NRCA member, Justin Mello
- Tom Plooster Photography
Meet the Member Justin Mello
NRCA member, Justin Mello – Tom Plooster Photography
story by Lindsay Welchel
If living up to your name is the job, Justin Mello has it pretty well mastered.
He’s definitely “mellow” and laidback in almost all aspects of his life, whether it’s spending time outdoors on horseback and hunting, or it’s playing miniature golf with his three-year-old daughter Brylee, Justin is at ease and having fun. That’s especially true when it comes to rodeo overall.
“I love everything about rodeo. You get to travel. You meet new people all summer long. You see all your friends all summer. You’re never hardly in the same place, and you pretty much just get to be a kid every weekend and do what most kids dream of,” Justin enthuses.
But fun and games aside, he’s devoted himself to one of the most serious and important of rodeo’s sports, that of bullfighting. And it’s all business for Justin when it comes to protecting the contestants.
Justin spends most of his summers working events in the Northwest Ranch Cowboys Association, as well as other associations and bull riding circuits, but in the spring and fall Justin keeps busy with Little Britches rodeos and high school rodeos where safety is all too important.
“I really like the younger kids, and I like keeping them safe and keeping them having fun so that the future grows for those kids. I think that’s probably the most rewarding part.”
And even at the young age of 28 himself, Justin, who has been fighting bulls since high school, is already seeing the impact of his work and that of the sport of rodeo on those kids. “I’m starting to see some of these younger bull riders that I watched them get on their first few bulls and go on through Little Britches and high school, and now I get to watch them win the PRCA rodeos. I think that’s probably the coolest part of it.”
Justin knows what it’s like to be on the other side as a contestant himself. He competed in bull riding and saddle bronc in high school and college rodeoed at Eastern Wyoming College in Torrington, but bullfighting was his passion. It’s a job that takes heart most of all.
“You’ve got to want to do it. It’s kind of one of those events where you’ve got to eat and breathe and sleep bullfighting, and that’s the way I’ve gotten to be,” Justin explains.
In his off time, Justin is working to build up his own herd of cattle in Rapid City, S.D. and keeping busy with ranch work. He also works part time as a brand inspector, but he’s never far from a rodeo or jumping in front of a 2,000-pound bull.
story by Lindsay Whelchel Before there was the sport of rodeo, there were cowboys getting on wild horses. Saddle bronc riding was derived from necessity […]
TERMS:
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September 15, 2016
BAREBACK
1 Garrett Shadbolt $6,403.57
2 Jim Bob Ellsworth $3,843.03
3 Mike Fred $2,745.72
