Rodeo fans will have the opportunity to cheer twice as loud on Friday night during bull riding at the Northwest Montana Fair at the Flathead County Fairgrounds.

Veteran cowboy Beau Hill of West Glacier returns for his hometown PRCA event and will be joined in the chutes by Matt Triplett of Columbia Falls.

Hill, a National Finals Rodeo, Canadian Finals Rodeo and Professional Bull Riders finalist, and Triplett, in his first PRCA season, have drawn a pair of nasty bulls - Monkey Business and King of the Road, respectively.

Hill was bucked off on opening night last year by a young bull called Black Top.

Only three riders, two on the first night and one on the second, posted scores on Kesler Rodeo Company bulls a year ago.

Rodeo action begins tonight at 7:30 with wild pony races to follow the bull riding. Rodeo performances on Friday and Saturday also begin at 7:30 p.m.

Reserved seating is $20. General admission prices are $15 for adults and $8 for children 6-12 (under 5 admitted free).

Indian relay races will also be held 6:30 p.m. all three nights.

The fair rodeo remains a top draw for PRCA cowboys from around the U.S. because of Kesler's world-famous bucking stock and a generous payout window.

Although the entry list is always heavy with Montana participants, there are cowboys and cowgirls from 14 other states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Wyoming), Australia, Canada (Alberta and British Columbia) and New Zealand.

The lineup, just like last year, has a PRCA ranked cowboy up every night.

Tonight, Bobby Mote of Culver, Ore., will compete in team roping with Mike Beers of Post, Ore. Mote is third in the latest all-around standings with earning of $83,936.

Saddle bronc riding will have Jacobs Crawley of College Station, Texas, who is ranked eighth ($46,089), and Cody Angland of New South Wales, Australia, who is sitting 18th ($35,333).

Crawley has drawn Believe Me while Angland will be on Cover Story.

In bull riding, Bryan Richardson of Dallas is up on Quick Drop for the first performance. Richardson is ranked No. 17 ($47,256).

On Friday, Tyrell Smith of Great Falls has drawn Free Agent in the saddle bronc. Smith is ranked No. 17 ($35,953).

Carlee Pierce of Woodward, Okla., is fifth ranked ($76,776) and will compete in ladies barrel racing.

For the final night - Saturday - Jesse Kruse of Great Falls has drawn Mystic River. Kruse is currently No. 14 ($38,140) in the saddle bronc.

Cody DeMoss of Heflin, La., is paired with Believe Me in the saddle bronc. DeMoss is ninth ($45,154).

Tie-down roping will have four ranked riders - Timber Moore, Aubrey, Texas, sixth ($66,801); Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La., 10th ($56,425); Trent Creager, Stillwater, Okla., 16th ($40,672); and Jake Hannum, Plain City, Utah, 18th ($38,214).