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We at the Great Northern Classic Rodeo (GNCR) are celebrating 34 years of bringing the great sport of rodeo to the Northland.

We are a non-profit, all-volunteer organization. Our first rodeo performance was hosted in 1991 in Duluth, Minnesota. Two years later, the GNCR moved across the bridge to Superior, Wisconsin and has made the Head of the Lakes Fairgrounds their home ever since. 

In addition to entertaining families with action-packed fun, we raise money to donate to local clubs and charities. Some of the clubs and charities we have donated to over the years include North Country Ride, local 4-H clubs, Boys and Girls Clubs of Superior, and Horse Spirit. Each year we also participate in the "Rockin' the Bronc" campaign and Friday night is the night to be in the "Pink". The money we raise through this campaign goes to the local Breast Cancer Fund.

On Sunday morning after church service we offer an indoor miracle rodeo. This miracle rodeo accommodates children and adults of all ages with physical or developmental disabilities by offering rodeo-related events such as barrel racing with stick horses, a meet and greet with the rodeo clown, and other fun activities hosted by GNCR drill team. All contestants also receive food and great prizes. Over the years, we have hosted a variety of other family fun events. Examples include the NBHA-06 Barrel Run for Western Wishes, Cowboy Open Classic Golf Tournament, 5k walk run, craft show, and on-site rodeo dance/concert.

Our performances start at 8pm Friday and Saturday. The final Performance is at 2pm on Sunday. As part of each performance, we offer fun activities for the youngsters, such as mutton busting, the watermelon crawl, and calf scramble. Over the years, some of the phenomenal personnel we have hired include:

  • John Gilstrap - 7-Time World Champion Rodeo Clown
  • John Hayden - Rodeo Clown of the Year IPRA
  • Ben Eby - Rodeo Clown of the Year IPRA
  • Jeff "Slim" Garner - PRCA Rodeo Clown
  • JW Kinder - Announced at the PBR and PRCA World Finals
  • Davie Kimm - PRCA announcer
  • Jesse Knudsen - PRCA announcer

We were voted best new rodeo by the International Rodeo Association and have received several awards for best rodeo of the year by the United Rodeo Association. The stock contractors are professionals who carry many well-decorated bulls and broncs, both at the IPRA level and the URA. We normally draw about 300 contestants. Some the notable contestants include:

  • Speed Williams - 7x World Champion
  • Dan Daily - 18x IPRA All Around Champion, 10x Saddle Bronc, 11x Steer Wrestling
  • Mike Outer - 3x IPRA All Around Champion, 2x Bare Back
  • Billy Griffin - IPRA Saddle Bronc Champion 2007
  • Dale Yerigan - 11x IPRA Steer Wrestling World Champion

We are a big little rodeo! We look forward to seeing you Labor Day weekend! 

Tickets can be purchased online by clicking the red button titled "Get Tickets!"

 

 

  

      

Meet Our Team

2024 RODEO CLOWN & BARRELMAN

Rob Gann

Rob Gann has worked in every aspect of rodeo. Growing up in a rodeo family taught him the importance of being a good funny man while at the same time keeping a rodeo rolling with clean and wholesome family entertainment. He has been selected by bull riders to fight bulls at the International Finals Rodeo multiple times, and an impressive 13 times he has fought bulls at the International Finals Youth Rodeo. 
 
He has twice been selected as the Barrelman and specialty act at the 2023 Ram PRCA Prairie Circuit Finals and the Barrelman at the International Finals Rodeo in Guthrie, OK for IFR 53 and IFR 52. Rob was voted as a 2021 and 2022 top 5 IPRA clown of the year finalist. He was the 2022 APRA clown of the year and was the clown and Barrelman for the American Finals Rodeo. In 2011 he was the funny man for both the Southern and Central Region finals. Rob was the funny man at the 2019 National All Region Finals. He just recently was the clown of the year in the Southern Rodeo Association, and was the Barrelman at the Southern Finals Rodeo in Fletcher, NC. 
 
But his biggest personal achievement and what makes him proud are his beautiful girls Laynee and Karoline. In his downtime Rob makes his home in Lonoke, AR with his wife Kim and a host of rodeo livestock, that he and his girls spend quality time taking care of together.


2023-2024 GNCR QUEEN
Katie Stenroos

2023-2024 RODEO ANNOUNCER - Jesse Knudsen

Welcome back to our Rodeo Announcer Jesse Knudsen! Jesse was born and raised in "Rodeo City" of Manawa, WI. The 47-year-old has traveled from Wisconsin to Florida, Massachusetts to Utah and everywhere in between. Knudsen has called the action at rodeos and Bullridings since 2005 and works about 30 events each year. In all told the former PRCA bullrider and PRCA bullfighter has had his talents displayed in 38 states. In the winter of 2019, Jesse’s talents took him across the world to the middle east in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia where he was chosen to be the announcer for the King Abdul Aziz Camel Festival Bullriding. There he performed for the United States Embassy and the Prince of Saudi Arabia during his stay.

The Wisconsin announcer has been selected to announce the Kansas Professional Rodeo Association Finals, Minnesota Rodeo Association Finals (3X), Southwestern Professional Bullriders Finals, Professional Championship Bullriders Finals(2X), Central Bullriders Association Finals(5X), and the Premier Bulls Tour Finals(5X). In November of 2021 Jesse was selected to be the Music Director at the National Finals Steer Roping in Mulvane, KS. Knudsen currently serves on the PRCA Executive Council as the Announcer Director, a position that was voted on by his peers.

When Knudsen is not on the road, he enjoys spending time with his daughter Brenley Mae and following the Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin Badgers.

We encourage you to follow him on social media at 920rodeo

Have questions or comments? Want to volunteer?

Please contact our team and we will reach out to you as soon as we can. We look forward to hearing from you!