In the next 10 days or so, Jesse (James) Kruse might become as legendary among cowboys as his infamous namesake.
The Great Falls saddle bronc star begins his world championship quest tonight in Las Vegas as the 51st National Finals Rodeo kicks off at UNLV's Thomas and Mack Center. The first of 10 go-rounds begins at 8 p.m. and will be televised live by ESPN Classic.
Kruse, 23, begins the $5.75 million NFR with a lead of about $30,000. But that's not much, considering that go-round victories are worth more than $17,000 and average triumphs offer about $44,000.
The C.M. Russell High graduate is one of the few athletes from the Electric City to qualify for the NFR, joining steer wrestler Rod Lyman and bronc rider Cleve Loney. No Great Falls native has ever won a rodeo world championship.
"If he can win a round or two and stay on six to seven head, that buckle's his," said Jake Hayworth, a talented bronc rider in the Montana Circuit who traveled with Kruse much of last summer. "Honestly, there's nobody like him right now. The kid just oozes talent."
Several Montanans have won world titles in saddle bronc since professional rodeo began crowning champions in 1929. The list includes Bill Linderman of Red Lodge, who won in 1945 and 1950, Shawn Davis of Whitehall (1965, 1967, 1968) J.C. Bonine of Hysham (1977) and Bud Munroe of Billings (1986).
Dan Mortensen of Billings took the state's bronc riding legacy to a new level, winning six world championships in the event to tie the record of legendary South Dakota cowboy Casey Tibbs. Mortensen, who won gold buckles in 1993-95, 1997-98 and 2003, retired from competition a few years ago and last summer was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.
Many experts believe that Kruse has comparable talent to many of the past champions.
"I saw him many times last summer take a common horse, and either win or place real deep," said Hayworth. "The speed he has is amazing. He can pull things off in the saddle that for many of us just aren't possible ... All he needs to do down there is step up and remember who he is."
The Montana NFR contingent includes Lisa (Schillinger) Lockhart, who was born in Wolf Point and grew up in Circle, Glendive-born bronc rider Shaun Stroh and Billings team ropers Clay and Travis Tryan.
The Tryan brothers — both headers — are from Montana's first family of rodeo. Clay, 30, won a world title in 2005 and is making his eighth NFR appearance. Travis, 28, has qualified nine times for the Vegas show. Their father, Dennis, is a multiple Montana Circuit champion roper and their mother, Terri Kaye Kirkland, had qualified for the NFR several times in the barrel racing.
For the first time, team ropers at the NFR will only be allowed a total of two loops. Thus a no-time will be given if either man misses. In years past, the team was allowed to rebuild their loop if either partner missed.
Among the top NFR storylines are those surrounding Trevor Brazile and Billy Etbauer.
Brazile has an $118,128 lead in his bid to equal Ty Murray's record seven all-around world championships. If he wins that title and holds onto his $32,123 lead in the tie-down roping, Brazile will have 11 world championships, tying him for third place on the career list with Dean Oliver and Charmayne James.
Etbauer, 46, has qualified for a record 21 straight NFRs and is bidding for his sixth world championship, which would tie the record shared by Mortensen and Tibbs.
Kruse is half the age of Etbauer, but his performance in 2009 was among the best in the history of bronc riding. Kruse had the following highlights:
•Won the Ellensburg (Wash.) Rodeo; broke an arena record with a 91-point ride on Flying Five Rodeo's Kool Toddy in the finals;
•Won the Laughlin (Nev.) River Stampede;
•Won the Red Bluff (Calif.) Roundup;
•Won the World's Oldest Rodeo (Prescott, Ariz.);
•Won the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo (Colorado Springs, Colo.);
•Won the Sisters (Ore.) Rodeo, breaking the arena record with an 86-point ride on Flying Five Rodeo's Spring Blue;
•Won That Famous Preston (Idaho) Night Rodeo;
•Won the Livingston (Mont.) Roundup;
•Won the Great Northern Stampede (Havre, Mont.);
•Won the Augusta (Mont.) American Legion Rodeo;
•Won the San Patricio County PRCA Rodeo (Sinton, Texas);
•Won the Brighton Field Day & PRCA (Okeechobee, Fla.);
•Won the Wolf Point (Mont.) Wild Horse Stampede;
•Co-champion at the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show & Rodeo (Union);
•Won the Box Elder County Fair and Golden Spike Rodeo (Tremonton, Utah);
•Won the North Idaho Fair & Rodeo (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho);
•Won the Bowman (N.D.) County PRCA Rodeo.
Kruse salutes his family and many friends, including Hayworth, for helping him get to Las Vegas.
"I can't thank them enough," Kruse said.
Hayworth is appreciative.
"Jesse has always been real complimentary and that's real nice," he said. "But I'll be honest with you. He was going to get there regardless. I think he's going to do real good. But no matter if he wins it or not, I had a great time traveling with him all year and I'm grateful for that."