Stuart Ternes was born on April 17, 1958, to Victor and Mary Ternes. He was raised with three brothers; Farley, Flint, and Tracy north of Raleigh, ND near the Dogtooth Hills. In a pinch one evening as a baby, he was bottle fed mare’s milk.

Stu won championships at multiple levels; College, NORA, NPRA, and PRCA. He attributes some of his balance and success with rodeo to the hours spent as a kid riding a tricky little pony. Stu began competing in youth, Little Britches, and 4-H rodeos at age 10.

Known primarily as a bull rider, Stu was an All Around cowboy having competed at one time or another, in every rodeo event except steer wrestling. This “bull rider” won the calf roping at the Bowman High School rodeo, twice. Stu qualified for the North Dakota and National High School Finals Rodeos. Bull riding practice sessions were on going, hanging out with Fred and Chad Berger. Joe Berger Rodeo Bulls provided many opportunities to get on practice bulls.

In college Stu began to focus on Bareback and Bull Riding. Stu won the All Around at several college rodeos, including the Bison Stampede in 1978 when he won both the bareback and bull riding events. In 1979 he won the Great Plains Intercollegiate Bull Riding Championship, qualifying for the College National Finals.

Stu won Bull Riding and Bareback Championships and two All Around Championships in the NORA. He was an NORA Runner-up four times as well. Stu won a Bull Riding Championship in the NPRA; and at the peak of his rodeo career, qualified seven times for the PRCA Badlands Circuit Finals. Stu won the Badlands Circuit Finals twice and in 1984 won the year end Badlands Circuit Bull Riding Championship. He was Runner-up in 1986 and qualified for the 1987 Dodge National Circuit Finals in Pocatello, Idaho.

Stu worked 40+ years for Farm Credit Services, retiring as Chief Credit Officer in 2022. He was committed to helping young and beginning farmers and ranchers get a start in agriculture. Stu was influential in Farm Credit Services support of rodeo at all levels.

Stu and Tammy (Deschamp) were married on November 14, 1986. They raised three children, Hatti, Jess, and Lexi. They own a ranch south of Mercer, ND and run 400 yearling steers on pasture.