Montana Pro Rodeo Program 2023

Schedule of Events

Saturday, October 7, 2023

1:00 Registration Opens – Billings Hotel and Convention Center

1:00 – 4:30 Legacy Room Hospitability Suite Open

The Big Visit – Come mingle with friends and neighbors prior to the Evening’s Festivities

5:00PM Welcome by Emcee Brent Jordan

Honor Guard–American Legion Post 71 –Fromberg

National Anthem

Recognition of Dignitaries, Special Guests and Rodeo Celebrities

Sit-down Banquet –Steak dinner with all the extras

Heads and Tails–Your opportunity to win a Collector Series Dan Mortensen Bronz

Bronze’s Raffle Draw

Jeff Wolf Quick Bronze Auction

Live Auction

AWARD PRESENTATIONS:

Lady of the West

Lifetime Achievement Award

Great Montana Livestock

Great Montana Auctions

Great Montana Western Store

Great Montana Stock Contractors

Great Montana Rodeo Families

Great Montana Ranches

Western Heritage Awards

Great Montana Families Award

Western Heritage Award

Legends

Close Silent Auction–15 minutes after end of Awards

Live Music provided by Broken Reins featuring Randy Rhoads, Clark Fletcher, Joe Sullivan and Jeff Taylor.

2022 – 2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS

Brent Jordan - President

Robin Turnsplenty - Vice President

Sandie Green - Secretary

Melodee Haagenson - Treasurer

Bill Williams - Past President DIRECTORS

Fred Charette

Curt Cotton

Clark Fletcher

Deb Greenough

Chance Jeffers

Larry Jordan

Elyssa Leininger

Mike Okragly

Steve Ozburn

Quincy Petty

Patricia Pilkington

Toby Tooke

Leonard Wortman

Welcome

Friends,

As our 18th annual Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame banquet is underway, it reminds me of the men and women of this great organization and their 100% volunteer efforts that span the complete year round calendar. We should all tip our hats to them for their selfless dedication to achieving our stated mission statement and goals.

During this year’s banquet, we once again honor great Montana rodeo heroes and our collective rodeo community that contributes to the success of Professional Rodeo from ranches, farms, to families. We are very proud of the fact that our High School Rodeo Scholarship program is the largest in nation, nearing $675,000 awarded to young cowboy and cowgirl scholar athletes from across this great state. Scholarships are awarded to deserving individuals, selected by our friends from Montana High School Rodeo scholarship committee to be used for their

Special Guests

Jeff Wolf

Again this year as last, Jeff will be creating a sculpture live. Because of Jeff’s remarkable skill and finetuned technique this piece will be turned from a lump of clay to a timeless fine work of art that tells a story for everyone to see. You will have a chance to bid on and own this sculpture. It will be auctioned off during the “live auction” portion of the banquet program.

Montana Pro Rodeo Hall & Wall of Fame is honored and grateful that Jeff created both “Turn Your Toes Out And Try” featuring World Champion Deb Greenough and“Shawn Davis and Descent” for our fundraising Legacy Bronze Series of Montana World Champions. We are blessed that Jeff would choose to work with us to fund scholarships for Montana High School rodeo students. We hope you will take a good look at the Bronze on display and give Jeff a big Montana welcome to our Banquet.

higher education at university, college or trade schools with Rodeo Programs.

I want to thank these great Organizations for teaming up with us to promote the MPRHWF; World Famous Miles City Buck Horse Sale, Red Lodge Home of Champions Rodeo, Montana High School Rodeo Finals, Northern International Livestock Exposition, Montana State Rodeo Team, and Spring Rodeo, MPRHWF Barrel Race. We can’t thank them enough for their partnerships! So sit back, enjoy this great venue and dinner, help us celebrate and honor our rodeo friends and heroes, and don’t be shy to participate in helping us raise funds for our scholarship goals!

Best western regards,

Shawn Davis

Shawn Davis, a threetime world champion saddle bronc rider, has devoted much of his life to the sport of rodeo. Davis won his first title in 1965 and then captured back-to-back titles in 1967-68. In 1969, he was leading the world standings when a bronc fell on him in Thompson Falls, Mont., breaking his back. At least one surgeon predicted Davis would never ride even a gentle horse again, but 13 months later, following intensive, self-motivated physical therapy, he was riding broncs and winning. He returned to the National Finals Rodeo in 1971. Davis has been general manager of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo since 1986 and was a major proponent of moving the NFR from Oklahoma City, Okla., to Las Vegas. Davis has served on the PRCA Board of Directors and was the rodeo coach at the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls for 29 years before retiring in 2007. He was born on Dec. 7, 1940, in Butte, Mont.

Brent Jordan

President – Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame

Welcome to the 18th Annual Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame Banquet

Legends

Former/current PRCA individuals that left their mark on professional rodeo

Lila Reukauf Glade

Lila Reukauf Glade was born in July of 1950 in Miles City, Montana. She was the second daughter to Art and June McMillan Reukauf. She joined her sister Dixie, five years her senior, on the Reukauf ranch north of the Yellowstone River between Little Sheep and Big Sheep Mountains in southeastern Montana. Terry was their home address, but it could have easily been Miles City due to the “back way” into town.

Lila grew up as one of two girls in a family of hard workers. Her father, Art, was a busy man. He ran cattle and horses, and not always in close proximity to his home place. Over the years, he had leased land quite a distance from home in the state of Montana. He even had business dealings in Australia and Missouri. He was quite the entrepreneur. He was raised during hard times and did a lot of business with his word and a handshake. Lila’s mother, June, was also accustomed to working hard every minute of the day, so Lila learned at a young age what hard work was all about.

Lila attended a nearby country school until it was time to attend school in Terry. She was involved in rodeo from a very young age. Her dad raised foundation bloodline quarter horses and he enjoyed watching them run barrels.

Lila and her sister spent a lot of hours working on the ranch and training horses in the arena. They both became skilled horsewomen and went on to win all sorts of prizes, awards, and titles running barrels.

After graduating high school in 1968, Lila went to school at National College in Rapid City, SD. She was on the rodeo team. She eventually met her husband-to-be, Cliff Glade, and they married in February of 1971. Their daughter, Cheyenne, was born in July of 1973 and their son, Wyatt, followed in December of 1975. Along the way, Lila and Cliff learned how to build a life together while ranching and raising and training horses.

Skipper was born in the spring of 1962 by Art’s stud, Little Freckles, and out of a Hines mare. Verlan Hines was a family friend who lived down the creek and was quite the horse hand. His kids loved riding horses and were great at getting all of their horses broke to death. Skipper was just that and was used to an arena. A friend of the family, Doc Britton, was from Minnesota and came out hunting frequently. Doc bought Skipper from the Hines family as a pleasure horse for himself. He left him at the Reukauf place for the winter and told Lila that she should run barrels on him. Lila thought that was a silly idea. She said that Doc urged her to, so she took him over to the arena just to see what might happen, and Skipper took right to running barrels.

It took Lila just a mere thirty days at the arena until she entered Skipper in his first rodeo in Cohagen, MT, and they won it! Skipper was eight years old. They went to a few more rodeos and won those also, but Skipper got to tipping barrels because he turned them so tight. He didn’t dig in like a lot of horses, and he more or less turned straight up and down. After this trial-and-error period and some more time back home in the training pen, they took first or second place everywhere they went.

Lila said that Skipper was a funny horse. You had to completely leave his head alone and whenever he had a bit in his mouth, he would slobber like crazy. Looking back, she wishes she would have just used a halter on him. She eventually used a hackamore on him with the shank cut down to no more than 4” and this worked great for him. She smiled when she remembered back about how he swatted his tail on the way home from the third barrel every single time.

Lila got her Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) card in 1974. Cheyenne Frontier Days was among her best wins on the rodeo trail. All 90 some barrel racers would enter the arena and stand off to the side while each one ran. They never raked once, and the horse races were going on at the same time around the arena! The top came back after they were done to crown the champion. In 1974, she and Skipper tied for third. In 1975, they won it! And in 1976, they were 6th. When asked how Skipper had come out on top after all of those girls had run, Lila said it was easy—he ran inside all of their tracks.

Former/current PRCA individuals that left their mark on professional rodeo

Lila and Skipper won the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit in barrels in 1975 and 1976 and finished second in 1977. They eventually went on to qualify and compete in the 1976 National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City. It was the dead of winter as they left home in Montana for the NFR. They pulled into OKC a day before the rodeo, while others had been there a week or two ahead of them. The temperature change was drastic and Skipper had difficulties adjusting, so it wasn’t his best performance of his career. However, it was the NFR. They did their best and they came out of it stronger than ever.

Skipper brought joy to other riders, as well. Lila eventually let a high school family friend, Lisa Figg (now Lisa Medlin), run him at the National High School Rodeo Finals in Washington. And when Lila sensed that Skipper was done competing professionally, he had an eager 8-year-old girl waiting for him (Cheyenne). Cheyenne was at the point that she needed to graduate to something ready to go, and, boy, did Skipper go! It wasn’t just barrels that he was good at— Skipper was good at everything. Cliff

loves what they do, it shows in ways that can be felt forever. My mom loved training barrel horses, and the horses she trained loved her. Thanks, Mom, and I know Skipper thanks you too. You truly are a Woman of the West and I’m proud to be your daughter!”

had roped off of him and they also breakaway roped, goat tied, hazed steers, and ran poles on Skipper.

Due to an unfortunate accident, Skipper was retired from competition all together at about 21 years old, but he wasn’t impaired from living a good life. He lived on the place and pretty much did what he pleased for the remainder of his days. He lived to the old age of 32 and the family is left with countless fond memories and an emptiness that can never be filled.

Cheyenne is proud to say that her mom was and is one of the best horsewomen she has ever known. “Without her, I wouldn’t have had the success I did in the arena from childhood on up. When someone

Lila Reukauf Glade contd...

Former/current PRCA individuals that left their mark on professional rodeo

Dan “Bud” Munroe

After meeting while serving on the NIRA college board together, Bud married the love of his life, World Champion Barrel Racer and Texas native, Jimmie Gibbs. In 1980 Bud would move to Texas to rodeo alongside Jimmie for the remainder of their careers. Texas wasn’t bad for the Montana boy, as his accolades included winning the PRCA Texas Circuit Championship four times: 1982, 1983, 1986, and 1987.

Born in Lewistown MT., Dan “Bud” Munroe graduated from Montana State University with a degree in agricultural business. While at MSU he competed in both bareback riding and saddle bronc riding, gathering several accolades including the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association saddle bronc title in 1975 and second in the NIRA All-Around standings that same year, helping the Bobcats capture the NIRA team championship.

Bud would go on to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo twelve consecutive years (1977-1988), with eight finishes in the top five and earning second in the World Championship standings in 1978 and 1980. In 1986, Bud made history not only being crowned the PRCA World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider, but also becoming the first saddle bronc rider to earn $100,000 in a single season.

