Dan Mortensen, immortalized by a 17-foot tall bronze statue greeting fans at First Interstate Arena in Bilings is a seven-time world champion.

Flint Rasmussen changed the game for rodeo entertainment.

Jess Lockwood had a pair of Professional Bull Riders gold buckles before the age of 25.

Clay Tryan, a three-time world champion team roper, is now mentoring his sons and other young ropers through professional rodeo.

Lisa Lockhart is the winningest barrel racer in WPRA history with more than $4 million in career earnings. She is also the money leader for money won at the National Finals Rodeo.

Ty Erickson (steer wrestling) and Haven Meged (tie-down roping) won world titles in 2019.

Tayla Moeykens is a former collegiate national champion who competed at her first NFR this past December.

Cowboys and cowgirls from different generations in different events. The list goes on and on.

All the stories share a common denominator:

They honed their competitive skills in the Northern Rodeo Association and Northern Women’s Rodeo Association.

Who will write their chapter in 2026?

After an absolute stellar 2025, the NRA and NWRA begin another season with the Conrad Whoop-Up Trail Days, June 5-6.

The rodeo is the annual starting point for the season.

Conrad is the first of 31 rodeos scheduled from the first weekend of June through the first weekend of September.

New to the schedule the Powder River Fair and Rodeo July 24 in Broadus.

For all competitors – young or old, veteran or rookie – all roads lead to Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell.

Last year, the NRA and NWRA celebrated 50 years of the NRA Finals.

One of Montana’s premier rodeos features the top 10 in the regular season standings competing aboard the best stock for three action-packed performances to determine the year-end champions.

High school competitors will be using the same facility for the Montana State High School Finals, June 8-13. The winners earn memberships into the two rodeo organizations.

There are plenty of miles to be traveled, dirt to be chewed, money earned and gold buckles to be one.

Who is ready to write their story?

2025 champions: Kelly Murnion, Jordan, all-around cowboy; Celie Rogers, Choteau, all-around cowgirl; Trevar McAllister, Ronan, bareback; Colton Haase, East Helena, saddle bronc; Murnion, bull riding; Justus Peterson, Dillon, steer wrestling; Quinn McQueary, Belgrade, tie-down roping; Shawn Bird, Cut Bank, team roping heading; Chris White, Livingston, team roping heeling; Lisa Warfield, Helena, barrel racing;Molly Salmond, Choteau, breakaway roping.