World Champion Goes Back-to-Back For Exciting Montana Circuit Titles

The temperatures were cold, but the competition was sizzling at the PRCA Montana Circuit Finals in Great Falls, Mont.

Hillary Mayberry

World Champion Steer Wrestler Ty Erickson was on a mission to defend his steer wrestling titles at the Montana Circuit Finals and punch his ticket to the NFR Open to defend his title there, as well. Erickson had a great Montana Circuit Finals in 2023, winning the first and second rounds and fourth in the third round, allowing him to capture the aggregate and year-end titles.

In true Ty Erickson form, he showed up and showed out even more in 2024. Erickson won all three rounds, the aggregate title, and moved from third to first to clinch another year-end Montana Circuit title. His success earned him $11,827 for the weekend and another trip to the NFR Open held in Colorado Springs, Colo., in July.

Erickson is a native of Helena, Mont., and is no stranger to success in pro rodeo – especially not in Montana. Erickson won his first Montana Circuit title in 2010 while still competing on his permit. In 2019, Erickson earned his first gold buckle. It was a pivotal moment for the dedicated rodeo fans in Montana as he was the first Montana steer wrestler to win it in nearly 70 years.

Erickson is a Montana cowboy through and through. Born and raised in Big Sky country, he furthered his education at Montana State University, where he qualified all four years to compete at the College National Finals Rodeo. Montana is where he and his wife Cierra have settled and are raising their daughter Cedona Ann.

Other Results from the Montana Circuit Finals Rodeo

In the Bareback Riding, Weston Timberman, the 19-year-old rookie, certainly didn't look like a rookie at the Montana Circuit Finals. Timberman won the first round, third in the second round, and second in the third round. Timberman took home the aggregate title with 253 points on three head. Timberman's success shouldn't come as a shock, as he is the nephew of 2004 World Champion Bareback Rider Keller Timberman and son of the 2006 RAM National Circuit Finals Bareback Champion Chris Timberman.

Timberman collected $9,856 for his efforts. In an interview with the ProRodeo Sports News, Timberman talked about his win and plans for the 2024 season, "This win was huge. This is going to help me set up my 2024 season. I plan on letting this slingshot me to my first NFR qualification in December."

In the team roping, it was PRCA veterans Dustin Bird and Ike Folsom who were the big winners. Bird and Folsom won the first and second rounds and fourth in the third round, allowing them to secure the aggregate title and $9,856 each.

The saddle bronc riding was dominated by 2x NFR qualifier Tanner Butner. Butner won all three rounds and the aggregate title. Butner entered the Montana Circuit Finals in the number one position, and the $11,498 pay only increased his lead– pushing his year-end earnings in the Montana Circuit to over $30k.

Ben Arye, of Glendive, Mont., took home the tie-down roping aggregate title with 33.8s on three head. Arye was able to earn money in rounds one and two, as well. Ayre won $5,256 and earned himself his first trip to the NFR Open.

The newly crowned 2024 Breakaway World Champion Shelby Boisjoli-Meged took home top honors in the breakaway roping, winning the aggregate and $10,513 for the weekend. Boisjoli-Meged won second in the first round, second in the second round, and first in the third round.

It was the Tayla Moeykens show in the barrel racing. Moeykens came into the Montana Circuit Finals in the first place position in the standings, and she put an exclamation mark on her season with a clean sweep at the finals– winning all three rounds and the aggregate title.

Luke Gee was the only bull rider to successfully cover all three bulls at the Montana Circuit Finals. Gee won the first and second rounds and second in the third round, capturing the aggregate title with 236 points on three head.

Full Results

Bareback Riding

First Round

1. Weston Timberman, 86 points on Duane Kesler's Knockout, $2,628
2. Tristan Hansen, 83, $1,971
3. Spur Owens, 81, $1,314
4. Caleb Bennett, 80, $657

Second Round

1/2. Tristan Hansen, on J Bar J's Lizard Back 84 points, $2,300
1/2. Calder Peterson, on J Bar J's Delta Hawk, 84, $2,30
3. Weston Timberman, 83, $1,314
4/5. Richmond Champion, 80, $329 
4/5. Tucker Zingg, 80, $329

Third Round

1. Richmond Champion, 86 points on J Bar J's Fringe Jacket, $2,628
2. Weston Timberman, 84, $1,971
3/4. Tristan Hansen, 80, $986
3/4. Trevor Kay, 80, $986

Average

1. Weston Timberman, 253 points on three head, $3,942
2. Tristan Hansen, 247, $2,957
3. Richmond Champion, 243, $1,971
4. Calder Peterson, 234, $986

Steer Wrestling

First Round

1. Ty Erickson, 4.3 seconds, $2,628
2/3/4. Kolby Bignell 4.7, $1,314
2/3/4. Timmy Sparing, 4.7, $1,314
2/3/4. Quentin Wheeler, 4.7, $1,314

Second Round

1. Ty Erickson, 4.2 seconds, $2,628
2. Timmy Sparing, 4.4, $1,971
3/4. Bridger Chambers, 5.2, $986
3/4. Jake Nelson, 5.2, $986

Third Round

1. Ty Erickson, 4.2 seconds, $2,628
2. Kolby Bignell, 4.9, $1,971
3. Caden Camp, 5.0, $1,314
4. Quentin Wheeler, 5.5, $657