Bud ultimately retired after winning the short round at Cheyenne Frontier Days in July of 1989. However, retirement did not mean walking away from the sport of rodeo. Rather, Bud would go on to give back to the sport that had given him so much.

Over the next several decades, Bud remained a pillar of the rodeo community demonstrating his dedication to the growth of the sport by serving on several committees. Bud served as the PRCA saddle bronc director (1980-81), as well as on the PRCA Properties Board and PRCA Grievance Committee for nearly 20 years.

One of his most cherished volunteer acts was serving on Heart O’Texas Rodeo Committee in several capacities, including chairman of the board, for more than 30 years. In 1999, he received the PRCA John Justin Standard of the West Committeeman of the Year Award for his long-standing service and dedication to the Heart O’ Texas Rodeo Committee.

Bud’s legacy was recognized and honored across the United States as he was inducted into the Montana Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame, Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame, Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame, and was the first cowboy inducted into the Montana State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2007, Bud was inducted into the PRCA Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame, the highest honor and greatest achievement in professional rodeo. In 2016, Bud and Jimmie were inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame as a couple.

Our Mission: The Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame is a non-profit Montana 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to honoring Montana professional rodeo cowboys and cowgirls who exemplify our Montana western heritage through maintenance of a monument site located near the MetraPark Arena in Billings, Montana and through a scholarship program to assist Montana high school students further their education and pursue their interest in rodeo at the college level.

THANK YOU MONTANA!

For 70 years, Stockman Bank has been serving Montana with the best in banking services, helping Montanans manage their money, achieve their financial goals and realize their dreams. As the largest family owned, privately held, community bank in Montana, we remain committed to traditional, western values and homegrown community services.

Montana’s Brand of Banking

FDIC | Equal Housing Lender

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Legends

Former/current PRCA individuals that left their mark on professional rodeo

William (Bill) Lee Pauley

William (Bill) Lee Pauley was born on December 13, 1952, to Bob and Laverne Pauley. Bill was raised on the family ranch bordering the Tongue River, 30 miles south of Miles City, Montana. Bill literally grew up with a horse between his knees. Under the watchful eyes of his father, Bob, and the other old timers like Wallace Badgett and Tom Gilmore, Bill was already a top hand by the age of ten.

Bill won the Montana High School Saddle Bronc Championship in 1970 and transitioned into college rodeo at Sheridan, Wyoming, where he competed in bareback, steer wrestling, and saddle bronc riding. Under the tutelage of Denny Loohman, one of Montana’s best bronc riders, Bill eventually dropped the other events to concentrate on saddle bronc riding while beginning his professional rodeo career.

In 1972, Bill married his high school sweetheart, Susan Fortune. Three children were soon born to the couple: Paul, Brenda, and Amanda. Bill continued to rodeo professionally to put bread on the table for his growing family. Bill loved to ride broncs, but hated to leave home. Traveling less than most professional cowboys, Bill qualified for the National Finals Rodeo in 1975 and 1976. In 1976, he qualified for the NFR after competing in only twenty-five rodeos, while the rest of the top 15 contestants competed in over a hundred. During his career, Bill won the prestigious matched bronc riding in Sentinel Butte, ND three years. The World’s Largest Bronc Riding Match was held in Wolf Point, Montana in 1975. The top fifty Cowboys in the world were invited, and when

the dust settled, Bill was the winner. He also won the bronc riding at the Pendleton Roundup, as well as many other rodeos across the United States and Canada.

Bill’s rodeo career came to an abrupt halt in 1978 when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The resulting surgery was temporarily successful, but ended his bronc riding career. Bill continued to be involved in rodeo by judging and occasionally working as a pickup man. He judged the National High School Finals and the National Intercollegiate Finals Rodeo. Bill also managed ranches until his cancer reappeared and caused his death on February 11, 1986. Thirty-five years after his passing, Bill Pauley is still remembered for his classy bronc riding style, his contagious sense of humor, his devotion to his family, and his hundreds of friends and admirers.

Former/current PRCA individuals that left their mark on professional rodeo

Shannon Wortman

Shannon Wortman started his rodeo career riding sheep when he was just two years old and he then started riding cows when he turned eight. He would catch rides with other cowboys and even venture into Canada to ride cows. It was not a well-known fact, but Shannon and his two brothers would sneak across the highway and borrow the neighbors’ cows just to see which ones would buck.

Shannon started riding big bulls his freshman year of high school in 1986 and he picked up bareback and saddle broncs his junior year. He qualified for the state high school rodeo finals all four years of high school and qualified for the 1988 National High School Finals in the bareback riding. Shannon went to college at Western Montana College in Dillon, Montana, and he qualified for College National Finals Rodeo all four years in the bareback and bull riding.

Shannon has an impressive list of accolades and wins in the rough stock events. In 1992, he won the Big Sky Region bareback and all-around, and was also fifth in the nation in bull riding. He qualified for the Bull Riders Only finals in 1994. He qualified for the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals from 1992 to 1995, winning the average in the bull riding in 1994

and circuit champion in 1995. In Shannon’s rookie year in 1993, he won the Pendleton Roundup in the bull riding. He won the Gilley’s $10,000 Winner Take All short round in 1996. He placed at many major rodeos throughout his career, including a matchup between Shannon and Bodacious in the short round of San Antonio, Texas, which only lasted five and a half seconds. Shannon also won the amazing Worst Wreck of the Houston Live Stock Show and Rodeo, which comes with a year’s supply of round-trip airline tickets.

August 3rd, 1995 in Sidney, Montana essentially marked the end of Shannon’s bull riding career, as he tore his groin muscle in half. He tried for the next few years, but after about every fifth bull, he would tear it again. When he turned 33 years old, he started fighting bulls for amateur associations. Six years of bull fighting with four different associations earned him twelve bull fighter of the year awards. Shannon also was a ramrod for Jacob’s rodeo for several years. Shannon helped put on bull riding and bull fighting schools in Drummond, Montana. He loves everything about rodeo, even them gristle heads (aka timed eventers).

Former/current PRCA individuals that left their mark on professional rodeo

Brookman Rodeo

Brookman Rodeo was started by the late Marvin Brookman in 1936 when he joined the Cowboys’ Turtle Association, wanting to pursue his dream of living the cowboy lifestyle. Growing up, Marvin broke horses for the cavalry, where he learned to wrangle and manage skills that were later put to good use.

Marvin was instrumental in starting the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals and has had stock selected for it every year since it started, as well as the National Circuit Finals Rodeo held in Pocatello, ID. He provided stock for every NFR except for one, which was only missed due to a truck accident.

Marvin and Doris raised two daughters, Reita and Cleita. Reita and her husband, Jim Reinhart, helped with the everyday duties on the ranch. Jim worked behind the scenes sorting livestock and Reita was a PRCA Timer.

Dave and Cathy Wieferich (Marvin’s granddaughter) took over the reins managing the rodeo company when Marvin suffered a stroke in July of 2002. He remained very active in making decisions with the rodeo company until he passed away in January of 2006. Marvin was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, CO in 2005, and in 2013, he was posthumously inducted into the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame in Great Falls, MT.

When he was a teenager, he was hired on with the CBC (Chappel Brothers Corporation), working in the breaks of the Jordan and Winnett country and the Bear Paw Mountains of North Central Montana. Marvin and a crew were responsible for thousands of unclaimed horses that were abandoned by the early homesteaders, and they were tasked with sorting, branding, and taking care of stallions. At 23 years of age, Marvin started his career in the rodeo business by culling the buckers from his father’s 500 head of horses. This is when he specialized in the bucking stock side of rodeo, and with 150 head of specially selected horses, his “Born to Buck” breeding program was established.

Respect for Marvin reached all levels of professional rodeo, and in 1987, the Assiniboine Sioux made him an honorary member, giving him the name “Rider of the Horse.” He was very instrumental in growing the historic Wolf Point Wild Horse Stampede, and in 1992, the town named the rodeo grounds the Marvin Brookman Stadium. Marvin was also selected as the Grand Marshall for the 75th Diamond Anniversary. In honor of the 75th anniversary, a wagon train was organized to trail the Brookman bucking horses from his ranch to the Marvin Brookman Stadium. His program went on to sire legendary broncs including Powder Face and Brookman’s Velvet. Powder Face performed at a special rodeo that was attended by President Ronald Reagan, and Brookman’s Velvet earned the title of 1980 PRCA Saddle Bronc of the Year. Marvin received numerous stock awards in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

Brookman Rodeo’s “Born to Buck” breeding program is being carried on as a family tradition, raising approximately 20-30 colts every year. They continue to produce their own PRCA rodeos and provide stock to many rodeos across the United States including Pendleton, OR, Fort Worth, TX, Jackson, MS, Red Lodge, MT, Lafayette, LA, Lake Charles, LA, Wolf Point, MT, the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals, and the 2022 NFR Open in Colorado Springs, CO, to name a few. Brookman Rodeo has been selected to take stock to the NFR since taking over the reins in 2006.

Cathy is a PRCA Secretary and Timer. She has timed the NFR and has served as the secretary for the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals for many years. She also was the secretary and assistant secretary at the Dodge/Ram National Circuit Finals in Kissimmee, FL and Greeley, CO, and was the secretary at the first NFR Open in Colorado Springs, CO.

Dave and Cathy have three children: LaTasha (Trey Sheets), Tesa, and Tate. They help with the production of the rodeos, which includes the sound, maintaining and caring for the stock, help feeding and transporting the livestock, and loading the horses, bulls, and the timed event cattle. This past year, Tate has stepped in to learn the trade of flanking horses and he flanked at his first NFR last December. Kenny Barringer is also a very important part of Brookman Rodeo, as he is the bull partner and he helps with the organization of the rodeo. They enjoy traveling across the United States, rodeoing and meeting new people.

Former/current PRCA individuals that left their mark on professional rodeo

Brookman Rodeo cont’d

Dave and Cathy had goals when Marvin passed away, all of which were reached, but the last goal was to continue working on the “Born to Buck” breeding program. They are excited about where their animals are going and what they are raising now, and they look forward to their new crop of babies every year.

