Mike Cole will be the first to admit what everybody already knows.

“We’re a long way from everything,” said the long-time president of the Eureka Rodeo.

And while a good distance from Montana’s more populated communities, Eureka has always been well worth the trip for those competing on the Mountain Health Co-op Tour.

With always improving grounds and some of the biggest payouts, the Eureka Rodeo has been selected the Platinum Rodeo of the Year by the Northern Rodeo Association and Northern Women’s Rodeo Association.

The Broadwater Rodeo and Fair in Townsend was chosen the Gold Rodeo of the Year.

The Jefferson County Rodeo in Boulder was chosen the Most Improved Facility for this summer.

Eureka was also selected as the rodeo with the best ground.

The three rodeo committees will be honored during the 50thAnnual NRA Finals presented by nuWest Builders, Oct. 30-Nov. 1 at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell.

The NRA Finals will determine the 2025 year-end champions in each event, along with the all-around cowboy and all-around cowgirl titles.

It is the third time the Eureka Rodeo has earned the honor since joining the NRA in 1999.

“It was very appreciated,” said Cole of the awards. “We push this as traditional entertainment.”

It might be one of the few rodeos in Montana that can boast an international audience.

“We have a huge following up north that helps us,” Cole said of southern Canadian rodeo fans. “We’re known for quality rodeo and do things right.”

Focus on the rodeo arena has been a constant for the Eureka committee.

“The past few years we have put a lot of money into the facility,” said Cole, who has been the committee president since the 1980s. “We put in sky boxes seven years ago, we put in more iron, put in concrete, added a new ticket booth and new vendor area. We upgraded the facility overall.”

The primary task for 2025 was improvement of the arena dirt.

“We brought in a bunch of sand and added three inches all over the arena,” Cole said. “It was coarse and held together great. It worked into the existing ground so well.

“Even I was amazed.”

The biggest inducement for cowboys and cowgirls this year was in added money. The Eureka Rodeo increased its added money to $3,000 from $2,000 last year.

The rodeo during the final weekend of July was the second highest for added money on the Mountain Health Co-op Tour and third highest for total payout among the 30 regular season rodeos.

The Eureka Rodeo handed out 13 checks of $1,000 or more this year to competitors.

“That’s something you have to do,” Cole said. “And we’ll do it again next year, making it to $4,000.”

The ability to increase the added money – and draw competitors from the eastern part of the state – comes from a strong relationship with sponsors.

“Oh my goodness, that’s the key to the whole thing,” said Cole. “We make sure they have good seating which is getting tough because we have so many sponsors. We’ve got more sponsors wanting to play.”

Cole’s connection to the Eureka Rodeo goes back to when he rode bareback horses. “This rodeo is a lifelong thing for me,” he said.

That’s what made him and his wife BeeGee seek more firm footing for the previously open rodeo that dated back to the 1940s.

“We felt we needed an organization that would have your back,” Cole said of being sanctioned by the NRA and NWRA. “The consistency, the stability are things we looked for. We wanted to be with a solid organization to hold it together. You would not be alone.”

And Cole had some help with the decision.

“You could say Joe Warner had a role in it,” he finished with a laugh about the persuasive powers of the NRA president.

“This is year-round. We’re getting this rodeo ready for the next generation to carry it on.”