The Prairie Star: Montana Ag Newspaper

BILLINGS, Mont. - Americans love a good two-for-one deal, and there's a great two-for-one at this year's Montana Ag-Trade Exposition (MATE) show (Feb. 18-20) with top rodeo action followed by great musical entertainment - all for one price.

“We bring in the best (rodeo) contestants and the best stock contractors, and then we combine that with a concert every night after the rodeo,” said Ty Yost, of Yost Ev-ents, who is producing the upcoming Northern Rodeo As-sociation/Northern Women's Rodeo As-sociation (NRA and NWRA) Finals on Feb. 18-20 during the MATE in Billings, Mont.

“It's a two-for-one deal. They get a couple hours of top rodeo action and then we bring onto the stage some of the best bands around,” he added.

Yost, a Billings na-tive, said he's pleased to be putting on a high-caliber rodeo in his old hometown.

“The NRA is in its 35th year and is just a great event,” he said. “A lot of people don't know that the NRA actually opened the Metra Park years ago. It was the first event ever held there.”

Experienced in event marketing, Yost was involved in the conception of Professional Bull Riders and has worked to promote rodeos and concerts since college.

Eventually he moved away from ticketed events and focused on promoting participant-driven events like team roping competitions, where competitors pay a fee to participate.

“Yost Productions does 50 to 60 events every year, and most of those are team roping events,” he said.

At the top of Yost's list each year is the production of the NRA/NWRA, in part because the event is a lot like returning home. Yost recalls competing at the Metra Park while growing up.

“This is my 10th year with the NRA,” he said.

The event is being sponsored by Stockton Oil Company.

Yost explained that the NRA promotes and produces a series of 30 to 40 rodeos each year across the state of Montana.

“They have a long, colorful history with many of their rodeos in Montana towns,” he said.

The NRA has about 600 competitors but only the top 10 contestants in each event qualify for the prestigious finals.

During the NRA finals, each rodeo contestant competes each night, he explained. Then, after the night's rodeo action is over, the band comes onto the stage and the concert portion of the night begins.

Yost said the crowd is welcome to stay in their seats for the concert or move down into the arena, to the very foot of the stage and “dance in the dirt.”

“We turn the arena into a dance floor,” he said.

Last year, Sawyer Brown and Neil McCoy each took a night on the stage. This year, the featured Thursday night performer is the Teka Brock Band.

“Their lead singer is a beautiful young lady out of Wyoming. I've known her for years. She's originally from Montana,” Yost said.

On Friday night, Grammy Award winning and three time Country Music Award winners, The Kentucky Headhunters, will perform country rock hits such as “Dumas Walker,” “Oh Lonesome Me,” and more.

Then, on Saturday, Dustin Evans and the Goodtimes will keep the arena moving long after the last rope has been coiled up and put away.

Yost said his group has worked hard to make the whole event family friendly and also wallet friendly. Tickets for the double event cost only $10 on Thursday and just $15 dollars on Friday and Saturday. Tickets for children under the age of 12 are always $5, Yost said.

“This is really a party in the dirt,” Yost said. “It's great entertainment. People can come and enjoy the rodeo and watch a great concert and you can't beat the price.”