Below are some of the greats they have produced:

Kid Rock- Several NFRs/Ram Finals/Circuit Finals

Smilin Bob- NFR/Ram Finals/Circuit Finals

Joe Dirt- NFR/Ram Finals/Circuit Finals

Risky Business- NFR/Ram Finals/Circuit Finals

Rude Roommate- NFR/Ram Finals Circuit Finals

Lunatic Bait- Ram Finals/Circuit Finals

Famous Dex- NFR/Ram Finals/Circuit Finals- 3rd Top PRCA Bareback 2022

Satisfaction- NFR/Ram Finals/Circuit Finals

Ragin Lunatic – NFR/Ram Finals/Circuit Finals

Corona Kate- NFR/Ram Finals/Circuit Finals

Beaver Trails- Ram Finals/Circuit Finals- won a round at 2021

Ram Finals in Kissimmee, FL

Flirtacious- NFR/Ram Finals/Circuit Finals- won 2021 Red Lodge with 92.5 points

Drinkin’ Again- NFR/Ram Finals/Circuit Finals

Silver Lining- Ram Finals/Circuit Finals

Freaking Fabulous – Ram Finals/Circuit Finals

VooDoo- Ram Finals/Circuit Finals

Hot Axe- NFR Bull/Ram Finals/Circuit Finals – has scored in the 90’s numerous times in the bull riding

Stir Crazy- NFR Bull

Brookman Rodeo’s Famous Dex

Famous Dex was born April of 2013. He was the runt of the colt crop. He grew up to be one of the rankest horses raised and owned by Brookman Rodeo. He had heart, grit, try, and a lot of confidence-all the qualities of a winner. He traveled to many places doing what he lovedbucking. He went to Pendleton, OR, Deadwood, SD, Red Lodge, MT, Darby Riggin Rally, Fort Worth, TX, Kissimmee, FL, Colorado Springs, CO to name a few. His stock stats showed just how rank he truly was when the judges marked him a 46, 47, or 48 multiple times throughout his career and was often selected to buck in the short go rounds. He assisted Kaycee Fields winning his Bareback Championship at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in 2021. Famous Dex was selected twice as the Top Bareback Horse in the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit. On September 18, 2022, he was selected for the short go round in Pendleton, OR and drew Ty Breuer. Ty was bucked off before the 8 seconds and Dex was giving it his best once again. With his outstanding performance, he received the award for the Top Bareback Horse of the Pendleton Roundup. The following week we laid him to rest on the ranch in Sidney due to an injury sustained at the Pendleton Roundup. It was very bittersweet as Famous Dex was selected by the PRCA Bareback contestants as the 3 rd top horse in the PRCA.

Former/current PRCA individuals that left their mark on professional rodeo

Dave Wagner

From the age of 8, PRCA Gold Card holder, Dave Wagner, began accumulating buckles and saddles competing in the rough stock and timed events anywhere he could find to enter. He didn’t care what event it was, he just liked to win. Junior and youth rodeos blended into high school rodeos, where Dave was the State Bull Riding Champion in 1970 and 1971, then college rodeos where he became the Big Sky Region Bull Riding Champion 1972 and 1973, and onto open (MRA 1972 and 1973) and amateur rodeos, where he was the 1973 and 1974 NRA Champion Bull Rider. In 1975, at age 24, Dave got his pro card, deciding to focus on bull riding. That decision produced five consecutive Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Championships in 1976, 1977,1978, 1979, and 1980, setting a PRCA record for consecutive championships. “Match of Champions,” a Bob Burkhart bronze, commemorates this achievement.

Dave won his first PRCA Circuit year-end championship in 1976. At that time, there were no finals rodeos, only an Awards Banquet. The National Circuit system was in its infancy, created in 1974 by NFR bronc rider, Larry Jordan. Dave’s childhood friend and traveling partner, Bud Munroe (1997 PRCA World Champion), won the Montana Circuit saddle bronc championship in 1976, also. At the Awards Banquet, even though Dave wasn’t there because he had a sales meeting for his job with Lee Clothing, his dad proudly accepted his saddle for him, and Bud nominated Dave to be Manager of the Montana Circuit. Dave, ever devoted to the development of his sport, accepted the position, and immediately set out to accomplish his vision for the Montana Circuit. His leadership set the tone and led the nation in developing the National Circuit system that recognized cowboys that chose not to travel to qualify for the NFR or make rodeo their full-time occupation. They were equally talented in the arena, but they had businesses, ranches, or jobs that required their time and attention during the week. Dave wanted an incentive for these contestants because they make up the majority of the PRCA membership. The Circuit system gave them the honor and recognition they deserved, while also building enticement for members to rodeo within their circuit.

Dave both managed the Circuit and successfully competed from 1975 to 1989. In 1979, under his leadership, Montana put on the first Circuit Finals rodeo in the nation. In 1980, the first National Circuit Finals Rodeo was held in San Diego and Dave competed there. During 1980, Dave ended up 18th in the world standings. True to his nature, however, Dave sacrificed the lucrative Cowboy Christmas rodeos over the Fourth of July, staying close to home not wanting to chance missing the birth of his son. His priorities were always God and family first.

In 1980, wrapping up his fifth year-end championship, Dave also won the average at the Finals. He could take care of sponsors, committees, fans, and fellow contestants, all while still focusing on winning his own event. Dave Wagner is Cowboy to the core.

At the completion of the 1989 circuit finals rodeo, after 29 years of rodeo competition, 14 years competing in pro rodeo, and qualifying for 14 consecutive pro finals, Dave decided that was his last ride. He knew when the craving to get on wasn’t there as strong as he wanted that that was the time to hang it up. Wisdom and faith in God guided him.

Even after his riding career was over, Dave continued to devote time and energy to rodeo, putting on schools, helping produce rodeos, and serving on several boards. As owner of Connolly Saddlery, Dave provides trophy saddles for many associations and he sponsors and promotes as much as he can in the name of rodeo and all things western. In 2011, he was honored by the PRCA Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit with the Dr. Keith Petersen Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognized Dave’s contributions and love of rodeo. Dave has proudly served on the Circuit Board as committee representative and treasurer from 2000 to 2022.

Former/current PRCA individuals that left their mark on professional rodeo Shannon Blixt

When Shannon Blixt was a high school athlete at Helena Capital High, legendary Bruins’ football coach, Jim Tuss, was asked by a sportswriter what made Shannon special. “Strongest kid in our school. Fastest kid in our school,” Tuss said. “Also, the toughest kid in our school.” Shannon earned a full-ride scholarship to Montana State University, but the running back and linebacker was severely injured in an auto accident following his senior year in high school. Many thought his days of competing in sports—especially his number one passion of steer wrestling—were over. But Shannon’s rodeo career was just starting.

Shannon recovered from his injuries to become one of Montana’s all-time greatest cowboys. He was a bulldogger who set arena records and earned championship titles for nearly a quarter of a century. Living and working in his hometown of Helena, Shannon chose to focus on circuit events rather than hitting the road full-time in pursuit of a world championship. Despite not traveling far from home, championship buckles and saddles added up. He won four Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit titles in steer wrestling, and four more times he won the average in the bulldogging at the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals. He became a regular at the Dodge National Circuit Finals and won several go-rounds while competing against the best in the world. At the renowned Frontier Days Rodeo in Cheyenne, Wyoming in 1997, Shannon set the arena record with an amazing 6.0-second time. During one memorable week at the Big Sky Pro Rodeo Roundup in Great Falls, Shannon’s pal, Paul Petrino (of the famed football family), was in town to speak at the annual clinic sponsored by the Montana Coaches Association. Paul said he was in town to talk football and to watch his old partner, Shannon Blixt, win the steer wrestling title at the Big Sky Pro Rodeo Roundup. That’s exactly what happened. Shannon Blixt won many, many times aboard his fantastic horse, Rosie, a trusty steed that was known throughout the circuit for decades.

Though Shannon’s promising football career was cut short, he continues to remain in the game of football. Following the fortunes of teams coached by Paul Petrino and his older brother, Bobby, consume much of his time in the fall. Shannon has also served for years as a high school assistant football coach in Helena, where he grew up as the son of Don and Patti Blixt and the brother of Steve and Scott Blixt.

Shannon has always been close to his family, which includes his daughters, Madison and McKenzie, and his longtime girlfriend, Heidi Kaufman. They all currently reside in the Helena valley. Though Shannon Blixt has always been regarded as among the roughest, toughest, and strongest competitors in the rodeo arena, there are other reasons so many put him on a pedestal. Shannon is true to his friends, and if he’s a hero, he’s a humble hero. He has overcome much personal adversity to achieve considerable respect and honor in the sport of rodeo.

Former/current PRCA individuals that left their mark on professional rodeo

Walt Secrest

Walt Secrest was born on March 10, 1932, four miles North of Hardin, Montana. He was the fourth of six children born to Lee and Ethel Secrest. When Walt was five years old, the family purchased a ranch east of Crow Agency, Montana. He grew up working with his brother, Charlie, farming and haying with horse drawn equipment. While growing up, he had the opportunity to be around cowboys who worked on various ranches in the area. This sparked a love of horses and open country that would influence the rest of his life. The Crow Reservation was full of bands of wild horses, and for a kid with dreams of being a cowboy, this must have seemed like heaven on earth. Together, he and Charlie would chase these bands of horses into whatever corral they could find and take turns riding whatever they could catch. During this time in his life, Walt learned that the cowboys he looked up to not only rode broncs, but also roped. He became proficient with a rope by practicing on the milk pen calves, but only when his parents were gone.

Walt’s childhood provided him with plenty of experience, so it was only natural that he gave rodeo a try. He often entered every event, except the bull riding. He excelled in saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, calf roping, team tying, and often the wild horse race. He accumulated 39 buckles (many of them all-around), as well as several championship saddles. His rodeo career as a competitor spanned 36 years.

Walt’s rodeo career took another path when Bob Pauley asked him to be a pickup man at the Miles City Bucking Horse Sale. It was a natural progression for someone who loved bucking horses and crowds. It was not uncommon for Walt to not only rope horses before they left the arena, but often after the rider was picked up to jump from his pickup horse to the back of the bronc for a lap around the arena. His notoriety as a pickup man earned him jobs at countless rodeos.

He worked for many different stock contractors, including Harry Knight, Harry Vold, Sonny Linger, J.J. Smith, Bob Aber, Reg Kesler, and Bill Minnick. These rodeos included the Miles City Bucking Horse Sale, Cheyenne, Home on The Range in Sentinel Butte North Dakota, The Indian National Finals, College National Finals, and the 1975 National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City.

Aside from his rodeo career, Walt purchased a ranch at Cohagen, Montana in 1960, and for the next twenty-three years, he raised cattle, sheep, registered quarter horses, and, of course, bucking horses. During these years, he built an arena complete with bucking chutes. Walt, his wife, Ann, and son, Cotton, put on rodeo clinics for aspiring young cowboys and provided stock for high school, college, Indian, and youth rodeos.

After selling the ranch at Cohagen, Walt returned to his roots and moved back to the Crow Reservation, where he remained for the next thirty years. Never one to slow down, Walt began a career as a wrangler in western movies. Throughout the 1990’s, he worked on Far and Away, The Ballad of Little Joe, and Return to Lonesome Dove. In 1995, he served as wagon boss in “The Great Drive of 95,” driving a chuck wagon from Fort Worth, Texas to Miles City, Montana. Walt’s “retirement” years were spent trading horses, riding pens at the Edgar feedlot, and providing stock for Hardin’s annual Fourth of July Rodeo.

