Dan Yates, at age 36, is on the comeback trail.

“Give it one more shot,” the veteran steer wrestler from Red Lodge said after posting the best time during the evening performance of the 2014 Rocky Mountain Classic PRCA Rodeo at Majestic Valley Arena on Friday.

“I enjoy it.”

He’s also missed it — big time.

Yates was competing in just his second rodeo in the last four years. He stepped away from the Montana circuit following knee surgery in 2007.

“Difficult to find the time,” he said of competing while ranching and running an agricultural spraying business.

“I love it ... it’s great to see the guys again and the people.”

Yates looked very smooth and in sync while taking his steer down in a quick 4.5 seconds. Bode Scott of Pryor had the next best run at 5.1.

“It was good,” he said of his effort.

“I watched the steer go in the morning (slack) and he wasn’t very good. He went out and stopped. Tonight I knew I needed him to start a little more.”

And that strategy worked.

Yates completed his fast run on Hank Hollenbeck’s horse. Hollenbeck had the third best time — 5.9.

“He’s a good horse,” Yates said.

Yates competed for 10 years on the PRCA circuit before taking his break. He was the Rookie of the Year in 2006.

He won the circuit finals in Montana in 2005 and won the second round at the Dodge National Finals the same years.

“I’ve had good luck in this arena,” Yates said.

Zeke Thurston, 19, of Sheridan, Wyo., posted the top score in the saddle bronc with an 83-point go on Bucked Down.

There were two sessions of saddle bronc with Thurston in the final one.

“It bucked good, bucked hard, kicked hard,” Thurston said of his draw.

He said he survived one tense moment in the early going.

“I tried to keep my chin down and keep gassing it,” he said.

“That helped me through the ride.

“I was beating her to the ground,” he said after that.

“I figured I had her licked there.”

Thurston competed at the PRCA Northwest Montana Fair Rodeo last year and finished third.

He’s also cashed in at the pay window in this event last year.

“I think I’ve always made money every time I have been to this town,” he said.

Which is why he keeps coming back.

Thurston plans to hit the PRCA circuit full time next year after college. His father was a six-time PRCA National Finals Rodeo qualifier and a five-time Canadian Finals Rodeo qualifier in the saddle bronc.

“I was born into it,” Zeke said.

“I’ve never really wanted to do anything else.”

Kalispell’s Tammy Carpenter had the top time in barrel racing with her 15.06 clocking. Four riders dipped below 16 seconds.

Matt Lait of Stavely, Alberta, scored 78 points on Rip Cord to lead the bareback. Kevin Peterson of Kilgore, Neb. had the best time in tie-down roping, 9.2.

It was a touch night for bull riders, however, as no scores were posted. The bulls won 7-0.

In team roping, only one time was posted. That was a 16-second mark recorded by Kevin Peterson of Kilgore, Neb., and Zachary Schweigert of Livingston.

The second, an final performance of the 2014 Rocky Mountain Classic PRCA Rodeo, is tonight at 7:30.

2014 Rocky Mountain Classic PRCA Rodeo

Produced by: Silver Creek Pro Rodeo, N.D.

Corey and Lange/Flying Diamond, Moses Lake, Wash.

Friday

At Majestic Valley Arena

Bareback — 1. Matt Lait, Stavely, Alberta, 78 on Rip Cord: 2. Chase Redfield, Opheim, 71; 3. Seth Shelton, Kennewick, Wash., 65.

Saddle bronc — 1. Zeke Thurston, Sheridan, Wyo., 84 on Bucked Down; 2. Call Marr, Twin Butte, Alberta, 80; 3. (tie) Colter Heckman, Choteau, and Dougie Fitzgerald, Babb, 77 each; 5. Josh Reynolds, Ekalaka, 76; 6. Andy Clarys, Riverton, Wyo., 75; 7. Lane Watt, Hardisty, Alberta, 74; 8. Dillon Barkshire, Sheridan, Wyo., 66; 9. Wyatt Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta, 55.

Tie-down roping — 1. Kevin Peterson, Kilgore, Neb., 9.2; 2. Bode Scott, Pryor, 9.6; 3. 3. Sam Levine, Wolf Creek, 10.2; 4. Delon Parker, Worden, 11.6; 5. Nolan Conway, Browning, 16.3; 6. Weston Brown, Big Sandy, 19.1; 7. Austin Barstow, Springview, Neb., 23.9.

Steer wrestling — 1. Dan Yates, Red Lodge, 4.5; 2. Bode Scott, Pryor, 5.1; 3. Hank Hollenbeck, Molt, 5.9; 4. B.J. Taruscio, Walla Walla, Wash., 7.5.

Team roping — 1. Kevin Peterson, Kilgore, Neb./Zachary Schweigert, Livingston, 16.0.

Barrel racing — 1. Tammy Carpenter, Kalispell, 15.06; 2. Laruen Reiser, Bozeman, 15.09; 3. Julie Lenoir, Cut Bank, 15.87; 4. Tracy Matz, Missoula, 15.93; 5. Abigail Knight, Charlo, 20.74; 6. Tanya Getten, Helena, 20.82; 7. Cally Govins, Helena, 21.35; 8. Shelley Murphy, Helena, 25.84.

Bull riding — No scores.