So far 11th saddle bronc rider in the world, Sage Newman 'wouldn't change a thing'

Riding the toughest broncs was never the problem.

Sage Newman won the national high school saddle bronc title in 2016 and won at the Big Sky Pro Rodeo in Great Falls two summers later.

Leaving the family ranch in Melstone to ride those broncs was more of an issue.

“I like being home,” said Newman. “I have a few horses and cows I like to watch over. It’s hard to leave.”

Newman, with encouragement from his family, is leaving Melstone a lot more often.

And it’s paid off with a break-out season for the 23-year-old cowboy.

One of Montana’s newest ascending rodeo stars returns to the Montana ExpoPark Grandstands for the first performance of the Big Sky Pro Rodeo.

The rodeo, which continues through Saturday, features, a 7 p.m. performance each night.

“Great Falls is one of my favorite rodeos,” Newman said. “I like the atmosphere there.”

Newman comes to Great Falls a solid 11th in the world standings with $49,440 won. Prior to the start of the 2021 season, he had earned $33,300 since turning pro.

“It’s been unbelievable,” said Newman of his year. “I’ve been drawing good and riding well. The year couldn’t be any better.

“Before, I didn’t really commit myself. I had to commit myself to going. I was going to go hard last year but the pandemic took care of that. I stayed around home and just worked to get ready for this year. I put a lot of time on the spur board and worked to get consistent.”

He also made his way to the home of Sankey Pro Rodeo, where Wade Sankey bucked horses for cowboys to ride.

“That helped me out quite a bit,” Newman said.

Sankey Pro Rodeo and Phenom Genetics are the stock contractors this week.

A big chunk of Newman’s money came from north of the border where he dominated the Pool A saddle bronc competition at the Calgary Stampede. He won two rounds and placed second in another to pocket almost $20,000 with $14,000 counting in the PRCA world standings. Newman strung together rides of 89.5, 85.5, 90.5 and 86.5 against a top-flight pen of horses.

“It was awesome,” he said of his first time at one of the most prestigious events in professional rodeo. “I got on some really awesome horses.”

Newman jumped-started his season by placing fourth at The American in Arlington, Texas and followed with a $5,000 payday at San Angelo, Texas in April.

“The American, I did well and it kept rolling from there,” he said. “The confidence boost from that was amazing.”

Newman also won the World Famous Miles City Bucking Horse Matched Xtreme Broncs ride event, was second at Mandan, N.D. and third at Cody, Wyo. He recently won the second round of Cheyenne Frontier Days.

Newman has to keep cashing checks to keep up with his travel partners. Chase Brooks of Deer Lodge is fifth in the world standings while Canadian Kolby Wanchuk is seventh. Brooks and Wanchuk also won rounds in pool competition at the Calgary Stampede. Wanchuk’s had a 94.5-point ride, the second-highest in professional rodeo history.

Daniel Butner, of Daniel, Wyo., recently won the saddle bronc title at Helena. Butner was second at Great Falls in 2019 while Newman tied for fourth.

“For our rig, it’s been a good year,” said Newman, the enthusiasm rising in his voice. “We all feed off each other. It was pretty neat what we did at Calgary.

“It would be pretty cool for all of us in the rig to get to the Finals (National Finals Rodeo).”

Newman has two months to keep his spot among the top 15 and qualify for pro rodeo’s Super Bowl in Las Vegas on December 2-11.

“The beginning of the year, for sure, was to make the Finals,” he said. “I wanted to be in the top 15 at the end of the year.

“I try not to think about being in the top 15. I just do what I can. Go one horse at a time and keep having fun.”

He’s also more willing to travel.

“We rodeo pretty much every day in August,” said Newman. “I just want to keep riding well and stay healthy.

“I like the challenge of being out on the road. You get to travel all over the world and meet new people. You are with your buddies every day and having fun. You’re out there every day.

“I wouldn’t change a thing.”

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