Walt and his wife, Maureen, returned to Miles City in 2017 and he passed away January 6th, 2023.

Great Montana Western Store

Outfitting our cowboys and cowgirls for where ever the trail leads WesTrends

Here’s our story and we’re stickin’ to it!

In October of 1979, Larry and Terry Shore opened a western store called 3 BAR 2 Western Outfitters in Whitefish, Montana. The store got its name from the 3-2 brand from the ranch in Norris, Montana, on which Terry grew up.

The Whitefish store remained in business until 1999 when they had the opportunity to build a new and bigger store in Columbia Falls. By that time, they had added Sundowner horse trailers into their product lines and needed more space. They worried the 3-2 brand would be at risk if they were to ever sell the business, so they decided to change the name to WesTrends, reflecting the new TRENDS in their WEStern business!

Larry and Terry continued in Columbia Falls until late 2005 when a new challenge presented itself: their landlord had an offer on their property that he couldn’t refuse! He offered to build them an even newer and bigger store nearby or simply buy them out of their lease. Being a Sundowner dealer, the idea for WesTrends Mobile was born. They concluded their “store closing” sale in May of 2006 and did their first mobile show in August at the Northwestern Montana Fair in Kalispell. The Ranch Store building outside of Norris was completed in the fall of 2007 and opened as a store in 2008. Their travels have taken them to events in Washington, Wyoming, South Dakota, Las Vegas, Arizona, and, of course, all over Montana, from Eureka to Baker.

Bid on number 1 at the Banquet

Terry was born in Ennis, Montana and grew up in Norris on the ranch, and later in Harrison, graduating from Harrison High School in 1971. She then attended college at Montana State University.

Larry was born in Cody, Wyoming and spent his early years there. His father was a civil engineer with the Bureau of Reclamation. Following the job, the family moved back east for most of Larry’s school years, but they revisited Cody every summer. Also graduating in 1971, college at Montana State University was in the plan all along.

Larry and Terry met while both were working in Bozeman. They married in 1974 and Larry got his first job in Wagner’s Western Wear in 1975. They moved to Great Falls in 1977 and worked at Hoglund’s Western Wear until opening 3 BAR 2 in 1979.

The rest is history!

Purchase a raffle ticket –one Shawn Davis bronze and one Deb Greenough bronze will be raffled October 7, 2023. Only 75 tickets will be sold for each bronze.

Play “Heads or Tails” during the Banquet. Take your chance on investing $20 to participate and win a Dan Mortensen bronze.

Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame

5D Jackpot Barrel Race

$1600 Added Money / Buckles awarded to each Divisions

August 6th, 2023 - 1pm Start

Red Lodge Rodeo Ground

Pre-Entries Due by July 20th

Late Entry Available until 12 Noon the Day of the Event with a $10.00 Late Fee

Time Only 9am - Noon

Open to World 5D Open / 3D Senior / 3D Youth Division Payouts and Prizes Times Carry Over

Partner Races - $5.00

Pee Wee Races - Free Prizes

Contact Sandie Green sandiegreen.7rodeo@gmail.com 406-697-0577

Spectators

**Free** Admission

Buckle and Event Sponsors

Sponsored by Carbon Stillwater Tavern Asso.,Best Ever Pads, Town Pump, Hanna Consulting, Becker Consulting, Steve and Sue Roi, Lazy B Bar H ,Carrie Daniels-Basse, Bushnell Family, Hellroaring Rodeo, Heavy Horse Saloon, Mountain Girl Farms, Fauth Agency, Alexa’s Accounting, Sherrill Sandmire, B&S Corriente Co.

Lady of the West

The lady behind the scenes...

Glenna Dea Krueger Stucky

Glenna Dea Krueger Stucky was born on September 21, 1936 and was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church of Bozeman. She grew up on a farm in the Gallatin Valley with two younger sisters, Marilyn and Lenita, with their parents, Leonard and Ruby Krueger. Glenna had many interests and talents growing up. When she was only twelve, she and her dad played for dances all over the Gallatin Valley, she playing piano, and her dad played the drums. 4-H was a big part of her younger years and was where she met the love of her life, Earl Stucky. They were married November 24, 1954. The young couple purchased the family ranch in Gallatin Gateway and spent the next few years building their registered Angus cattle business, as well as raising their five children—Earline, Sharon, Calvin, Jill, and Becky. In 1966, Earl was offered the job as cow boss on the Flying D Ranch, and the family moved to Cherry Creek on the Madison. At the same time, the Stuckys ran their own cow herd, with Glenna and the kids pitching in to help.

Glenna’s love of music was always present, intermingled with day-to-day ranch life. She taught piano and chorus, and served as choir director at Harrison High School for a time.

In 1976, the Stucky family moved to the Keiley Ranch at Finn, near Avon. Glenna enjoyed all the seasonal ranch work, from watching calves arrive in the spring, to branding, bucking hay in haying season, cooking for the crew, sorting replacement heifers in the fall, round-up, and shipping. She was an integral part of the ranch operation, especially with the management and accounting bookwork.

Even though her life was filled with commitments of family and ranch life, she made time for other hobbies. She was

an avid seamstress, knitted prolifically and beautifully, loved gardening and woodworking, and was the number one fan at family sporting events. She simply made time for everyone. Glenna loved her community of Avon and showed it with her involvement in the local Cattlewomen chapter, her dedication as a 4-H leader for nearly 40 years, and her faithful service as the president of the Avon Get-Together Club for many years. Glenna loved her life, saying, “There is never a day that goes by that I am not in awe about being able to be here. I’m so very thankful.”

Glenna loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, her family, community, and wonderful country. She is preceded in death by her parents, Leonard and Ruby Krueger, sister Marilyn Ransom, grandson, Roy Edsall, and infant greatgranddaughter, Hattie McIntosh.

She is survived by a loving husband of nearly sixty-seven years, Earl Stucky. For the whole of their marriage, they were inseparable, always working as a team. She is also survived by her sister, Lenita Hough, and Glenna and Earl’s five children: Earline (Mick) Goettle, Sharon Edsall, Calvin (Renee) Stucky, Jill (Bill) McIntosh, and Becky (Larry) McLaughlin, and numerous grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.

Lifetime Achievement Award

For a lifelong commitment to the western way of life

Flint Rasmussen

Flint Rasmussen was born to Stan and Tootie in Havre, Montana, and grew up in Choteau, Montana. While in high school, Flint became an allstate football player and competed in track for the Bulldogs. After graduation, he attended University of Montana Western, where his voice would first be heard, as he announced the sporting events for the Bulldogs.

After college, Flint returned to Havre to teach math and history, and he announced the Northern Montana College basketball games. But he had an itch to do something else. His father was a rodeo announcer, and his brother, Will, followed in their dad’s footsteps. A 19-year-old Flint then found himself in the rodeo arena for the first time, assisting Loyd Ketchum with an “Outhouse Act” at Lewistown in July of 1987. His first shot as a rodeo clown was the following month in Superior, Montana, with his brother, Will, announcing, and he got some help in the arena from bullfighter Kevin Hill. After this appearance, the world of rodeo and how the fans were entertained would never be the same. Honing his skills and skits with each passing rodeo, Flint was hired in the summer of 1988 by stock contractor Don Jacobs to work all of his NRA rodeos across Montana, and he also worked rodeos produced by Dale Small.

While still teaching at Havre High School in the early 90s, he used his summers to perform. In 1994, he joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), and the first three rodeo committees to take a chance on Flint where Belt, Augusta, and Red Lodge.

In 1996, Flint received an offer from David Allen and Jerome Robinson to work his first Professional Bull Riders (PBR) event. With this opportunity, Flint helped the young start-up association to become the powerhouse it is today.

After four years of entertaining rodeo crowds, Flint had earned the reputation as one of the best acts in the PRCA, and in 1998, he worked his first National Finals Rodeo. This stared an impressive run of accolades for Rasmussen, including eight consecutive PRCA Clown of the Year Awards (1998-2005), eight consecutive Wrangler NFR Barrelman Awards (1998-2005), and seven Coors Man in the Can Awards (1998-2000 and 2002-2005).

In 2005, Flint signed an agreement with the PBR to be their exclusive entertainer, and he worked 26 PBR World Finals (1997, 1998, 2000-2023).

Flint has been inducted into a number of hall of fames, including Pendleton Roundup (2011), St Paul, Oregon Rodeo Hall of Fame (2014), and Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame (2019).

Through everything Flint has accomplished, he is most proud of being a dad to Paige and Shelby, who are both National Champions with the Montana State University Bobcats rodeo team, and MSU graduates.

After performing in the largest venues at the biggest rodeos and making the world laugh for more than 35 years, Flint has stepped away from working in the arena and will be moving toward broadcasting. If you think Flint is going to let you forget about him, think again. You might not be getting the iconic face paint or his sultry dance moves, but you can still keep tabs on him with his weekly podcast, “According to Flint,” and he is the host of the talk show “Outside the Barrel.”

Western Heritage Awards

Individuals that have contributed to rodeo and western way of life in Montana

Doug Wall

When you think of a Cowboy, Doug Wall comes to mind. Doug worked in many areas of the ranching and rodeo lifestyle. Doug was born on December 4, 1942, in Denver, Colorado. He lived with his family at Deer Trail, Colorado until 1955. In 1955, they moved to a ranch at Moon Creek, near Miles City, Montana. He attended grade school at Moon Creek and high school at Custer County High where he played football and wrestled. He won a state wrestling title as a senior in 1960.

Doug’s rodeo career began in Miles City at the age of 13 when he rode his first bareback bronc. At about the same time he ventured out on his own to pay his rent and entry fees as he worked on the Alvin Howard Ranch and at the Miles City Sales Yard, where later he was the yard foreman for seven years in the 1980’s. His father enjoyed rodeo and passed his talents on to Doug. He began riding bareback broncs seriously as a junior in high school. Doug worked for several bosses on numerous ranches over the years which included Bud Kramer, Alvin Howard, Art Reukauf, Benny Binnion, Butch Krutzfelt and time at the LO.

Wall also drove truck, tended bar, and dealt cards. In the early 70’s, he was dealing cards when Benny Binnion came to town and told Doug he needed him to calve 2,400 head of 2-year-old heifers. Doug told him, “Not me! I have a good inside job dealing cards,” which wasn’t legal at that time. The next morning when Doug got to work, they told him he was out of a job because gambling had been shut down in Miles City. Benny showed up shortly after that and asked him what he was doing? Doug replied, “Nothing!” Benny told him to get up to the ranch and start calving, so Doug did. The very next day, gambling was back on in Miles City!