Average

1. Ty Erickson, 12.7 seconds on three head, $3,942
2. Timmy Sparing, 14.8, $2,957
3. Kolby Bignell, 23.3, $1,971
4. Jake Nelson, 26.4, $986

Team Roping

First Round

1. Dustin Bird/Ike Folsom, 4.6 seconds, $2,628 each
2. Wheaton Williams/Bryan Lemmon, 5.0, $1,971
3. Radley Day/Jared Bilby, 5.9, $1,314
4. Shawn Bird/Zachary Schweigert, 6.0, $657

Second Round

1. Dustin Bird/Ike Folsom, 4.5 seconds, $2,628 each
2/3. Gunner Plenty/Mason Trollinger, 4.8, $1,643 
2/3. Brady Tryan/Sid Sporer, 4.8, $1,643 
4. Shawn Bird/Zachary Schweigert, 5.5, $657

Third Round

1. Gunner Plenty/Mason Trollinger, 4.4 seconds, $2,628 each
2. Brady Tryan/Sid Sporer, 4.6, $1,971
3. Ian Austiguy/Sam Levine, 4.9, $1,314
4. Dustin Bird/Ike Folsom, 5.5, $657

Average

1. Dustin Bird/Ike Folsom, 14.6 seconds on three head, $3,942 each
2. Radley Day/Jared Bilby, 20.7, $2,957
3. Gunner Plenty/Mason Trollinger, 9.2 on two head, $1,971
4. Brady Tryan/Sid Sporer, 9.4, $986

Saddle Bronc Riding

First Round

1/2. Tanner Butner, on Brookman Rodeo's Cheryl Crow, 84 points, $2,300 each
1/2. Sage Newman, on J Bar J's Choctow Bingo, 84, $2,300 
3/4. Jesse Kruse, 81, $986
3/4. Liam Pauley, 81, $986

Second Round

1. Tanner Butner, 84.5 points on J Bar J's No Charm, $2,628
2/3. Jesse Kruse, 84, $1,643
2/3. Sage Newman, 84, $1,643
4. Liam Pauley, 81, $657

Third Round

1. Tanner Butner, 87 points on J Bar J's Soul Lunatic, $2,628
2. Sage Newman, 86, $1,971
3. Tate Harmon, 78, $1,314
4. Liam Pauley, 77, $657

Average

1. Tanner Butner, 255.5 points on three head, $3,942
2. Sage Newman, 254, $2,957
3. Jesse Kruse, 241, $1,971
4. Liam Pauley, 239, $986

Tie-down Roping

First Round

1. Dillon Hahnkamp, 8.5 seconds, $2,628
2. J.C. Crowley, 9.2, $1,971
3. Shay Keller, 9.3, $1,314;
4. Ben Ayre, 9.6, $657

Second Round

1. James Ramirez, 8.8 seconds, $2,628
2. Landon Williams, 9.0, $1,971
3. Hank Hollenbeck, 9.6, $1,314
4. Ben Ayre, 10.2, $657

Third Round

1. Haven Meged, 8.0 seconds, $2,628
2. Bryce Bott, 8.6, $1,971
3. Hank Hollenbeck, 11.2, $1,314
4. Matt Gutierrez, 11.7, $657

Average

1. Ben Ayre, 33.8 seconds on three head, $3,942
2. Landon Williams, 34.7, $2,957
3. Bryce Bott, 35.5, $1,971
4. Dillon Hahnkamp, 38.0, $986

Barrel Racing

First Round

1. Tayla Moeykens, 12.86 seconds, $2,628
2. Abigail Knight, 13.13, $1,971
3. Tammy Carpenter, 13.23, $1,314
4/5. Heather Crowley, 13.24, $329
4/5. Brittney Sporer, 13.24, $329

Second Round

1. Tayla Moeykens, 13.02 seconds, $2,628
2. Bailee Murnion, 13.17, $1,971
3. Ashley Day, 13.21, $1,314
4. Heather Crowley, 13.23, $657

Third Round

1. Tayla Moeykens, 12.93 seconds, $2,628
2. Brittney Sporer, 13.01, $1,971
3. Tia Murphy, 13.02, $1,314
4. Hailey Garrison, 13.13, $657

Average

1. Tayla Moeykens, 38.81 seconds on three head, $3,942
2. Heather Crowley, 39.65, $2,957
3. Bailee Murnion, 40.53, $1,971
4. Tia Murphy, 44.39, $986

Bull Riding

First Round: 

1. Luke Gee, 83 points on Duane Kesler's All Bananas, $2,628
2/3. Payton Fitzpatrick, 81, $1,643
2/3. Gavin Knutson, 81, $1,643
4. Tristan O'Neal, 77, $657

Second Round

1. Luke Gee, 80 points on J Bar J's Non Essential, $3,614
2. Payton Fitzpatrick, 75, $2,957

Third Round

1. Jake Lockwood, 82 points on Duane Kesler's Flight Risk, $3,614
2. Luke Gee, 73, $2,957

Average

1. Luke Gee, 236 points on three head, $3,942
2. Payton Fitzpatrick, 156 on two head, $2,957
3. Gavin Knutson, 81 on one head, $1,971
4. Tristan O'Neal, 77 on one head, $986