Dusty Hausauer has competed at the Roughrider Days Rodeo before. He's just not sure when was the last time that happened.
"Shoot, it's been quite a few years. I don't even know how long," Hausauer said. "I guess I couldn't even tell you. It's been quite a while. It's been way too long."
Hausauer and Shaun Stroh intend to end that drought Friday night during the rodeo's opening performance.
The Dickinson saddle bronc riders are entered in and plan to attend their hometown rodeo on their way back from a pair of rides in New Mexico.
Stroh said the scheduling of higher-paying rodeos typically force the duo to miss the hometown event.
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"I think for the way things laid out, it ended up being early so it was easier to throw in," said Stroh, who is ranked third in the world with $49,101 in earnings this year.
While Stroh is still riding the high of his 2010 National Finals Rodeo average championship, Hausauer is fighting for every dollar he can get.
After falling in the standings a bit, Hausauer returned to No. 20 this week with $18,779 in earnings.
However, now is the time for Hausauer and Stroh to make strides and they're well aware of that.
The rodeo-filled summer weeks affectionately known as "Cowboy Christmas" don't officially start this weekend, but that isn't keeping Hausauer and Stroh off the road.
They were in Santa Fe, N.M., on Wednesday night and Pecos, N.M., on Thursday night. After Dickinson, they hit the road for two rodeos outside of Calgary, Alberta, on Saturday.
"We've been pretty busy lately," Hausauer said.
Badlands Circuit leaders abundant at RRD
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The Roughrider Days Rodeo is historically a well-attended Badlands Circuit event.
This year is no different.
"It's a big weekend," said Medora's Clay Schaeffer, who leads the circuit's saddle bronc riding standings.
All but one of the Badlands Circuit standings leaders are entered in the rodeo -- and the list of strong contestant doesn't stop there.
As they are listed according to the Badlands Circuit standings, the top 20 steer wrestlers, the top 10 team roping duos, eight of the top 10 bareback riders, 11 of the top 15 saddle bronc riders, 9 of the top 15 bull riders, 5 of the 10 top barrel racers and the top 10 tie-down ropers -- seven of whom compete on Sunday night -- are entered in the rodeo.
The only event where the Badlands Circuit leader is not entered is bull riding. Though circuit leader Tater Hins isn't coming, Grassy Butte bull rider Abe Dillman is, and he's ranked second in the circuit.
Schaeffer, a New England High School, leads the bronc riding standings with $3,554 in earnings this year.
He's up on Sunday night against South Dakota cowboys Jeff Willert, who comes in ranked sixth in the world standings, and Jesse Bail, who leads the circuit's all-around standings and is ranked 13th in the world.
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Schaeffer said he likes the bronc he drew and hopes to make a little noise in front of the hometown fans.
"I just hope I can do my part in everything," Schaeffer said.