Wall worked for Eddie Vaughn and was trailing broncs in from Angela for the Miles City Bucking Horse Sale. Doug’s horse became tired so he had to get another horse out of the herd. The saddle horses were mixed with the bucking horses. One fellow roped a little sorrel horse that happened to buck a little. The horse settled down so Doug rode him the 30 miles to town. As they were trailing the horses down Main Street, Eddie Vaughn saw Doug riding that sorrel. Eddie jumped in his car and drove out to the yards where Doug had just finished unsaddling the horses. When Eddie pulled up and asked Doug what he was doing he told him he was headed to town to get a beer. Eddie yelled at him, “You just rode my best bareback bronc to town!” It was a good thing the horse bucked good at the sale two days later or Doug would have been riding him all summer.

In 1965, Doug won the Bareback Riding at the Miles City Bucking Horse Sale. In 1968, Doug won the average in both bareback and the saddle bronc riding at the Bucking Horse Sale out of 70

cowboys. He spent many years being an Ambassador for the Miles City Bucking Horse Sale. In 1970 Wall collected $166.50 as the top bareback rider and again he won the bareback riding in 1971 and 1972. Doug was the yard foreman for many years at the annual bucking horse sale. Doug served as a pickup man for the Miles City Bucking Horse Sale from 1982 to 1989. Wall was in the bucking horse business for a while and won an award for the top bareback horse at the 1982 Miles City Bucking Horse Sale and in 1983; he won second with a pen of five saddle bronc horses. His passion is still bucking horses and he especially likes to watch them perform.

Wall turned professional in 1962, with the card number 8730, which is a current number, as well as a gold card number. He joined the Professional Rodeos Cowboys Association and rode bareback horses and competed in steer wrestling throughout the United States and Canada. He won the reserve champion bareback rider for the Great Lakes Circuit three different times.

Doug spent several years as a pickup man for Marvin Brookman with Brookman Rodeo. He also worked for Ike Sankey, Jim Korkow, Hank Franzen, Bob Barnes, and Bobby Steiner. He spent eight years in the Midwest as a pickup man and as a rodeo foreman for Barnes Pro Rodeo, a PRCA Stock Contractor, from Cherokee, Iowa. Doug was a jack-of-alltrades including a truck driver for Barnes. During a rodeo he sometimes worked as the pick-up man for six or seven horses then switched out his chaps to compete in the bronc riding. Doug rode broncs until he was 37 years old. He was the kind of guy that was an asset to any outfit. He liked things his way, but he was a great hand and exceptional worker! At one rodeo due to a miscommunication they thought Barnes was producing the entire event, as well as providing the stock. Wall stepped in and covered all the bases, including putting the toilet paper in the outhouse.

Doug worked as a pick-up man for the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals for nine years and the Miles City Bucking Horses Sale for 17 years along with numerous circuit rodeos. He also helped with the rough stock at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas for 20 years. At age 62, Doug’s instincts told him it was time to retire so he didn’t get hurt or hurt anyone else. He continued to work for Brookman Rodeo for several years. He now enjoys sitting back and watching the rodeos from the stands and sharing stories about the good ole days!

Doug’s very proud to be from Montana and proud to be a part of the cowboy way in the rich ranch and rodeo heritage of Montana.

Western Heritage Awards

Individuals that have contributed to rodeo and western way of life in Montana

Edward Waldhauser

Edward was born January 10, 1937 in St. Paul Minnesota. His family moved to Billings where he attended school graduating from Billings Senior High School. In his youth, Edward and his brother rode horseback over what is now known as Lockwood and the Billings Heights. They would swim their horses across the Yellowstone River where the Dick Johnson bridge now stands. Edward’s first horse came from the Pryor Wild Horse herd. It was at this point he decided being a bronc rider was not in his future!! He and his wife of 66 years, Tonya, were married on January 11, 1957 in Billings.

Edward loved everything that had to do with rodeo and the western way of life. In his youth, he roped calves and team roped. Later in life, he was able to truly enjoy his passion for team roping as he and Tonya spent many winters in AZ. The Waldhauser arena on Alexander Road saw generations of roper’s, barrel racers and goat tyers pass thru the gates. He and Tonya were always willing to help the youth.

Edward served as the president of the original Gentle Ben Rodeo Association, the Youth Rodeo Association and the

Northern Rodeo Association. He also served as a board member of the MT High School Rodeo Association and was a founding board member of the North American Rodeo Commission. Edward always strived to leave an organization in better shape than when he started. He felt it was very important to always do what was best for the organization and membership as a whole even if that was not the easiest route to take.

Edward was a right of way agent for the State of MT for 25 years. He was an integral part of the completion of the interstate from Billings to Sheridan, WY and the expansion of Main Street in the Heights from two lanes to what it is today.

Edward passed away on September 30, 2022. He is survived by his wife Tonya, son Brad (Brenda), daughter Stacey (Jason), grandsons Bryan (Kayla), Casey (Kelli), Jordan, greatgrandchildren Kade, Bray, Brett, Arena, and sisters, Betty Mae and Peggy.

Legacy Room Sponsor

Western Heritage Awards

Individuals that have contributed to rodeo and western way of life in Montana

Gilbert Lloyd

Gilbert (Gib) Victor Lloyd was born on March 4, 1937 and passed November 9, 2011. Gib attended Moon Creek country school, riding ponies to school that he took in from neighbors and friends to break. He then attended high school in Miles City, Montana and worked as a night watchman at the sale barn to support himself. After graduating high school, Gib attended college at New Mexico State University where he was part of the rodeo team. He won the region bull riding, saddle bronc, and all around several times.

After he did his student teaching in Roy, New Mexico, Gib moved to Broadus, Montana where he taught grade school and then moved on to teach high school. While teaching, Gib bought a ranch just a few miles outside of Broadus. He began ranching full time and began to grow his string of bucking horses and bulls. Gib purchased several bucking studs from Marvin Brookman over the years, including a stud that sired ten foals that later went on the NFR. Unfortunately, because the stud didn’t buck well, Gib sold him to a killer buyer. Later, Gib would admit that sale was one of his biggest regrets.

Gib contracted YRA, High School, College, Open, and NRA rodeos. When he wasn’t busy with his stock, he leased them to various stock contractors and eventually sold out to Frank Beard of Washington in 1994. With the proceeds from the sale, he purchased Platte Valley Livestock Auction in Gering, Nebraska.

One of Gib’s favorite things was helping youth by providing practice stock and helping coach them. Both Miles City and Sheridan colleges would come to Broadus to use his practice stock. Gib put on several bucking schools over the years. When Gib was available, he also judged and announced rodeos. He helped put himself through college by announcing the Cody Night rodeo. Legend has it that Gib was snuck out of the Crow Fair and Rodeo in the trunk of a car because there was some disagreement on how he scored while judging. Whenever Gib’s daughter meets someone that was an acquaintance of Gib’s, she usually hears a good story of one of Gib’s adventures.

Gib was a PRCA Gold Card member when he passed in 2011. His cowherd still carried the bloodlines of the first heifer he bought with the money he made from breaking the ponies he rode to school. Gib had a big personality and never backed down from a challenge.

TY ERICKSON, PROFESSIONAL STEER WRESTLER

Photo by Sam-Sin Photography

Western Heritage Awards

Individuals that have contributed to rodeo and western way of life in Montana

Neil Hart

Neil “Tut” Hart – BD – November 19, 1966. Born and raised in Shepherd and Billings, MT. Graduated from West in 1985.

contractor like Sankey calls Tut to see if he can help pull gates at a rodeo, he always does. He has helped buy bull ropes for young, aspiring cowboys and been there whenever any kid asks for his help.

During Jr High and High School, Tut was also an avid sportsman in which he played different positions in football, finally finding his perfect fit as a kicker. In 1986 he was invited to try out as a kicker for the Denver Broncos. He was given a chance to sign on but decided that rodeo was where his heart belonged and he came home to keep chasing that rodeo dream.

1971, at age 5 he started riding in Little Britches and won his first saddle in 1974 at age 8. He won several YCCA (Youth Cowboys & Cowgirls Association) and YRA (Youth Rodeo Association) yearend titles including 5 year end All-Around titles (1981-1985). In1982, 1984, 1985 Tut went to the National High School Finals and made the short go twice. 1985-1986 he attended MSU with a focus on Elementary Education. Well 2 nd focus, rodeo of course was his MAIN focus. 1985 or 1986 he won all around in Lame Deer. PRCA wise, there were many rodeos in which he placed in the short go like Cloverdale and Cheyenne, Swift Current, SK Canada; placed 2 nd in Oklahoma City, won Fargo and Dickenson with Brian Fulton hazing for him. 1986-1988 he attended CWC (Central Wyoming College) in Riverton, WY. In 1988 he went to the College Finals in all 6 events. (team roping – header). In 1988 he filled his permit. From 1989 to 1997, he rodeoed in PRCA wining several midlevel rodeos in Bareback Riding, Steer Wrestling, Calf Roping, and Bull Riding.

In 1989 he met and married his first wife and moved to South Dakota to live. Shortly after in 1990 his daughter Katie was born followed by his son Sid (Named after Sid Newman, his lifetime friend and traveling partner) in 1994. He was also a full time farrier on and off the road as well as training multiple barrel and steer wrestling horses that competed as well. In 1992 Tut won 2 nd at Cloverdale and made the $50,000 round at Calgary. Just never could seem to get lucky enough at the big rodeos. If you ask Tut, he would tell you that he is probably more well known for his contributions and help to the stock contractors, rodeo committees and ALL rodeo contestants – Tut was never just about ONE portion of rodeo, he helped everyone. Whenever a

There are many rodeo personalities Tut traveled with over the years and I have heard so many names and stories that I have lost track. (Don’t worry, he keeps reminding me lol). But you can ask people like Jack Walker, Rooster Reynolds, Pine Gilbert, Frank Thompson, Bernal Appledorn, Tom Murphy, Alfalfa Feddersen, Ken Lensagrav, Marvin & Mark Garrett, Dean Moncour, Ivan Teigen, Brian Fulton (RIP), Lisa Lockhart, Dan Mortenson, Sid Newman, Macon Murphy and Deb Greenough and they can each verify for you that Tut is someone that will give you the shirt off his back, no questions asked. When I asked Jann Parker what she remembered about Tut when she was the secretary, she said he was always happy.

