Syerra “CY” Christensen returned to the spotlight in 2024 when she earned a knockout $13,024, mostly at a string of rodeos across North and South Dakota over the Cowboy Christmas run.
The success was the turn of luck Christensen, the 2022 Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo champion, needed after a slow start on the year.
“I won a little bit at Buffalo, Minnesota, and I did good this winter at Valley City, but other than that, up until the Fourth, it’s been pretty ugly,” said the Kennebec, South Dakota, cowgirl.
4th of July glory
Christensen, 30, went into Cowboy Christmas with some $3,000. Then, on July 4, the Killdeer Mountain Roundup PRCA Rodeo in North Dakota concluded with Christensen in a three-way tie for eighth place with Rheagan Cotton and NFBR qualifier Joey Williams on a 2.2-second run that paid $1,264 each.
Just down the road at North Dakota’s Mandan Rodeo Days, Christensen found herself in another tie on a 2.2-second run, though this time she earned a spot in the winner’s circle with fellow South Dakotan and 2020 NFBR competitor Tanegai Zilverberg to collect their checks for $5,512.
Then, on her home state turf at Mobridge, Christensen again tied, this time for second place and checks of $1,911 each, when she and 2024 Calgary Stampede qualifiers MaryBeth Beam and Makayla Boisjoli all stopped the clock at 2.4 seconds.
Finally, On July 6, Christensen singularly claimed the reserve champion title at South Dakota’s Gary Rodeo when she laid down a 2.7-second run worth $1,105, bringing her four-rodeo-run total to $9,072 and her total earnings in the Badlands Circuit to a No. 1-worthy $13, 024.
Rodeo’s secret sauce: Horse, travel partners and a positive outlook
A few years ago, Christensen began calling on the horse her mother, Melodi, had been running in the barrels and, since then, he’s become one of the main ingredients in Christensen’s breakaway success.
“His name is ‘Whiskey,’” Christensen said of the 2013 gelding by Large Bills Please. “He’s a little gray horse, but he’s actually my mom’s. He used to buck with her when she ran barrels on him, so we started roping on him, and he has officially found his calling.
“He is very honest,” Christensen continued about the horse her mom got as a yearling from from Colorado’s Paulette Woods. “He scores and he runs hard, and he’s not one to get short. He’s really smooth, too, so I really like that.”
Another important aspect of rodeoing for South Dakota rancher has been keeping in good company when she does get to go down the road.
“I have a good little set of travel partners,” said Christensen, who’s been traveling with Misty Brown, Sydney Graff and Cedar Jandreau. “We all try to have fun. If we have some downtime, we’ll go hit a golf course and just try not to think about roping every day.”
Between an uplifting environment and Christensen’s own outlook, it was only a matter of time before she shook the ugly off the first part of the year.
“I knew something was going to change,” she said. “It always does. I just had to stay positive and keep having fun.”
Doing good in the Badlands
Christensen works for the family ranch, keeping an eye on their Black Angus operation especially in the winter when mom Melodi and team roping dad Jerry take off for warmer climes.
“They like to go to Arizona in the winter, and I stay and watch [the ranch,]” Christensen said. “Thank goodness they stick around all summer.”
Even with her parents at home, giving their daughter the opportunity to travel, Christensen finds rodeoing on the circuit to be the best option for her right now.
“I’m just going to stay close to home and circuit rodeo and see how it ends up.”
With her nearly $6,000 lead in the 2024 circuit standings and as much money earned over Cowboy Christmas as last year’s Badlands year-end champion won on the whole year, ending up qualified for the Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo in Minot, North Dakota, appears to be a valid possibility for Christensen.
