Fueled by crowd’s energy, athletes compete in Big Sky Community Rodeo

By Jen Clancey DIGITAL PRODUCER 

Editor’s note: Outlaw Partners, publisher of Explore Big Sky, is the producer of Big Sky Community Rodeo.

Friday night’s Big Sky Community Rodeo began with a low hum overhead. As the hum grew louder, the audience turned to see a helicopter dangling the American flag, which circled the Big Sky events arena to the tune of the national anthem. As with any Western roundup, after the color guard, attention soon turned to the dirt—it was time for a rodeo, after all. 

Presented by the Yellowstone Club and produced by Explore Big Sky’s publisher, Outlaw Partners, the Big Sky Community Rodeo on July 12 set alight Big Sky’s Biggest Week with athletes competing in bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, breakaway roping, and barrel racing. 

Ahead of the event, brothers Brooks and Bentz Bolich spoke with EBS while sitting on their horses. The Bolich brothers are part of a family that has a legacy in the rodeo realm. Andy, father of Brooks, Bentz and eldest son Blaise, and husband of Tracey, was the head rodeo coach at Montana State University for more than two decades. Tracey Bolich has placed first in regional Pro Rodeo competitions across the state in breakaway roping. Both parents help their sons develop their love and skills for rodeo competitions. 

Brooks has competed at the Big Sky Community Rodeo three times now, and noted that he was excited to execute and enjoy the crowd atmosphere.

“[We’re] just doin’ it, going and roping fast,” Brooks said. In May 2024, he was ranked second in ribbon roping in Montana junior high school rodeo standings. 

Bentz, who competed his second time at Big Sky’s rodeo this weekend, added that the arena is “really fun.” He’s previously competed in the Valley View Rodeo, at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds in Bozeman, and the Northern Rodeo Association in Billings. 

In-between competitive events, a trick rider performed stunts on her horse, Jet, as audiences cheered. Bella Da Costa, 19, is a professional trick rider from Alberta, Canada. Friday was her second time at Big Sky Community Rodeo. She spends rodeo season traveling from her hometown, where she began trick riding at five years old, to show her skills across the West. 

“The energy is above and beyond,” Da Costa said of the Big Sky crowd. Da Costa has been professionally trick riding since she was 12. Along the way she’s met friends who also have a love for roundups, including Saydee Shera who is from Edmonton, Canada. Shera and Da Costa met at the YETI Junior World Finals in Las Vegas, where Shera qualified for saddle bronc riding. 

At the Big Sky Community Rodeo, Shera competed in bareback bronc riding and came in first. As a first-timer at the event, Shera was impressed by the crowd, saying it was “amazing,” and that she felt pretty good about her execution in her event. 

For athletes, the event overlooking Lone Mountain is a step along the way in regional competitions and events in the U.S. throughout the summer. Da Costa performed the next night at the Livingston Classic PBR while Shera planned to hit the road after the Big Sky Community Rodeo ended. 

For Big Sky, this is just the beginning of a week leading up to Big Sky PBR on July 18, 19 and 20. Friday evening ended with live music in Len Hill Park by The Tony Marques Band with covers of country classics ringing through the night.