A friend sent me YouTube link once from the Cloverdale rodeo, 1992 I believe, but it was when Deb was hung up in his riggin and everyone was doing their dangest to get him safe, all of a sudden you see Tut running across the dirt and tackling that horse across the head like he was taking down another steer. Deb knows the story a ton better than I, but I watched a guy jump in the middle of all that to help his friend and I don’t know too many people these days that would do that. Thing is, Tut would do that same thing today if he saw a cowboy in trouble. Rodeo was and is family to Tut, and Tut has always been known as a family man. During the years of 1986-1989, Tut worked for Jim Bode Scott working colts and traveled with him too while rodeoing. Tut is so proud of the fact he got to babysit and watch Caleb, Sarah and Hannah growup. THEY have got some stories for you lol. He always made sure his kids were not only well mounted at every event they were in, but he taught them to value each individual that was competing WITH them. Never did Tut teach them that they only focused on themselves; if they saw someone needed help, they helped. That was one of the main reasons Tut slowly stopped competing himself; he focused on family. His wife was heavy into barrels, his daughter goat tied, breakawayed, ran barrels; his son helped train as well as steer wrestled and learned the shoeing trade from Tut. Through rodeo, Tut showed them the value of a persons word and friendship. When Katie and Sid were firmly on their own paths in life, Tut moved back to the state his heart always belonged in so he could be closer to his Dad. He has worked for many different turnarounds, managed multiple cable crews all over the United States, keeps up his shoeing, and has been working horses. But the ONE thing he ALWAYS does and will ALWAYS do, is help ANY kid wanting to rodeo.

Western Heritage Awards

Neil Hart

I have been with Tut since 2014 and I have always asked him about where he’s been; things he did, and any awards he has ever won. I know some rodeos, but it was just yesterday I found out – not from Tut – that he had been in the running for the Linderman Award in 1990, 1991, 1992. When I called Tut and said hey, any awards, winnings from your rodeo past you want to tell me about? Anything you came close to getting but didn’t?? He told me of all the Montana rodeos he had won. Those winnings and rodeos meant more to him – to him the Linderman would have been icing on the cake. When I blatantly asked him, he laughed and said oh yeah, I remember missing it by $100 in one event.

I know Tut has won more rodeos than I have listed but it is honestly hard to get it all out of him because he isn’t one to brag on what HE has done, he brags on his friends and family. I know that there are more rodeos because his daughter, his son, me and his grandchildren all wear his buckles. And when his Dad’s place in Shepherd caught on fire, a lot of his memorabilia got lost.

If there is one thing I could say with all guarantee in this world, one thing that I will never doubt, is that Tut loves showing kids how fun and rewarding rodeo is. It doesn’t matter which event; if a kid said that they wanted to be a stick horse racer, he’d get them the prettiest, reddest (if you ever watched Tut at a rodeo, he was ALWAYS wearing Red and Silver) stick horse and run with them. He is a man that wears his heart on his sleeve. He is the embodiment of the spirit of a true rodeo cowboy. Thank you all for your time and consideration.

Jennifer Hart

406-672-1161

Western Heritage Awards

Individuals that have contributed to rodeo and western way of life in Montana

Scott Strauser

Scot “Stretch” Wayne Strauser was born to Doris Patefield Strauser and Bud Strauser on January 16, 1956. He was known for his easy-going personality and his funny one-liners. He loved rodeo, ranching, hunting, and his family. In the words of Matt Robertson, “Scot’s biggest win by far was winning at living the rodeo cowboy way of life.” And he did. Scot spent his life dedicated to rodeo and worked both ends of the arena, making him a true allaround cowboy. When one asks about Scot, they can tell he was a legend and an icon in the state of Montana. Matt also states, “he was one of the most loved and respected rodeo cowboys in the PRCA.” Scot built his reputation through a lifetime of treating everyone with love and respect, including his horses.

Scot grew up on the back of a horse helping on the ranch near Harlem, MT and attending rodeos and O-Mok-Sees with his siblings Bim, Candye, and Weed. He qualified for the Montana High School Rodeo Finals in 1971, 1972, and 1973 and National High School Rodeo Finals in steer wrestling in 1973.

After high school, Scot attended Dawson Community College on a rodeo scholarship where he qualified for the CNFR in steer wrestling and bareback riding. It was during this time that he married Julie Golie of Havre. When Scot graduated, they returned to Havre to ranch and he continued with his rodeo career. Julie and Scot were blessed with the birth of their son, Sandy Bob Strauser, in April of 1978. Scot would later coach Sandy to a Montana High School Rodeo steer wrestling state championship.

When Scot wasn’t ranching, he was rodeoing or hitting jackpots. In his lifetime, he qualified for the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals in five different decades in three different events: bareback riding, steer wrestling, and team roping. Scot qualified as a header with Spider Ramone, Chris Barthelmess, and Shane Bassett as his heelers. He also had numerous qualifications to the Northern Rodeo Association Finals and the Wrangler Roping Series.

Scot always had young ropers at his house that he willingly coached. Sid Sporer recounts, “he gave all of us something to shoot for, but at the same time, he helped us all achieve it. He was never scared to help the younger generation succeed.” When Julie took on the coaching role for Montana State University Northern Rodeo, this fit perfectly, and he was her assistant coach. In his later years, when he wasn’t chasing the rodeo trail as hard, Scot made time for his grandkids, Style and Gunner.

Scot left the rodeo world in March of 2022. Sadly, there’s one less hat in the arena with his passing.

MONTANA PRO RODEO HALL & WALL OF FAME presents number three in the incredible “Legacy Series” collection of Montana legacy cowboys in bronze. Shawn Davis, 3 time world champion saddle bronc rider is featured in the sculpture created by world renowned artist Jeff Wolf. The number 1 of 15 bronze “Shawn on Descent” will be auctioned live at the annual fundraising banquet October 7, 2023.

Both Shawn Davis and Jeff Wolf will be in attendance to visit with you and all friends -new or old. Stop by the “Legacy Club Hospitality Room” sponsored by Al’s Bootery, to view “Shawn on Descent”, “Turn Your Toes Out and Try” and “Dan Mortensen on Miss Congeniality”

We invite you to take this opportunity to own a beautifully crafted piece of art while supporting the Scholarship Fund for Montana high school rodeo athletes.

For decades Billings has been one of the great livestock auction towns in the country. Combining the efforts of these two historic auctions into one marketing team has been a huge plus for our consignors and buyers. Remember, if you are a new consignor or a long time customer, now more than ever, it PAYS to bring ‘em to Billings and let ’em all bid!

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Great Livestock Auctions

Connecting Montana Livestock Families & Buyers for generations

Montana Livestock Auction Co.- Butte

With quality customer service, care for the customers’ cattle, and true price discovery at the top of list of goals, Montana Livestock Auction has grown to be one of the most recognized livestock markets in the state.

Blake and Sandy Nuffer, along with a partner, purchased Montana Livestock Auction in 2009. In 2020, Blake and Sandy had the opportunity to purchase the other half of the business. With this came new goals and the opportunity to grow a business with a great team already in place. Blake and Sandy believe it is a total team effort to have a successful and thriving business. They also believe in supporting the youth of agriculture through various organizations, as well as supporting local and rural communities.

Blake and Sandy have three children and eight grandchildren. Blake and Sandy’s oldest, Lacey, is married to Hank Higley from Malta, Idaho. Hank and Lacey have three children: Zane, Jase and Harley. Their middle daughter, Meggie, married Rett Cameron and they have Max, Remie, and Truman. Their only son, Cooper, is married to Laurie and they have Pendleton and Quaylo.

Great Montana Stock Contractor

Providing Great Stock for Great Competitiona J Bar J –Mark “Sparky” Dreesen

Sparky has been married to his wife Marlene for 38 years and have 3 daughters and Son-In Laws. Thy have 4 wonderful Grandchildren.

Sparky and family started raising bucking horses in the late 80’s and bought his first PRCA card in 2005. They have had stock at the National Finals Rodeo for the last 18 years and was the PRCA Remuda Award winner in 2010, 2014 and 2022.

The animals used in rodeo events, including bucking horses, bulls, calves and steers are not the run of the mill stock from a neighbor’s field. They are specifically bred and highly cared for athletes, owned by professional stock contractor, who spend years learning how to choose stock with qualities of athleticism, attitude and desire to perform. All qualities that bring in the cowboys and the rodeo crowds.

Stock contractors invest a great deal of resources and many years building a reputable herd that will draw talented cowboys and professional rodeos. Since 2008, Mark “Sparky” Dreesen of J Bar J Ranch in Circle, Montana has been the Franklin Rodeo’s stock contractor.

Dreesen has been around horses since he was a small child, his father a south Dakota rancher, was a stock contractor and taught Sparky qualities that make a good herd and management skills that maintain that quality.

He also knows rodeos, when he was in sixth grade Dreesen and his sister went to see the movie “The Great American Cowboy.” “It was only the second movie he ever went to, The first was 101 Dalmatians”, stated by Dreesen, “I told my sister in the middle of the movie, “see that guy? That’s gonna be me someday, “He was hooked.

Dreesen wanted to be a bareback rider, so he got on any horse that bucked, it led to a many of broken bones. By the 1980’s, he was that guy in the movie, a professional Rodeo Cowboy Association bareback rider going 8 seconds on some of the most notorious bucking horses and becoming nationally known. “This is the only country in the world where you can live out your childhood dreams,” stated Dreesen, “It is important not to crush childhood dreams.”

In the 1980’s, Dreesen and wife Marlene purchased 30head of bucking horses and entered the rodeo stock contractor business When we started raising horses, he read the book The X Factor, It’s about raising thoroughbred horses, but I use the theories, it is raising horses for performance just a different type of performance.

The business was taking off and by 1995, Dreesen was no longer competing on horses, but rather he was competing with rodeo companies. In 2004, he merged with the Gold Buckle Rodeo Company and with Bruce Fink of Atlanta, Georgia, and moved from amateurs to high school rodeos to PRCA sanctioned rodeos.

In 2008, the Dreesens added the famous J Bar J Ranch string of horses, a herd with the legacy of being high quality bucking horses, to their own stock and produced rodeos of the highest qualities. We bought the J Bar J because if the quality of their stock and it was a once in a lifetime chance to take their best and put them with my best and they only get better from there on.

J Bar J known for its horses, but uses the same breeding theories with his bulls as he does his horses. His calves and steers are big and stronger, presenting roping cowboys with a real challenge.

Great Montana Livestock

The Foundation of Bucking Horses

Tooke Bucking Horses

Feek Tooke set out early on to breed the prototypical bucking horse on his ranch outside of Ekalaka, Montana, putting on his first rodeo over Memorial Day weekend in 1931. Feek put on rodeos with his five brothers, accumulating wild horses from the range, spoiled saddle horses, and whatever he could get his hands on. As time passed, Feek knew what he needed to do to raise a bronc that would change the world of rodeo.

In 1943, Feek purchased a full-bred Shire they called King Larrygo. He tipped the scales at over 2,000 pounds and was a blue ribbon winner at the Missouri State Fair. King was purchased for $250 and shipped to Baker, Montana by rail.

