“To see a true American-made sport is pretty cool,” Dean said. “This isn’t lit up. We don’t have huge endorsements.”

Dean, a Bismarck native, broadcasted the North Dakota State Fair rodeo for the second and final night. His booming voice reverberated throughout All Seasons Arena.

“These guys all pay as a team to be here,” he said. “They’re all leaving their ranches, their work, to come here to compete. At the end of the day, they shake hands when they start. They shake hands when they’re done. They help each other, they loan each other horses and compete with each other. Where does that happen anymore?”

Hundreds of fans of all ages watched as participants competed in the ranch hand tasks. For a second consecutive night, the arena burst to life as the crowd cheered for events like team mugging, range branding, wild cow milking and the always-popular trailer relays.

Jimmy Lafakis/MDN Eli Waddington wrestles a steer to the ground. Waddington served as the Apple Dumpling Gang's team captain.

Once again, 12 teams participated in the competition. Six teams returned from Wednesday night’s action, while six new teams joined the fray. All groups represented towns all around North Dakota.

The top four teams included two returners and two newcomers. Dokken Construction and B&J Excavating (Towner) placed in the second straight rodeo, finishing in fourth with 38 points. Their scintillating trailer relay time of 1:10.56 captured that round’s top finish and helped them blaze past the middle of the pack.

Just three points separated the competition’s top three teams. \77 Bargmann Ranch, (Hannover) another returning team, finished in third place with 42 points. United Community Bank (Deering) barely edged Bargmann with 43 points, while J-H Ranch (Velva) earned the top spot with 45.

The team of Jim Hystad, Jason Jenson, Kylie Hildre, Reagan Hildre and Jim Jenson nabbed the title after overcoming a slow start. Their strong relay time of 1:11.97 cemented the round’s second-best time and ultimately clinched the victory.

“I think the crowd knows when they see something that’s pretty exciting,” Dean said. “Sometimes, the people who try to be fast end up being slower than the people who just try to be methodical. You never know what it will take to get it done.”

Per tradition, the evening’s festivities kicked off with the Mutton Bustin’ pre-show. Young cowboy Kroy Fitzpatrick stayed on top of his mutton for 2.97 seconds, good enough for the best score of both nights.

“This is true American,” Dean said. “In the beginning of our rodeos, we’re very patriotic when we start. You look at a bunch of horses and a bunch of cowboys with caps in their hand behind an American flag, that’s believable. I do my job here because people need to see and hear stuff that’s truly real.”

Jimmy Lafakis covers Minot High School sports and Class B high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @JJLII30.