Garret Yeager couldn’t ask for a better place to celebrate the Fourth of July.

The uber-friendly cowboy will be parking his rig and trailer at the Choteau American Legion Rodeo.

It will be an opportunity to mingle with family and friends and renew acquaintances at the event which has been a long-time staple on the Northern Rodeo Association schedule.

But Yeager will not be lingering there for fun and fireworks. His motive is more economically minded.

“The hometown rodeo is pretty cool,” said Yeager, whose family ranches 20 miles west of town. “It’s a chance to show the people who helped you along the way, the village that raised you what you can do.”

The 26-year-old steer wrestler has already done plenty in a short period of time.

He returns home riding the momentum of a 10-second weekend with back-to-back victories in Bozeman and Polson.

Yeager was 5.5 seconds in Bozeman and followed it with a 4.5 in a muddy Polson the next day.

“I drew two really nice steers,” he said. “And my horse was working good after having two years off. Everything worked really well for me. I couldn’t be happier.”

Traveling partner Breir Sevig served as Yeager’s hazer in Bozeman while veteran competitor Will Powell of St. Ignatius did the same in Polson.

“I was very fortunate to have guys like that helping,” said Yeager. “The steer wrestlers are a cool community. All the bulldoggers are one big family.”

Yeager was aboard Mack, a 13-year-old bay horse he has owned the past four years.

“Mack does a great job riding me into the hole,” said the owner. “He is always two steps ahead of me. It gives me a lot of confidence he knows his job better than I do.”

Increased ranch responsibilities kept Yeager and Mack home in 2024 and 2025. While off the rodeo road, interest in his talented partner did not wane.

“I probably got 10 calls during the two years off people asking if they could buy the horse,” Yeager said. “I knew I would regret it if I did sell Mack.”

“So, no regrets there,” he finished with a laugh.

The Bozeman and Polson checks vaulted him to the top of the standings as the regular season reaches the one third completion mark.

The top 10 in each event qualify for the NRA Finals presented by nuWest Builders, Oct. 22-24 at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell.

“Everyone’s goal is a saddle at the end of the year,” said Yeager. “We just try to do the best runs we can to give ourselves the best chance.”

Bozeman winners: Bareback, Azreal Lara, Columbia Falls; Saddle bronc, Brand Morgan, McAllister. Bull riding, James Bogguss, Ennis. Steer wrestling, Garret Yeager, Choteau. Tie-down roping, Weston Hersel, Lewistown. Team roping, Cameron Handy-Lane Krutzfeldt, Powderville. Barrel racing, Rachel Ward, Belgrade. Breakaway roping, Alexa Major. Junior barrel racing, Austin Rask, Helena. Junior breakaway roping, Axton Mansch, Great Falls.

Polson winners: Bareback, Dalton May, Coram. Saddle bronc, Jason Colclough, Libby. Bull riding, Kas Whiteman, Browning. Steer wrestling, Yeager. Tie-down roping, Craig Bagnell, Polson. Team roping, Preston Bird-Dylan Johnson. Barrel racing, Brooke Billingsley, Glasgow. Breakaway roping, Dusti Bird, Cut Bank. Junior barrel racing, Rask. Junior breakaway roping, Brinley Tatsey, Valier.

Big Timber winners: Bareback, Lara. Saddle bronc, Ryatt Thomson, Belgrade. Bull riding, Korbin Baldwin, Whitefish. Steer wrestling, Mitch Detton, Great Falls. Tie-down roping, Jade Gardner, Ballantine. Team roping, Shawn Bird-Colten Fisher. Barrel racing, Annie Sorge, Shepherd. Breakaway roping, Cassidy Bradshaw, Hobson. Junior barrel racing, Gwendolyn Gauger, Pryor. Junior breakaway roping, Tatsey.

Opheim winners: Bareback, Tucker Zingg, Crow Agency. Saddle bronc Brian Hoppe, Gardiner. Bull riding, no entries. Steer wrestling, Jack Cornwell, Glasgow. Tie-down roping, Zingg. Team roping, Jace Bishop-John Bell. Barrel racing, Laura Kleinjan, Chinook. Breakaway roping, Shaylee Wahl, Circle. Junior barrel racing, Sophia Neill. Junior breakaway roping, Mesa Weeding, Jordan.