Badlands Circuit Finals Rode Into Minot
The 51st annual Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo arrived at the All Seasons Arena for a three-day competition.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Rodeo
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The 51st annual Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo kicked off in Minot at the All Seasons Arena. The event features elite competitors who qualified by attending at least 13 rodeos throughout the season.
Why it matters
This finals event is the culmination of the regional season, where top riders compete to secure championship titles and solidify their professional standings. Winners will be determined following three rounds of competition.
To qualify for this event, participants were required to compete in at least 13 rodeos. Contestants will ride three times throughout the weekend to determine the final standings.
The players
Carson Hildre
He is a professional bareback rider ranked 18th in the world who holds the unofficial 2026 Resistol Rookie of the Year title.
Ben Kramer
He is a professional bareback rider ranked 38th in the world who is currently 2nd in the Badlands Circuit standings.
The details
Local riders Carson Hildre and Ben Kramer are among the top 12 competitors participating in the bareback riding category. Hildre arrives at the event holding the unofficial 2026 Resistol Rookie of the Year title.
Timeline
The 51st annual Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo takes place from October 9-11, 2026.
Winners of the competition will be determined on Sunday afternoon.
Season Trajectory
This event serves as the final proving ground for the regional circuit, directly impacting how riders are positioned for national rankings. Success here influences the path to larger professional rodeo stages for the top 12 competitors.
Ben Kramer enters the event in 2nd place in the circuit standings, making his performance a key factor for the final championship leaderboard. The results will determine the end-of-season standings for the top 12 riders in the circuit.
The takeaway
The Badlands Circuit Finals highlight the intense qualification process required for professional rodeo success. Riders must maintain consistency across a high volume of events throughout the season to earn their spot in the finals.
What happens next
The winners of the 51st annual Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo will be determined on Sunday afternoon, October 11, 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about local events in our Rodeo section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kfyrtv.
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