Shortly after purchasing King, Feek headed to Frank Laird’s place south of Ekalaka to take ownership of a hot-blooded albino Arabian stud he called Snowflake. He was halter broke, but you couldn’t get close enough to put your hands on him. He was bucked only once, dumping Gale Orr in the gate. So, in Feek’s way of thinking, he was going to breed King to mare colts by Snowflake. Unfortunately, King was kicked and ruined, but was able to produce one colt, who would be called Prince. Prince was dubbed the patriarch of the bucking horse world.

For decades to come, the world of rodeo would be changed by Prince and Snowflake colts. The Tooke look was born: a big Roman nose, with feathered feet, mangy mane and tail, terrible disposition, and with lots of color. All of these traits are still seen in bucking horses today.

Feek would buck his horses from Madison Square Garden in New York to Chicago Stadium, up and down the MontanaDakota border, dumping cowboys in Deadwood, Baker, Glendive, Dickinson, Miles City, and anywhere that would have him and his broncs. He bought, sold, and traded horses with the likes of Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and Col Jim Eskew.

Many of these horses were known locally, but it wasn’t until Feek reached out to Rodeo Incorporated about purchasing

“the best bucking horses in the world” that things would change the way people raised bucking horses. With a handshake deal, Feek sent his top twenty horses to Madison, Wisconsin. Mel Potter of Rodeo Inc. was quoted as saying, “We had only been in the business a couple of years, and overnight, we became one of the best outfits in the country.” This transaction would ultimately make Feek Tooke and his horses a household name. National Finals horses like Desolation, War Paint, Doublecross (only rode once while Tooke owned him), Leo, Tall Timber, Rawhide, Drifter (only qualified ride while Tooke owned was by 2x World Champion Jack Buschbom), Dark Moment, Deacon Brown, Wing Ding, Paleface, and Bosa Nova are all still talked about today.

General Custer was 1,800 pounds and 17 hands and he would run over a pickup man, demolish a chute, and had to be hauled by himself. Hoss Inman said to Feek at the Miles City Bucking Horse Sale, “Feek, something that big can’t buck.” After the gate cracked, and the rider hit the ground immediately, Hoss uttered, “I stand corrected.” Inman realized Feek was changing the way bucking horses were bred.

77 Sunset Strip started his career by bucking off 24 straight cowboys over three years. Bald Hornet was only covered four times in ten years (1954-1964). Both horses were sold to Rodeo Inc. and went to the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City.

A General Custer offspring, Sheep Mountain, was the first bred to buck horse to win a major award—Top Saddle Bronc at the 1967 National Finals Rodeo. The next two years, Sheep Mountain’s half-brother, Major Reno, won the same award. Larry Mahan left the chute 18 times at the NFR during those two finals and was bucked off twice, both times by Major Reno, leaving Mahan to say with a grin, “I fell off that big loping SOB and made the Tooke’s famous.”

One of the first to back Feek’s way of thinking was world champion cowboy Casey Tibbs, who purchased a horse he named “Born to Buck,” like his film, which the horse can be seen in the final scenes at the Fort Pierre Rodeo. The horse ended up in Cotton Rosser’s string.

Many believe Indian Sign, a rank roan with a white belly and a unique bucking style, was the greatest bronc to leave the Tooke ranch. He was the most athletically gifted horse, so much so that riders thought he would go over backwards, leading him to be banned from bareback riding in the RCA. He bucked so hard in Saint Paul, Minnesota that he died at the stripping chute.

Another General Custer colt, Gray Wolf, was a primary stud on the Tooke ranch until his death in 1978. Wolf is a PRCA Hall of Famer (2016), the only horse in the hallowed halls of Colorado Springs for his breeding. Winston Bruce hauled him to the Calgary Stampede on Thanksgiving in 1972, and he produced over 30 colts, on which the Stampede’s foundation

Great Montana Livestock

The Foundation of Bucking Horses

Tooke Bucking Horses contd...

is built. Ekalaka by Gray Wolf was sold to Beutler/Cervi, where his name was changed to Frontier Velvet and won National Finals Rodeo Saddle Bronc in 1978 and 1979.

One of the least talked about, Timberline, was a bareback horse that wasn’t as big as other Tooke horses, but was said he could buck over an 18-wheeler. He would go on to father one of the greatest producing studs of all time—Custer. Custer would be an important part of Harry Vold’s string, before the Duke of the Chutes sold Custer to Ike Sankey. Custer became the foundation to the Sankeys’ string.

When Rodeo Inc. sold out in the 1970s, the Tooke horses went everywhere. Through DNA research with the Bucking Horse Breeders Association (BHBA) using bones of Gray Wolf and General Custer that were saved by Feek’s son, Ernest, it was concluded that more than 90% of bucking horses today go back to Tooke lineage. Gray Wolf and General Custer are #1 and #2 in the BHBA database. Burch’s Lunatic horses, Beutler’s Killer Bee, Powder River’s Craig At Midnight, all the great Jacket horses from J-J/Pickett, Vold’s award winning Bobby Joe, Calgary’s Guilty Cat, Kloud Gray, and so many more, all have the Tooke DNA.

55 years after Feek Tooke’s death at the 1968 National Finals Rodeo, his impact on the world of rodeo is still felt with every colt that drops and every chute gate that is opened at rodeos around the country. The majority of bareback and saddle broncs go back to Prince/Snowflake, making Ekalaka, Montana the Bucking Horse capital of the world.

Great Montana Livestock

Walt

Travis Tryan’s Precious Speck, best known as “Walt,” is widely recognized as one of the best horses ever to carry a team roping header into the arena. Walt was named to honor Walt Vermedahl, the man Travis got him from.

Walt was voted the American Quarter Horse Association/PRCA Team Roping Head Horse of the Year four times, in 2003, 2007, 2008, and 2009. He was also third in the balloting twice, all while helping Tryan become the youngest team roper ever to accrue $1 million in career earnings.

Travis is humbled by the honors bestowed on Walt being inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, and now into the Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame. “This is like a family member going into the Hall of Fame,” Tryan said. “When you have a horse for ten years and he’s a huge part of your career, to see him go into the Hall is one of the coolest things that can happen.”

Walt was ridden by Travis nine times at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (2001-2009). His older brother, Clay (a multipletime world champion), rode Walt at the 2001 WNFR (also his first), as did Trevor Brazile in 2005. Walt had 15 round wins at the WNFR, which is an accomplishment few horses can match.

“When I got Walt, I was 19 years old, and he was 10, and when I first rodeoed on him, I was 20 and made the Finals,” Travis said. “We kind of started our careers at the same time, and I learned a lot from him. He was so good that all I had to do was go out and rope, and he took care of the rest.” At the 2008 WNFR, Travis Tryan on Walt, and his partner, Cory Petska, tied the thenworld record time of 3.5 seconds in the eighth round.

After coming back from colic surgery, Walt died on April 24, 2010, of an aneurysm while warming up for morning slack at the Clovis Rodeo in California. He was 20. Travis stated that when he lost Walt, a piece of him went with him. Walt will be remembered as one of the greatest roping horses in history.

Legendary Team Roping Head Horse

Montana is a state well known for its spectacular beauty ranging from towering mountains to rolling prairies, clear lakes to roaring rivers, and magnificent wildlife that can be seen right in our backyards. It is also no secret that Montana offers world-class, skiing, hiking, and camping opportunities amid its stunning natural beauty that has inspired artists and filmmakers and attracted visitors for years.

In our modern time, an aspect of Montana that is often overlooked is the legacy of grit and determination historically found in the inhabitants of this aptly nicknamed “last best place.” Among the values that have shaped the legacy of Montana is a deep respect for the ranching community, which is the backbone of Montana and plays a vital role in our state’s history and way of life. Montana ranchers have been known to embody the meaning of integrity, and the most respected among them still live by the rule that their word is their bond. The agricultural sector generates billions of dollars in revenue annually and employs tens of thousands of residents. Many of Montana’s ranching families have been here for multiple generations and we hope they are here for many more to come.

Hand in hand with ranching is a reverence for private property rights. The Montana Constitution explicitly recognizes the right to acquire, possess, and protect property as a fundamental right, and courts in the state have consistently upheld this right. The emphasis on private property rights contributes to the individualism and self-reliance of Montanans as people here are encouraged to take ownership of their land and their lives.

The legacy of hunting and fishing is also deeply ingrained in our state's culture and history. Indigenous peoples relied on hunting and fishing as a means of survival, and after Western settlement, hunting, and fishing remained necessary for sustenance and commerce. Today, millions of acres of public land serve as a place where sportsmen and women can recreate responsibly to carry on Montana's hunting and fishing tradition.

Lastly, the strength of a community can still be found throughout Montana’s small towns. The cohesion that occurs when families have known each other for generations, depending on one another for social bonds and economic success, is hard to replicate in larger urban areas. Through floods, fires, or family emergencies you will find that people here come together wholeheartedly and do whatever is necessary to look out for their neighbor.

We at Legacy Lands Real Estate strive to preserve the legacy of Montana. We enjoy working with clients who desire to do their part to preserve the traditional practices that have made Montana a destination state.

- Authored by Stacy Bennin

Great Montana Ranches

Ranches that have contributed to the Montana western lifestyle

Cozzens Herefords

Robert (Bob) Cozzens was born in Iowa on September 17, 1905 to Samuel and Christina, who later homesteaded in Sand Spring, MT. Bob started school in Sand Spring and later attended high school in Lewistown before he left school to help at home. He left home in his teens and worked as a ranch hand where he met the Hellyer boys and started rodeoing. He was a hand with saddle broncs and made many amazing saddle horses in his lifetime. He rodeoed for many of his young years, but learned his love for ranching when working for the Charles Coil Ranch. While on the rodeo trail, they would also travel to Cohagen for the community dances, where he met the love of his life and life partner, Edna Danklefsen. After dating a few years, they married on April 10th, 1934. They moved to New Deal, where he helped build the spillway of Fort Peck Dam. From there, they moved to Cohagen, where they bought Edna’s uncle’s and grandfather’s homesteads, which bordered her parents’ homestead.

Bob gave up rodeo to ranch and provide for his family. They had four children: Earl Cozzens, Bernice Rooney, Dorthy Ley, and Linda Wolff.

Bob and Edna ranched and farmed 13 sections, raising registered Herefords until the late sixties/early seventies and went to black baldies. Bob bought a registered Hereford bull in 1947 for a record $18,000. He raised many championship bulls, including the overall state champion bull in 1946. He would watch over the young bulls to guarantee the weights were perfect for flawless symmetrical horn sets. He was passionate about his livestock and ranch, ensuring it was always well kept and the animals were in top condition. Edna had huge gardens every year to put up a year’s worth of supplies. She taught her kids how to can everything, milk cows, make butter, and to bake. She made the very best cinnamon rolls around. They were stewards of the land and expected their family to do the same.