4 Joe Wilson $1,443.86
5 Andrew Hall $455.48
6 Kenny Feidler $238.62
7 Clint Nelson $71.33
SADDLE BRONC
1 Miles Kreeger $3,178.01
2 Wyatt Kammerer $2,812.59
3 Chet Smith $2,416.11
4 JD Anderson $2,100.22
5 Jake Foster $1,637.21
6 Seth Longbrake $1,501.65
7 Eric Gewecke $1,334.78
8 Rhett Fox $1,058.44
9 Dillon Schroth $871.49
10 John Thelen $772.68
11 Logan Nielsen $735.80
12 Jordan Hunt $645.18
13 Travis Schroth $638.12
14 Wyatt Schuelke $622.85
15 Lane Schuelke $600.84
BULL RIDING
1 Allen Auer $3,284.24
2 Jade Nixon $1,817.30
3 Lane Gambill $1,738.10
4 Clay Hindman $492.37
5 Jake Foster $416.52
6 Neil Muscat $389.79
CALF ROPING
1 Trey Young $5,169.18
2 Troy Wilcox $4,431.03
3 Jason Schaffer $3,844.11
4 Lee Sivertsen $3,504.07
5 Matt Peters $2,278.02
6 Prestyn Novak $2,249.99
7 Sam Boldon $2,246.22
8 Colton Musick $1,887.55
9 Carson Musick $1,779.15
10 Haven Meged $1,671.51
11 Jess Woodward $1,671.45
12 Brock Belkham $1,511.19
13 Billy Boldon $1,385.44
14 Rob Black $1,341.30
15 Dallas Louden $1,288.85
STEER WRESTLING
1 Clint Nelson $4,392.41
2 Eli Lord $3,337.55
3 Brett Wilcox $2,964.42
4 Miles Spickelmier $2,891.74
5 Kalane Anders $2,617.98
6 Bryce Dibbern $2,157.82
7 Kody Woodward $1,950.23
8 Sam Olson $1,643.24
9 Bryce Baker $1,128.81
10 Billy Boldon $789.60
11 Del Pete Day $785.32
12 Brandon Spencer $768.10
13 Jess Woodward $703.25
14 Jeremy Stadheim $685.72
15 Ryne Baier $656.30
MEN’S BREAKAWAY
1 Scott Lammers $5,768.66
2 Mark Fulton $4,798.98
3 Mike Nelson $4,189.42
4 Steve Klein $4,085.05
5 John Hoven $3,192.67
6 Mark Schumacher $2,864.27
7 Tim Nelson $2,442.74
8 Rob Black $2,283.76
9 Bart Ness $2,161.54
10 Lyle Wilcox $2,102.14
11 Darrell Barry $2,100.62
12 Gary Zilverberg $1,975.21
13 Glen Hostutler $1,759.76
14 Kelly Eggl $1,724.22
15 Gerald McInerney $1,607.64
BARREL RACING
1 Jill Moody $4,870.42
2 D’Ann Gehlsen $4,242.15
3 Lexus Kelsch $3,882.25
4 Makayla Kroeplin $3,507.22
5 Annie Fulton $3,371.73
6 Kaylee Gallino $3,346.54
7 Wanda Brown $2,942.34
8 Samantha Jorgenson $2,835.64
9 Alyssa Lockhart $2,334.61
10 Brandee Wardell $2,276.36
11 Ceri McCaffery $2,004.73
12 Anna Jorgenson $1,893.87
13 Madison Rau $1,813.81
14 Cathy Roesler $1,676.40
15 Lacy Maher $1,286.22
LADIE’S BREAKAWAY
1 Syerra Christensen $6,526.16
2 Ceri McCaffery $4,924.61
3 Kaycee Nelson $4,846.37
4 Peggy Garman $4,639.59
5 Samantha Jorgenson $4,396.22
6 Carole Hollers $3,979.50
7 Hanna Brown $3,490.32
8 Brooke Nelson $3,123.20
9 Sidney Carey $3,034.60
10 Anna Jorgenson $2,965.92
11 Whitney Knippling $2,633.82
12 Tawny Barry $1,880.54
13 Teddi Schwagler $1,840.39
14 Jordyn Schaefer $1,827.89
15 Kayla Nelson $1,807.58
GOAT TYING
1 Lacey Tech $6,517.22
2 Tearnee Nelson $3,308.40
3 Amy Tierney $2,861.92
4 Tawny Barry $2,828.73
5 Shayna Miller $2,708.14
6 Carlee Johnston $2,278.28
7 Katie Lensegrav $2,028.60
8 Jacey Hupp $1,196.46
9 Kaycee Monnens $1,041.30
10 Shania Johnston $919.63
11 Tarin Hupp $763.08
