The Badlands kicked off the run of Circuit Finals on Oct. 11–13, 2024, with familiar face Syerra “Cy” Christensen and Circuit Finals newcomer Morgan Foss taking the Year-End and Average Championships, respectively.
Badlands Circuit Year-End Champion: Syerra “Cy” Christensen
For Christensen, finishing out the year as the Circuit Champion was the reward for staying committed and “making good runs when it counted most.” She finished the year with $17,873 won.
The 30-year-old cattle rancher from Kennebec, SD, calls herself a true blue circuit cowgirl, rarely venturing outside the Badlands. Instead, she takes the full-time ProRodeo cowgirls’ money when they roll into town—like she did over Cowboy Christmas, amassing more than $13,000 at a slew of rodeos and ranking amongst the top Cowboy Christmas earners nationwide.
Riding steady gray gelding “Whiskey,” Christensen capped off her year at the Circuit Finals with a tie for No. 1 in the first round with a 3.4-second run, winning her final $2,081.
“Whiskey is good in any setup,” Christensen said of her equine partner. “He’s honest, he scores, runs hard and isn’t going to take your shot away.”
While this is her first Year-End Championship, Christensen won the 2022 Average Championship for her first trip to the NFR Open.
“My advice to someone would be to, ‘Just keep going,'” Christensen said. “‘You never know how things will turn [out].'”
Syerra “Cy” Christensen’s top Badlands Circuit paydays:
- Mandan Rodeo Days, Mandan, ND — $5,512
- Rough Rider Cup, Mandan, ND — $1,194
While Christensen is looking forward to her 2025 NFR Open qualification, she has fall works taking place on her family ranch right now and a trip down to Guthrie planned this weekend for the Kimes Million Dollar Breakaway Roping Qualifier at the Lazy E Arena.
Badlands Circuit Average Champion: Morgan Foss
This was Foss’s first trip to the Badlands Circuit Finals, and the 24-year-old made it count with an Average Championship, roping three head in 12.5 seconds for a total of $4,163 won.
“It means the world to win this,” Foss said. “I didn’t come from a rodeo family, I just grew up on a horses back and was fortunate enough that a family took me under their wing. I just completely love what I’m doing, and have learned so much from the people who are willing to teach.”
Now, Foss is newly engaged to steer wrestler Sterling Lee and rides his haze horse “Tess” in the breakaway.
“Tess won Badlands Circuit Haze Horse of the Year in 2021,” Foss said. “We’ll go to the rodeo and she’ll get three or four hazes, and then the next event I’ll breakaway rope on her. She’s good for any setup. I’d be happy to use her at a fast setup or Cheyenne. She’s really fast across the line, she’s solid in the corner, in my hand, and she always tracks, even after hazing.”
Foss roped in 3.9, 3.5 and 5.0 seconds to secure her first trip to the NFR Open. She explained she drew well in the first two go-rounds, but in the third round, drew a calf with a habit of letting up once it was roped.
“I knew it was going to be tough to get some separation,” Foss said. “I knew I needed to stay smart and get it around the neck, because my plan coming in was to get in the average and I was the only roper [without a barrier].”
Her plan paid off, and Foss is “beyond excited” to travel to Colorado in July of next year.
2024 Badlands Circuit Finals breakaway results
First round: 1. (tie) Syerra “Cy” Christensen and Samantha Fulton, 3.4 seconds, $2,081 each; 3. Brooke Curuchet, 3.6, $1,189; 4. Morgan Foss, 3.9, $595.
Second round: 1. Jenna Fulton, 2.5 seconds, $2,379; 2. Anna Jorgenson, 2.7, $1,784; 3. Danielle Wray, 2.8, $1,189; 4. Rickie Fanning, 3.1, $595.
Third round: 1. Sloan Anderson, 2.3 seconds, $2,379; 2. Anna Jorgenson, 2.6, $1,784; 3. Brooke Curuchet, 3.2, $1,189; 4. Danielle Wray, 4.2, $595.
Average: 1. Morgan Foss, 12.5 seconds on three head, $3,568; 2. Anna Jorgenson, 17.3, $2,676; 3. Brooke Curuchet, 19.5, $1,784; 4. Danielle Wray, 19.6, $892.
