MONTANA CIRCUIT - BREAKAWAY
THE PAYOFF Ogren Perseveres to Win Montana Circuit Finals Rodeo By Joe Kusek G etting there was not easy. Seasoning her horse was a long, and often times, frustrating process. They went a year without cashing a check. But Tiffany Ogren persevered. The breakaway roper saw something in her horse Tesla that kept them working together.
“Some of the best ones take the longest,” said Ogren, a married mother of two from Hysham, Montana. “I knew she was super solid. I knew she had the ability.” The patience paid off at the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals, Jan. 12-14, in Great Falls. Ogren was the fastest among a talented field, throwing three loops to win the Finals average with a time of 8.0 seconds. “It was pure joy,” said Ogren after her third clean catch. “I whole- heartedly say that all the credit and glory goes to God for everything. “It was something I’ve been working toward a long time. I feel so accomplished.” She looped times of 3.1, 2.5 and 2.4 seconds to place in the top three for all three rounds. Ogren earned $7,625 – doubling her regular season earnings – to rocket from 11th to second in the final 2022 year- end standings. “I wanted to detach from the outcome,” said Ogren, a certified sports performance coach of her gameplan. “Not focus on the outcome. Focus on that calf and enjoy the process. Enjoy being there. I was happy to be there. “I tried to keep it simple. Do what I do and stay loose for my horse.” Joey Williams, of Volborg, delivered a clutch catch of 1.9 seconds – the fastest of the event – to win the third round and claim the year-end title for the second year in a row. The third round win kept her in front of Ogren by $732.
Both qualify for the NFR Open, scheduled for this July in Colorado Springs, Colorado. “I’m excited for the opportunity and grateful to have that opportunity,” said Ogren. The breakaway roping was part of the nightly performances this year. “The crowd was into it,” Ogren added. “It was super fun.” Along with Williams, a National Finals Breakaway Roping qualifier, the field included Cadee Williams (no relation), winner of the NFBR average this past December. Others among the MPRF qualifiers were Jacey Fortier, who won the Pendleton Round-Up and Anna Callaway and Megan Small, each who won a performance at Cheyenne Frontier Days. Fortier and Cadee Williams won the first with 2.4-second catches while Molly Salmond (2.1) won the second round. “The roping was so tough,” said Ogren. “There were so many good girls competing.” Ogren, her husband Stacey and children Rylee and Colt, live on a ranch that belongs to her grandfather. “I really didn’t come from a rodeo family,” she said. “I’ve always loved the ranch and fell in love with the cowboy stuff.” During high school, where Ogren also played basketball, she learned roping under the tutelage of Dennis Tryan, the first Montana team roper to compete at the National Finals Rodeo and father of NFR team ropers Clay, Travis and Brady Tryan. “I learned a lot from Dennis,” Ogren said. “He took me under his wing.” Ogren competed for both Miles Community College and Montana State, qualifying for the College National Finals Rodeo three times. She earned her degree in animal science from MSU. Ogren has been working with Tesla, registered as Boons Fancy Gal, for a few years. Tiffany Ogren won the average title in the breakaway roping at the Montana Circuit Finals after finishing in a total time of 8.0 seconds on three head. She turned in times of 3.1, 2.5 and 2.4 to win the title. Photo by Jackie Jensen
Joey Williams claimed the year-end title in the Montana Circuit for the second year in a row. She and Tiffany Ogren will represent Montana at the NFR Open in July. Photo by Clay Guardipee
continued on page 76
MARCH 2023
WOMEN’S PRO RODEO NEWS 67
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker