Up North Outlaw Coy Thorson wins in North Dakota

Snow and Ice greets Big Bucks ProRodeo: Bismarck PRCA Rodeo Feb. 7-8

by: Gretchen Kirchmann

Bismarck, N.D., February 9, 2025 – The winter weather made the Big Bucks ProRodeo a memorable one inside the Bismarck Event Center. The icy conditions and four inches of snow on Friday didn’t stop the rodeo contestants from competing for $42,461 in the Badlands Circuit.

Bold North bull riding talent from neighboring states Minnesota and South Dakota heated up the action going 85.5 and 85 points to finish first and second. Mason Moody from Letcher, South Dakota scored 85 points to set the bar on Friday night.  Minnesotan, Coy Thorson, from Fergus Falls rode Big Buck’s Little Wolf for 85.5 points to capture the win on Saturday.

The Up North Outlaw, Thorson, won $1,914. “I didn’t look him up or anything, I just went there and did my job and it worked out,” he stated.  The bull was previously unridden in 2022 and 2023. Last year Little Wolf had an 87% buck off percentage. In Thorson’s own words, “the bull turned out to be a good one.”

Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) Photographer Chuck Minor captured the action with his camera both nights.  “I like to show the athletic ability of both athlete and animal.  If they are both showcasing their abilities, then that’s a winner,” he stated. “Coy is such a laid-back guy, that when seeing his grit and aggression while he’s riding is somewhat of a Dr. Jekyll Mr. Hyde moment,” explained Minor.

The rodeo results posted on prorodeo.com include all money winners.

The Flitton and Burnside families purchased the Mosebrucker Rodeo Company and continues the tradition. Stock Contractors Cody Flitton and Jody Burnside along with their families began Big Bucks in 2024 but its history goes back to 1940. Big Bucks carries two legendary bucking horse bloodlines, bred to buck from two different families in two different rodeo circuits. Visit www.bigbucksprorodeo.com to learn more.