'Old man' shows 'em how it's done

Rodeo is new

feature at Brown

County Fair

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Thirty-six-year-old Shawn Manee of Belview defied his age Friday at the Minnesota Rodeo Association event at the Brown County Fair.

Manee finished second in bareback competition with 67 points, just a point behind winner Dru Wilking of Lakefield.

"I've got a pretty good horse," Manee said after his ride. "He took a long run at me and it turned out pretty good. I'm happy I can walk away and talk about it. I'm an old man in a young man's game."

Manee said the rodeo is his hobby. He works at Southern Minnesota Sugar in Renville, besides taking care of his family and farm.

He was the 1998 Minnesota State Champion.

Why is he still in the rodeo?

"It's really been good to me," Manee said. "It's still a thrill, adrenaline rush, competition and comradeship. We all help each other. I haven't seen and done it all, but I've seen an awful lot of it. If I can help teach a young man something, it's worth it."

Laura Moseng, 18, of Redwood Falls finished third in breakaway roping on "Homer," her thoroughbred quarter horse. She's been around horses since she was four.

"I used to barrel race but got bored with that," Moseng said. "Roping is more of a challenge."

She plans to study Equine Science at the University of Minnesota at Crookston and eventually become a certified horse trainer.

The rodeo wasn't without anxious moments. Dusty Wilking was bucked off in the bareback event, landed hard and appeared to have a collar bone injury. He went to Sioux Valley Medical Center Hospital under his own power.

Saddle bronc rider Ben Truesdell of Sherburn landed hard and was taken by ambulance to Sioux Valley. His injury was not believed to be serious.

Three Coulters from Lamberton competed, Al and Chris in team roping and Chris in breakaway roping. Bob Boerboom of Wabasso competed with Al Coulter in team roping. Tom McCone of Sanborn competed in bareback.

Unofficial results:

Bareback: 1. Dru Wilking (Lakefield) 68. 2. Shawn Manee (Belview) 67. 3. Joe Nygren (Zumbrota) 60. Steer wrestling: 1. Pickles Dillman (Zimmerman) :04.3. 2. Dru Wilking :08.4. 3. Randy Melby (Backus) :09.3. Breakaway roping: 1. Katie Hewitt (Shell Lake, Wis) :03.5. 2. Jennifer Aumer (Mora) :03.6. 3. Tamie Martin (Wood Lake) :05.1. Calf roping: 1. Rick Hinkle (Powersville, Mo.) :13.1. 2. Brett Hewitt :15.7. 3. Bill Geipel (Clear Lake, Wis.) :15.0. Saddle bronc: 1. Jamey Burgdorf (Oronoco) 65. Barrel racing: 1. Tonya Janssen (Lake Park, Iowa) :14.864. 2. Teresa Gilmer (Crosby) :15.014. 3. Sherry Wyffels (Marshall) :15.050. Team roping: 1. Hinkle and Melby :06.0. 2. Cody Neisius (Maple Lake), Bruce Anderson (Shakopee) :10.6. 3. Josh Wagner (Farmington) and Jon Webster (New Prague) :12.8. Bullriding: 1. Pete Houck (Andover) 76. 2. Steve Gunderson (Glyndon) 73. 3. Danny Almquist (Milaca) 71.