Milk River Challenge

The 2016 Phillips County Fair featured some solid bull and bronc riding last Sunday as the Milk River Challenge Rodeo came to Dodson. The rodeo featured 20 bull riders and 15 saddle bronc riders who gave their all for a crowd of around 1,000 spectators at the Dodson Fairgrounds Grandstands.

The rodeo featured several qualifying rides but none more impressive than the riding of Fort Belknap's T'Jay Allen who won both the Saddle Bronc Challenge and Bull Riding Challenge. This was also Allen's second straight victory at the P.C. Fair after also winning last year's Bull Riding Challenge with a 77 point ride.

Allen scored 79 in bull riding and a 73 in the top five saddle bronc event.

"I was just kind of in a slump," Allen told the PCN. "Then I just figured I needed some money today. So I went all out and it stuck."

Allen was paired with Pi, a bull from Jim Orahood's ranch thanks to a judge's drawing.

"I got to check him out," Allen said. "I knew his history and that he was kind of loud in the chutes."

Allen was happy with the turnout at the fair.

"The crowd was alright," Allen said."I heard them after my ride."

Other finishers in the Bull Riding Challenge included Wylee Hurst who scored 71 points on the bull named Loose Cannon after taking a re-ride option. His first ride was scored 62 on a bull named Junky Star.

Tyler Svendsbye scored 71 points after a ride on Lumpy.

Hurst had Allen holding his breath after his re-ride, which was pretty impressive.

"I was thinking, good job and hoping he didn't have a better score than I did," Allen said.

Allen, only 18 and a recent high school graduate is young but his recent run at the Dodson Fairgrounds says he knows a thing or two about riding a bull.

"Just keep your head down, keep your spurs in him and hang on, make your moves I guess," he said.

Though the bull riding events feature the heavier and meaner animal, Allen prefers riding saddle broncs.

"I prefer broncs more but I love doing both of them," Allen said. "You last longer on broncs and won't get crippled up as much I guess."

Other finishers in the Saddle Bronc Riding Challenge's top five included JC DeSavior who scored 71 points and Cooper DeWitt who scored a 69.

In the first round of Saddle bronc riding DeSavior had the top score with 71 points, DeWitt had a score of 69, Allen had a score of 63 and Yancey Hawley had a ride of 53. Y. Hawley took a re-ride and ultimately failed to post a qualifying ride.

Allen shared his thoughts on winning the Phillips County Fair Milk River Challenge Rodeo.

"It kind of means a lot to have all of your local fans around you supporting you," Allen said. "It means a lot. My family usually comes everywhere."

Allen said he couldn't hear his family's screaming until after his rides.

Allen will join the college rodeo this fall, while attending Aaniiih Nakoda College in Fort Belknap, with hopes of making it to Las Vegas later in the season.

In the Ranch Bronc Challenge Leyton Lawrence scored 71 points to win the event. Kevin Hawley was the only other rider to score with 65 points.

In the Mini Bull Challenge senior Ty Owens won with a score of 73, rookie Rodee DeMers had 69, rookie Jubal DeMers had 68 and junior JR Harrell had 67.

The Mini Bronc Challenge was won by junior Spur Owens with 74, junior Alex Nelson scored 72, buckaroo Ryder Murray had 71 and buckaroo Stryder Owens had a score of 69.