When Bobbi Grann got her mail a month ago, she ripped open a certain letter.

It was her pro rodeo permit something she has been striving to achieve ever since she was a kid.

"Iwas really happy," the cowgirl from Sheyenne said. "I stared at it for awhile. I wasn't going to start pro rodeoing until I was ready. I feel like I'm ready."

Grann will make her first appearance at the Mandan Rodeo. Action begins today and continues through Saturday. She will compete in this morning's slack performance of barrel racing.

"I'm definitely looking forward to going to the big rodeos, like this one," Grann said. "I'm honored to just be competing there. Hopefully it will be fun."

Grann has competed in two rodeos since receiving her permit. She placed in a rodeo in Dickinson and "ran into some bad weather and bad luck" in Strasburg.

Grann, who graduated from New Rockford in May, is coming off a successful high school season where she won state titles in barrel racing, goat tying and all-around cowgirl.

She won goat tying at last year's national high school rodeo in Farmington, N.M.

Grann said she and her quarterhorse "Cooper" have developed the chemistry to be successful in barrel racing.

"We've had him for four years,"Grann said. "My dad broke him, and my mom trained him for barrel racing. I've been riding him two-and-a-half years now."

Grann is also a two-time Class B all-state girls basketball player who helped guide New Rockford to the state tournament this past winter.

She has figured out a way to enjoy both basketball and rodeo when she attends college this coming school year. Grann plans to play women's basketball for Lake Region State of Devils Lake, and rodeo year round. After two years, she plans to attend a four-year university for pre-vet and will focus on just rodeo.

"Iwant to focus on basketball for a couple years and get that off my chest,"Grann said. "I plan on rodeoing the rest of my life. I plan to go to pro rodeos during the winter. My (basketball coach) is fine with that. He's happy to have me."

n NOTABLE CONTESTANTS:Today, 8 a.m. slack performance Scott Montague, Rapid City, S.D., a four-time WNFR bareback qualifier. … Beau Franzen, Sidney, Mont., a two-time WNFR qualifier in steer wrestling. … Alfred Hanson, team roper, a three-time qualifier for the Dodge National Circuit Finals. … Cole Hermanson, Mandan, is the 2008 PRCA Badlands Circuit Finals champion and is leading the circuit for 2009. He is the 2006 N.D. high school champion and won the 2008 Mandan PRCA rodeo.

Thursday, 7:30 p.m. performance Charles Pogue, Ringling, Okla., team roper, is 12-time WNFR qualifier. … Jhett Johnson, Casper, Wyo., is a three-time national finals qualifier and is a heeler in team roping. … Brad Gjermundson, Marshall, is a four-time world saddle bronc riding champion. He will compete in team roping with Brenden Brinkman of Golden Valley.

Friday, 7:30 p.m. performance Tommy Cook, McAlester, Okla., is two-time WNFR qualifier in steer wrestling. … Tim Pharr, Resaca, Ga., is 22nd in world standings in tie down roping. … Bobby Harris, an 11-time WNFR qualifier. He will be heading in the team roping.

Saturday, 7:30 p.m. performance Ty Breuer, Mandan, is a three-time N.D. high school bareback champion, 2008 reserve national high school bareback champion and 2009 national college rodeo finalist. … Riley Knoll, Mandan, is a N.D. high school champ and competed in 2009 college national finals. … Red Lemmel, Faith, S.D., is a three-time WNFR qualifier in saddle bronc riding. … Garrett Nokes, is a WNFR qualifier and will compete in tie down roping. … K.C. Jones is a five-time WNFR qualifier in steer wrestling. … Ivan Tiegen, Camp Crook, S.D., is a seven-time WNFR qualifier in steer wrestling. … Matt Gilbert, Camp Crook, S.D., is the 2003 Dodge national circuit finals champ in steer wrestling. … York Gill, Memphis, Tenn., is the 2006 Cheyenne Frontier Days champion heeler. … Brittany Fleck qualified in barrel racing for the 2008 Badlands Circuit Finals rodeo. … Gail Beebe, Custer, S.D., is a former WNFR barrel racing qualifier. … BJ Schumacher, Hillsboro, Wis., is the 2006 world champion bullrider and seven-time WNFR qualifier. He is entered in bullriding.

n RODEOFAMILIES:Brad Gjermundson is competing in team roping. Son Kane will compete in the bronc riding. Daughter Hali will compete in barrel racing. … Twin brothers Dan and Don Miller of Raleigh will be in bareback. … Husband-wife combos include Tate Eck (saddle bronc) and Shannon Eck (barrel racing) and Brian Wieser (bareback) and Jessica Wieser (barrel racing).

n NORTHDAKOTA CONTESTANTS:A total of 90 cowboys and cowgirls from North Dakota will compete.

n NOTABLES:There are 417 contestants who are entered and will compete for $46,000. … Mosbrucker Rodeo of Mandan will provide the bucking stock. … Thursday's slack performance, which begins at 8 a.m. is free. … Friday is "Tough Enough to Wear Pink"night. … Professional rodeo announcer Tim Fuller of Claremore, Okla., will keep fans informed of every buck, kick and jump at the night performances. … For more information, go to www.mandanrodeo.com.