Despite being hastily put together due to time constraints, the inaugural Mason Moody and Jazz McGirr Invitational in 2023, which featured 18 of the areas top bull riders and breakaway ropers, turned out to be a huge success.
Moody of Letcher and McGirr from Huron, who formed M&M Productions, are eagerly anticipating the second annual Invitational, which is slated for Nov. 30 at the DEX on the South Dakota State Fairgrounds.
We were a little rushed through the whole thing last year so going in this year we are a little more relaxed and more prepared, said McGirr, who is a member of the South Dakota State University rodeo team and will be again be competing in the breakaway roping.
Moody, who won the bull riding portion of the event last year, was amazed with the amount of support the event received last year and said the duo has another quality event on tap for the fans this year with the added preparation time.
Im just looking forward to watching some great runs and some great bull rides, said Moody. Last year we had a really good turnout. We werent really excpecting that many people to come, but the town came and supported it.
Im just really looking forward to trying to put on a good show for the fans that come and watch it and just do the best we can every year and hopefully we make it a little better than it was last year, he said.
CY Christensen of Kennebec won the breakaway roping at last years event. She will be back to try to make it two in a row in 2024.
The field looking to prevent Christensen, who won a round at the Badlands Circuit Finals in a breakway, from repeating is a stout one, according to McGirr.
One big thing is the competition this year with the breakaway ropers and bull riders, theyve leveled up, she said. We are more into the pro ropers and bull riders now. We have almost the same people, but even in that year, those girls and guys have leveled up their competition.
The field for the breakaway roping is loaded with talent, leaving McGirr at almost a loss for words when asked who will be contenders to win this years event.
I would say in the breakaway roping we have a lot of good girls, but the ones I would be sure to watch are the local favorite Jacey Hupp or Tanegai Zilverberg, who is a NFR qualifier, and CY Christensen, who won the event last year, McGirr said.
Hupp, a Huron native and a former member of the SDSU rodeo team, is currently an assistant coach for the University of Wyoming womens rodeo team.
Others with strong resumes at the collegiate level, include Hannah Scubert of Brainerd, Minn., and Cheznie Best of Norwich, N.D., who were members of the SDSU rodeo team, along with Josie Mousel of Egan, was a member of the University of Wyoming rodeo team.
Other area competitors in the breakaway roping our Tatum Carey of Huron, Jenna Fulton of St. Lawrence, Tricia Lammers of Miller, Tierney Breen of Huron, Raylee Fagerhaug of Wessington Springs, Sidney Petersof Hot Springs, who is a Huron native and Layni Stevens of Gillette, Wyo., who is a St. Lawrence native.
Others slated to compete are Jami Bergeson of Hartford, Swayze Ness of Kimball, Jenny Belkham of Blunt and Megan Marone of Chamberlain.
The field for the bull riding portion of the event is equally impressive.
We have a ton of great talent coming, theres no clear favorite, said Moody. Anybody can show up and play ball. Its just whoever comes prepared that night is going to win it all.
The bull riding field includes riders, who have had success on the Professional Bull Riding Tour, along with several of the areas top riders.
We have like Connor Halverson, hes a 3-time PBR world qualifier, and Wyatt Rogers, who is a two-time PBR world qualifier, Moody said. Blaine Beauty and Coy Thorson are both Minnesota boys, both been to the Great Lakes Circuit finals. Blaine just won the year-end over there just last weekend.
Matt Triplett is coming. Hes originally from Montana and now lives down by Canton, he said. Hes won the World Finals in the PBR and finished third in the year-end there.
Also coming from the PBR ranks is Dom Santiago.
Joining Moody, who just missed out on qualifying for the NFR finishing 23rd in the final standings, in the event from the area are Dustin Thompson of Mitchell, Ryder Rowland of Ree Heights and Tanner Christian of Woonsocket.
Other South Dakota riders, include Jestyn Woodward of Custer, Chazz Gabe of Timber Lake, Koyer Kelly of Sturgis, Kane Grant of Sturgis and Tyson Hill of White River.
Rounding out the lineup will be Bryce Burnell of Arbada, Wyo., along with Blaine and Travis Petersen of Tyler, Minn.
This years Invitational will include several events with crowd participation, along with a few new entertainment acts.
We also added a trick rider this year, which I am super excited for, McGirr said.
Festivities for this years events will get underway at 5 p.m, with a social and meet-and-great with the contestants. Santa will also be on hand for the kids.
A calcutta of the contestants will begin at 6:15 p.m., with the competition slated to start at 7 p.m. Kids will also have an opportunity to compete in muttin busting, which is open to the first 20 kids under the age of seven to sign up.
Advanced ticket are $15, while tickets at the door on the night of the event will be $20. Advanced tickets are available at Double D Western Wear or Creative Printing in Huron or by visiting rodeoatthedex.com.
Leave a Reply