We at the Great Northern Classic Rodeo (GNCR) are celebrating 35 years of bringing the great sport of rodeo to the Northland.
We are a non-profit, all-volunteer organization. Our first rodeo performance was hosted in 1991 in Duluth, Minnesota. Two years later, the GNCR moved across the bridge to Superior, Wisconsin and has made the Head of the Lakes Fairgrounds their home ever since.

In addition to entertaining families with action-packed fun, we raise money to donate to local clubs and charities. Some of the clubs and charities we have donated to over the years include North Country Ride, local 4-H clubs, Boys and Girls Clubs of Superior, and Horse Spirit. Each year we also encourage people to wear pink on Friday night in support of breast cancer awareness. The money we raise through this campaign goes to the local Breast Cancer Fund.

On Sunday morning Lee Downey hosts cowboy church in the curling club. Over the years, we have hosted a variety of family fun events. Examples include the NBHA-06 Barrel Run for Western Wishes, Cowboy Open Classic Golf Tournament, 5k walk run, craft show, and on-site rodeo dance/concert.

Our performances start at 7:30 pm Friday and Saturday. The final Performance is at 2:00 pm on Sunday. As part of each performance, we offer fun activities for the youngsters, such as mutton busting, the watermelon crawl, and calf scramble. Over the years, some of the phenomenal personnel we have hired include:

John Gilstrap - 7-Time World Champion Rodeo Clown
John Hayden - Rodeo Clown of the Year IPRA
Ben Eby - Rodeo Clown of the Year IPRA
Jeff "Slim" Garner - PRCA Rodeo Clown
JW Kinder - Announced at the PBR and PRCA World Finals
Davie Kimm - PRCA announcer
Jesse Knudsen - PRCA announcer
We were voted best new rodeo by the International Rodeo Association and have received several awards for best rodeo of the year by the United Rodeo Association. The stock contractors are professionals who carry many well-decorated bulls and broncs, both at the IPRA level and the URA. We normally draw about 300 contestants. Some the notable contestants include:

Speed Williams - 7x World Champion
Dan Daily - 18x IPRA All Around Champion, 10x Saddle Bronc, 11x Steer Wrestling
Mike Outer - 3x IPRA All Around Champion, 2x Bare Back
Billy Griffin - IPRA Saddle Bronc Champion 2007
Dale Yerigan - 11x IPRA Steer Wrestling World Champion
We are a big little rodeo! We look forward to seeing you Labor Day weekend!