It was dirt-kickin’, adrenaline-pumping, wicked good fun at the Waseca County Fair grandstands on Saturday, July 11.
The Great Frontier Professional Bullriding show stampeded into town, bringing 21 daring riders face-to-face with 34 furious, horn-tossing beasts provided by Meech Bucking Bulls out of Sebeka, Minnesota. With a $4,000 grand prize on the line and a grueling eight-second clock to beat, Miles Kattevold, the man in charge, kept the action moving at a breakneck pace.
The atmosphere was electric before the first chute even cracked open. Celebrating 250 years of American liberty, the opening ceremony featured a stunning banner presentation. Riders paraded into the arena holding the American flag alongside flags representing every branch of the military. Following a poignant moment of silence for fallen soldiers and a stirring rendition of the national anthem, the crowd of patriotic fans—packing the stands to absolute capacity—was primed for action. Great Frontier has been a fair staple for 13 years, but moving their first night to a prime Saturday slot paid off in spades.
Before the chaos began, we attempted to interview a few of the horned athletes. However, the four-legged behemoths seemed far more interested in snorting, slobbering, and turning tail at the sight of the press than giving us a statement.
The human athletes, on the other hand, were ready to talk business. Minnesota’s own home-grown talent stood tall in the lineup: Blaine Peterson (seven years riding), Jack Kruse (a three-time National Federation Professional Bullriding (NFPB) finalist and Humboldt champion with 13 years under his belt), and Tate Meyer (a regular at the high school state finals who ranked sixth in the world during his “little rider” days).
“Meet the kick every time,” they shared, explaining their pre-ride mindset. “Try not to think, honestly.”
Once the gates opened, the bulls proved they came to play with a vengeance. Early on, the beasts dominated, bucking riders off left and right. Tate Meyer lined up early and put up a valiant effort before a massive bull launched him into the safety cage—though, true to his cowboy grit, he walked away completely unscathed.
Carter Hansen provided one of the first major highlights of the night. Flying out of the chute, Hansen rode grounded and came agonizingly close to the whistle, clocking a spectacular 6.8-second ride. Meanwhile, the legendary rodeo clown, Mr. Shleppy, kept the crowd laughing between wrecks, even narrowly escaping a stubborn, roaring bull that pinned him against the fence for 30 seconds of pure fury.
When the action paused, Shleppy was supposed to introduce Robert “Bullseye” Hilcock of Fort Worth, Texas. However, in a hilarious turn of events, Shleppy admitted he forgot to pick Hilcock up from the airport. To make up for it, Shleppy attempted to shoot a balloon off fellow rider Cade’s head. He missed by a mile, prompting Cade to take the gun and successfully shoot a balloon held tightly between Shleppy’s legs, to the crowd’s delight.
As the second round got underway, the danger of the sport took center stage. One rider suffered a terrifying, awkward landing on his head and was subsequently stepped on by a bull. Medics and crew rushed to the dirt, and thankfully, the rider sat up and appeared to be okay—a stark, sobering reminder of the physical toll these cowboys endure.
Even top-tier talent felt the heat. Larson Wells, the No. 4 ranked rider in the NFPB was rocked off early. Blaine Peterson drew a monstrous, bad-tempered beast and gave the crowd a heart-stopping show, lasting an agonizing 7.5 seconds before hitting the dirt.
But the tide finally turned. Lane Kruse, the No. 2 ranked rider in the nation, showed the crowd exactly why he holds that rank. Kruse put on a masterclass in control, staying glued to an absolute specimen of a bull for the full eight seconds to score a massive 86 points, securing his spot in the championship round. Soon after, another legacy rider—Luke Stolt, the calm and collected son of a veteran bull rider—conquered his cover for an impressive 78 points.
When the dust finally settled and the sun dipped below the Waseca horizon, it was Lane Kruse who stood victorious. Kruse took home the coveted top prize, successfully covering two bulls for an incredible combined score of 176.5 points. Carter Hansen claimed second place with 86.5 points off one cover, while Luke Stolt took home the bronze with a 78-point ride.
The decision to schedule Great Frontier as the primetime Saturday event proved to be a stroke of genius. Not even the blistering summer heat could keep the fans away from the thrill of the rodeo.
It was a night of pure grit, heart, and flying dirt. We’re already looking forward to next year, partner.
