2011 Montana Circuit Finalists wearing trophy jackets sponsored by Plains Horizon Insurance, Copper Spring Ranch, BillingsMontanaProperties.com and Pelican Truck Plaza / Cedar n Sage (owned by Theresa Miller of Miller's Horse Palace). Top row, left to right: Ali MacCarty, Deena Moeykens, Donna Johnson, Darcy Mapston, Gayleen Malone, Chloe Hoovestal and Carmel Wright. Front row: Rayna Rice, Twyla Vaira, Katie Rasmussen and Theresa Walter. montanawpra.com photos unless otherwise stated.
Theresa Walter with her average saddle (Woody's Feeds) and year-end saddle (Steel-Etc.) at the 2011 Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals. With the help of her horse, Fames Licorice Kiss, Theresa amassed $21,905.81 for the year. They also won the WPRA-PESI bonus money, fast time award (from Grizzly Saddlery of a Zebra Print Classic Equine Pad) and $100 from Steel-Etc., Horse of the Year headstall from Three Forks Saddlery (photo at right) and Horse of the Year breast collar from BNH Quarter Horses. Pro Rodeo Pix photo
Dusti and Tracy Swan of The Barrel Racing Report were the proud buckle sponsors for the 2nd year in a row of the Top Money Winning Pro Rodeo Montana Bred horse. We are able to track these earnings because of our Pro Rodeo Equine Earnings records using registered names. Top photo (with their customized Rambo blankets from the Montana Circuit) are the four horses at the circuit finals who were Montana bred: Gayleen Malone (Lady Bee Sparkin), Mandy Hamilton (Okie Dokie Dutchess), Twyla Vaira (Splashy Dry Doc) and Deena Moeykens (Guys Cash Or Charge). Bottom photo: Gayleen and Milee Malone pose with Mandy Hamilton and her buckle. The Malones started Dutchess and owned her prior to Mandy buying the talented little mare. Mandy and Dutchess finished third in the Montana Circuit Year-end standings. They also won a Classic Equine Saddle pad for their third place finish. 
Raenee Mapston presents Twyla Vaira with the 2011 Montana Circuit WPRA sportsmanship award (a lovely necklace and earrings) sponsored by John and Lois Hill of Hill Quarter Horses. Raenee and her parents Darcy and Ryan are long-time devotees of the HQH brand.
Montana Circuit Director Tannis Kobold presents Rhonda Kountz with the 2011 Montana Circuit WPRA Best Dressed Award, a custom hat from Rand’s Hat Company. 
Ross and Casey Wagner of the UBRC awarded four UBRC memberships to the circuit finalists who drew a high card. The lucky winners were Mandy Hamilton, Gayleen Malone, Darcy Mapston and Twyla Vaira. The UBRC also sponsored the 4th place year-end standings award won by Katie Rasmussen and Nowdatsreallysmokin. Top photo: Ross did some on-the-spot interviews with the finalists at the circuit breakfast, here he asks Theresa Walter what is something we might not know about her horse: “She is a little wacky outside the arena.” Joanne Gee, Darae Larson, Maria Taylor and Ali MacCarty look on. Bottom photo: Ross tries to get Mandy Hamilton to tell us what music rocks her to get in the mood for the rodeo. Milee Malone eggs her on. 
Tannis Kobold, Montana Circuit Director, and Maria Gee Taylor, Montana Circuit Finals Barrel Racing Director, with the stylish laptop bags given to them by the 12 Circuit Finalists in appreciation of all their hard work. 
Montana Circuit Finalist Bullrider James Warfield poses with Donna Johnson and Mandy Hamilton. The Dave & Donna Johnson Ranch awarded Mandy a one-out-of-the-money trophy vest for her run on Friday night. Darcy Mapston won the vest on Saturday and Deena Moeykens won the vest on Sunday (Darcy and Deena tied in the final performance).
Rayna Rice, Katie Rasmussen and Shelby Rasmussen dressed to the nines for the breakfast. Katie got to wear heels as she was sans Flint.
First-time Circuit Finals qualifier Ali MacCarty with four-time qualifier Theresa Walter. They are holding the hat cans from the Montana WPRA that were stylishly customized by Ali, who was also the 2011 Montana Circuit Breakaway champion. With the help of some downed barrels, Ali was also the recipient of 2 bags of Triple Crown feed from Candi Zion Quarter Horses for the 12th place go-round place. Carmel Wright got the Triple Crown on Friday.