1,062.67
Brandon Glumbik$1,062.67
2Chad TurnerCody 7.8$812.63
Zach Schweigert$812.63
3Ryan Counts3 Forks 8.4$625.10
Brent Damuth $625.10
4\5Joel GravesFortine8.8$312.55
Marion Eash $312.55
4\5Neil TatseyCut Bank 8.8 $312.55
Jimmy Racine $312.55
PlaceLadies Barrel RacingTown Time $$$ Won
1Bella Olson Missoula17.47$1,131.76
2Brooklin Baukol Clyde Park17.62$929.66
3Leslie Graves Eureka17.76$727.56
4Abby Knight Charlo17.77$525.46
5Ella Fast C. Falls17.85$323.36
6Ashley Schad Whitefish17.86$202.10
7Julie Brown Helena17.87$121.26
8Mesa Radue Belgrade17.95$80.84
PlaceLadies BreakawayTown Time$$$ Won
1Molly Salmond Choteau3.2$1,171.24
2Hailey Burger Helena3.3$962.09
3Celie Rogers Choteau3.4$752.94
4Paige Johnston Polson3.6$543.79
5Jorie Dybcio Essex4.1$334.64
6Dylann Schlegel Bigfork4.3$209.15
7\8McKinnon Little Essex4.7$104.58
7\8Jessica PicchiettiPolson4.7$104.58
Place Jr Barrel Racing TownTime $$$ Won
1Sylvia EashFortine18.03$288.00
2Chaney AkinCody 18.06$216.00
3Paisley KruseBridger18.36$144.00
4Isabella MoranKalispell18.38$72.00
Place Jr Breakaway Roping Town Time $$$ Won
1Bentz Bolich Belgrade3.8 $268.80
2Landon Dolberry Polson4.2 $201.60
3Carson Eash Fortine4.3$134.40
4Cooper Eash Fortine4.4$67.20