12 Shelby Winchell $513.03
13 Alyssa Lockhart $508.35
14 Lexy Williams $394.80
15 Katie Schuelke $380.63
TEAM ROPING HEADER
1 J.B. Lord $3,689.26
2 Tucker McDaniel $3,684.22
3 Bart Ness $3,514.25
4 Tyrell Moody $3,368.35
5 Troy Wilcox $2,920.03
6 Clay Edgar $2,819.44
7 Eli Lord $2,665.67
8 Colton Musick $2,648.18
9 Tim Nelson $2,594.73
10 Chris Arnold $2,573.21
11 Scott White $2,315.65
12 Levi Hapney $2,221.66
13 Wade Nelson $2,218.32
14 Justin Collins $1,978.91
15 Elliot Gourneau $1,820.69
TEAM ROPING HEELER
1 Levi Lord $4,201.54
2 Jeff Nelson $3,882.94
3 Parker Murnion $3,558.39
4 Rory Brown $3,368.35
5 Jesse Dale $3,105.23
6 Carson Musick $2,648.18
7 Jade Nelson $2,594.73
8 David Hinman $2,266.54
9 Clint Cobb $2,221.66
10 Wylee Nelson $2,218.32
11 Robert Murphy $2,110.64
12 Melvin Arneson $2,048.94
13 Prestyn Novak $1,978.91
14 Jake Nelson $1,864.11
15 Paul Griemsman $1,753.35
MIXED TEAM ROPING
1 Ashly Price $4,911.96
2 Syerra Christensen $2,888.83
3 Kaycee Nelson $2,482.11
4 Hanna Brown $1,922.97
5 Samantha Jorgenson $1,824.85
6 Tearnee Nelson $1,612.01
7 Amy Tierney $1,562.22
8 Brenda White $1,451.69
9 Danni Jo Hinman $1,326.07
10 Anna Jorgenson $1,280.29
11 Denise Nelson $1,221.84
12 Brooke Nelson $1,183.77
13 Kayla Hutchison $1,086.35
14 Deanna Steele $927.61
15 Trina Arneson $900.47
LADIES ALLAROUND
1 Syerra Christensen $9,414.99
2 Samantha Jorgenson $9,056.71
3 Kaycee Nelson $7,328.48
4 Ceri McCaffery $7,157.82
5 Anna Jorgenson $6,140.08
6 Tearnee Nelson $5,999.53
7 Hanna Brown $5,413.29
8 Amy Tierney $4,875.09
9 Annie Fulton $4,739.35
10 Tawny Barry $4,709.27
11 Carole Hollers $4,366.56
12 Brooke Nelson $4,306.97
13 Katie Lensegrav $3,786.18
14 Whitney Knippling $3,515.18
15 Sidney Carey $3,460.09
MENS ALLAROUND
1 Clint Nelson $6,139.23
2 Joe Wilson $1,740.01
3 Eric Gewecke $1,456.75
4 Wyatt Schuelke $1,414.86
LADIES ROOKIE
1 Peggy Garman $4,639.59
2 Kaycee Monnens $2,166.99
3 Jacey Hupp $2,163.56
4 Sawyer Gilbert $1,159.15
5 Jami Derflinger $543.20
6 Callie Shepherd $391.10
7 Hanna Hostutler $321.92
8 Jessica Applegarth $278.88
MENS ROOKIE
1 Kalane Anders $2,617.98
2 Haven Meged $2,145.75
3 Robert Murphy $2,110.64
4 Jade Nixon $1,817.30
5 Wyatt Schuelke $1,414.86
6 Jon Peterson $871.50
7 John Thelen $772.68
8 Lane Schuelke $600.84
9 Grey Gilbert $155.25
10 Dalton Burgener $142.59
2016 NRCA APPROVED RODEO ENTRY
INFORMATION
The Association that is underlined is the rule book the rodeo is using. All rodeos under the SDRA rule book will use the Midwest Rodeo Entry System as follows: Internet Entries Open: Fridays 12:00a.m. thru Mondays @ 8:00p.m. MDT Call-in Entries Open: Mondays from Noon to 8:00p.m. MDT Internet Call Backs: Tuesdays 1:00 p.m. to 5:00p.m. MDT Telephone Call Backs: Tuesdays 1:00p.m. to 5:00p.m. MDT NO DRAW OUTS AFTER CALL BACKS For more specific details go to sdrodeo.com All other entry systems will be posted in the entry information as usual.
