MISSOULA — Mud puddles peppered the Missoula Fairgrounds arena like moon craters.
After steady rain through the afternoon, it wasn’t clear if the Saturday night finale of the Missoula Stampede Rodeo would go on. The event proceeded, though, and most of the mud had dried before Dustin Donovan Boquet rode his bull.
“The only mud I felt was getting off (the bull),” Boquet said.
The conditions didn’t faze the Bourg, Louisiana, native in the slightest. A full eight-second ride earned him a score of 90, and it won him first place in bull riding for the weekend with a $5,481.60 prize.
While Boquet rode his bull, “95 Hot Rocks,” for the first time Saturday night, his travelling partner, Jeff Askey, recently took on the bull which helped Boquet’s preparation. With a scouting report in hand, Boquet garnered a roar from the fans with a commanding ride.
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“I knew what I was getting in,” Boquet said. “I knew if I did my job, I could get a bunch of points.”
Saturday was Boquet’s first time at the Missoula Stampede, despite holding a membership with the PRCA since 2013. It was also his first rodeo in the Treasure State since July of 2023 when he placed third at the Wolf Point Wild Horse Stampede.
“They were hoopin’ and hollerin’,” Boquet said of the crowd. “It kind of builds you up, makes you wanna do good when they’re on there cheerin’.”
With three Wrangler National Final Rodeo appearances under his belt already, reaching the top 15 by the end of the season and advancing to his fourth is at the top of his priority list. He’s well on his way already, winning four events in 2024 and sharing a title of another.
“Just gotta take it one bull at a time,” Boquet said.
In bareback riding, Rocker Shane Steiner scored an 86 to win first place and a $5,851.50 prize. Stevensville native Richmond Champion shared second place with Clay Jorgensen, each heading home with $3,901 after scores of 85.5. Coleman Shallbetter and Chase Brooks, a Deer Lodge native, shared first place in saddle bronc riding. Both scored 87.5 and both won $5,181.28.
Montana natives took home the top three spots in tie down roping. Cash Alan Trexler of Corvallis took first with a time of 8.7, winning $2,764.54 and Haven Meged of Miles City flew his hands up in 9.3, which won him second place and $2,439.30. Matt Gutierrez of St. Ignatius scored 9.6 seconds for third place and $2,114.06.
Four men across two teams tied for first in team roping. Jaxson Tucker and Clay Futrell scored 3.9 seconds and Dawson Graham and Dillon Graham matched the time. All four cowboys walked away with $2,853.84.
Two Helena natives split the first place pot in steer wrestling. Jhet Murphy and Timmy Sparing both got the cows on the ground in 3.5 seconds, good enough to win $2,364.57 apiece.
In barrel racing, Sissy Winn of Chapman Ranch, Texas scored the fastest time at 17.33. She won $2,836.92 with the time. Joey Williams of Volberg and Kendal Pierson of Canada split the first place prize for ladies breakaway. Each timed in at 2.20 and both received $3,375.54.
Carson Cashion is a sports writer for 406 MT Sports, primarily covering the Bitterroot Valley. Follow him on X @CarsonCashion or contact him at carson.cashion@406mtsports.com.