Bob used teams of horses to farm, hay, and feed on the place until investing in Case tractors and Heston machinery. He raised many great ranch horses that he bought breeding stock from Harry Ross and Paul Harbaugh of the Jordan area, and he rode his Palomino stud, Pinky, to work livestock. His family was the most important part of his life and they worked beside him until establishing their own places. After losing Edna to cancer in 1972, he sold the home place to neighbors to invest in several places in the

Sheffield/Rosebud/Forsyth areas. He then retired to spend more time with his children.

Earl farmed and trucked in the Forsyth area, Bernice and family ranched on Beaver Creek south of Miles City, Dorthy ranched at Wibaux, and Linda works with the ranching community in Miles City to this day. Bob and Edna left a lasting imprint on the community, but especially on their grandchildren. Ten of the eleven grandchildren are still active in the agriculture world, ranching, farming, and supporting the western way of life, as are many of their great grandchildren.

They loved bull shows, county fairs, livestock sales, and community events. They found that love of family, God, and country kept them on the right track and still does to this day. Robert passed away in February of 1989, leaving a hole in his family’s and community’s lives.

Great Montana Ranches

Ranches that have contributed to the Montana western lifestyle Holden Hereford

Les Holden was born in 1911 in Reno, Nevada. His father, John Holden, was in the gold mining business at Tonopah and Goldfield, Nevada, and passed away when Les was four years old. Les’ mother then moved to Montana to live with her brother and his wife. Seeking employment that allowed her to have Les with her, Mrs. Holden accepted a housekeeping position for Frank Cooper in Willow Creek, Montana. She and Mr. Cooper married a year later. They had five children, one of which was Jack L. Cooper. After Les graduated from Willow Creek High School, he enrolled at Montana State University in Bozeman. He later transferred to Billings Polytechnic, now called Rock Mountain College, where he met and later married Ethel Everson, who was a student at Western Montana College. In 1933, Les’ stepfather, Frank Cooper, and half-brother, Jack Cooper, formed a company and purchased the ranch where Mark Cooper now resides.

When Les and Ethel were first married, Les worked as a loan supervisor for the Farm Security Administration (now called Farm Home Administration) in Columbus, Montana. Because he liked working outdoors, he resigned and they went back to the ranch with Coopers in 1938. A few years later, Les and Ethel leased a ranch on Willow Creek. In 1945, they sold Les’ share in the Cooper ranch to Jack and moved to an irrigated farm they leased just south of Townsend. Les & Ethel raised commercial Hereford cattle at this ranch. The inception of their registered herd began when they bought a Line One Hereford sire from the U.S. Range Station at Miles City in 1947. After that, the Holdens acquired two consecutive registered heifer calf crops from Carl Keickbush of Townsend by trading him 1 1/2 of their commercial Hereford heifer calves for one of Carl’s. The dams of these heifers were of Advance Domino descent and were sired by Advance Mixer 60th, which traced back to Advance Domino 13th, the basic sire of Line One Herefords at the Miles City Research Station.

In 1954, Les & Ethel decided to buy a ranch, so they sold all of their older Hereford grade cows for $10,000. Cattle prices plummeted that fall. With this money as a down payment, they bought two adjacent irrigated farms southwest of Valier. These places were very run-down, as they had been rented out for many years prior, and the farmland was depleted by the prevailing west winds blowing away the topsoil. They seeded the cultivated acres to hay and pastures and applied commercial fertilizers. The Holdens continued to use Line One bulls in the commercial and purebred herds. They bought bulls at the Miles City Range Station and also traded with or purchased from Jack Cooper, along with retaining top sires from their own herd.

The Montana Beef Performance Association was organized in 1956. Les was not at the initial meeting, as it was during haying season, but they joined one week later to become charter members. Les served as president of the association in 1965 and 1966, and as director prior to this. This was a great tool in the improvement of their herd.

The commercial cattle were sold in 1967 and this eliminated the need to lease additional land some fifteen miles away. The land base at the ranch was sufficient to maintain the purebred herd. It was in the spring of this year that the First Annual Cooper-Holden Bull Sale was held in Great Falls. Until this sale, all cattle had been sold through private treaty. An auction gave the buyers a more equal opportunity at buying their choice of the bulls. These sales didn’t make headlines the first few years, but Max Fulscher, a prominent Hereford breeder from Colorado, purchased the top selling Holden bull in 1969 for $5,500 and this gave the Holden-Cooper Sale the boost it needed. The last joint Cooper-Holden sale held in Great Falls, MT was in 1979, and both operations chose to move their own sales back to their respective ranches. They continue to have a very close relationship, and the bull sales are held back-to-back on the second Monday and Tuesday in March every year.

Great Montana Ranches

Ranches that have contributed to the Montana western lifestyle Holden Hereford contd...

Award from the Fort Keogh Range Station in Miles City. He was also inducted into the American Hereford Association’s Honor Gallery in Heritage Hall in 1980. Ethel passed away in 1999 and Les passed away in July of 2004.

The dawn of the computer era was a godsend for Les, as he utilized the Montana Beef Performance Association computer system for several years and later, when it was established, he enrolled the Holden herd into the Hereford Association’s TPR program. Holden Herefords is still a very active participant in the AHA’s Whole Herd T.P.R. program and is recognized as a T.P.R. Platinum Breeder. They have also used ultrasound since 1995 to improve carcass traits in their cattle, and are always looking for new ways to better measure performance traits in their herd. They have a strong focus on selecting for moderate birth weight combined with high growth, maternal, and carcass traits. They have used enhanced Genomic EPD’s since 2012 on their cattle to increase the accuracy and predictability of their EPD’s at an earlier age. They have also used parentage verification on all of their cattle since the mid 1980’s. They have an extensive ET program and put in over 250 embryos every year.

The Holden Herefords’ cow herd is recognized as one of the best in the nation. They have placed tremendous emphasis on milking ability, udder quality, and fertility, combined with sound, easy fleshing, and well-marked females. They have exported semen and embryos worldwide with customers in South America, Australia, Europe, Mexico, and Canada.

Holden Herefords incorporated in 1975, with Les & Ethel continuing to manage the ranch until 1987, when Les’ grandson, Jack Holden, and his wife, Tresha, took over the management of the ranch. Their two children, Brooke and Brad, are involved in helping on the ranch, as well.

Over the years, Les received several honors and awards, including the Montana Hereford Association’s 1978 Montana Hereford Man of the Year, Beef Improvement Federation’s 1975 Beef Performance Breeder of the Year, Record Stockman’s 1981 Livestock Man of the Year, and the Producer Recognition

Jack Holden has worked hard to be a leader in the beef industry. He served on the AHA Board of Directors from 20032006, serving as president in 2005 and 2006, and he served on the board of directors for the Montana Stockgrowers Association. He also has served as a voting delegate for Genex Cooperative, and served as the president of the Pondera County Canal & Reservoir Company board in 2003 and 2004. Jack’s parents, John and Linda Holden, were also involved in the registered cattle business, raising purebred Hereford and Angus cattle on Westwind Ranch. They have now retired from raising cattle and lease their place to Holden Herefords. Jack’s brother, David, continues on with the Westwind Angus side of the purebred business, raising high-quality cattle in California.

When Jack returned to manage the ranch in 1987, the herd consisted of 120 registered Hereford cows and 40-50 bulls were sold every year. The ranch now consists of over 5000 acres of deeded and leased land and more than 400 registered calves will be born in 2023, with 130 bulls sold in the annual sale. They also hold an annual female sale in September, marketing 40-50 bred females.

Jay D. Evans joined the ranch as an employee in 1996 and now serves as cow herd manager. He and his wife, Kelli, have two children: Brinkley and Taylor. He has been an integral part in the growth of Holden Herefords and is a great cattleman, assisting with all breeding decisions, cow herd management, bull selection, and overseeing all aspects of their extensive ET operation.

Brad Holden returned to the ranch in 2016 after graduating from MSU with a degree in Animal Science. He and his wife, Jessica, gave birth to their son, Holden, in September of 2022. Eric Lawver started as summer help in 2015 and ended up marrying the Holdens’ daughter, Brooke. He has involved been fulltime at the ranch since 2017. Eric and Brooke have two children, Brayton now 3, and Leighton, who was born in September of 2022.

Fundraising Banquet and

Great Montana Rodeo Families

Rodeo families of Montana that have contributed to the sport of rodeo Scott and Penny Walton

Allen Walton began his family’s rodeo legacy when he started the Northern International Livestock Exposition (NILE) Rodeo in Billings, Montana in 1977.

Allen’s son, Scott, was fortunate to work alongside and learn from some of the greats of our western industry, including legendary stock contractor Harry Vold, rodeo cowboy Walt Garrison from Dallas, Montana native world champion bronc rider and National Finals Rodeo general manager Shawn Davis, and his own father, Allen Walton.

Scott attended Montana State University and was a rodeo contestant in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. While his dad was the head of the NILE, he brought Harry Vold in to produce the rodeo. Vold hired Scott to work for him in the summer of 1982 and he worked for him for the next 14 years, eventually becoming Vold’s livestock manager. While Scott worked for Harry Vold Rodeo Co., the company was voted the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s Stock Contractor of the Year 11 times.

Scott has been a key part of the production for many of the biggest and most prestigious events in the sport of rodeo. Since 1982, he has worked the National Finals Rodeo and Cheyenne Frontier Days in some capacity, either as part of Vold Rodeo Co. or working with the scoreboards. Scott was honored with a Cheyenne Frontier Days Silver arrowhead badge, a token of appreciation that only a select few have received for their service to the world-renowned event.

After leaving Vold Rodeo Co., Scott went to work for U.S Smokeless Tobacco Copenhagen Skoal and Walt Garrison, where he became a rodeo supervisor for the marketing division of the company. For the next 13 years, he traveled to rodeos and western events all over the country, setting up and running scoreboards and video screens. When this program came to an end, he started his own company, Walton Scoreboards, Inc., which he and his wife Penny still own and operate. Their company is a key part of many major stock shows and rodeos around the country today.

Scott and Penny have been married for 28 years. From the start, their lives have involved rodeos and the western lifestyle. They are both gold card members of the PRCA, which requires two decades of association membership. Penny was Miss Rodeo Missouri 1991, and thanks to the influence and encouragement of the Gratny family, the very next year she began trick riding. She went on to trick ride for the next 17 years and was selected to trick ride at the NFR in 2001.

Penny has been an approved PRCA secretary for 25 years. She was honored to be selected as assistant secretary at the NFR in 2015 and she has been chosen to be the rodeo secretary for the National Steer Roping Circuit Finals twice, the Mountain States Circuit Finals, and the Montana Steer Roping Circuit Finals numerous times. She has also been selected as official timekeeper at the Ram National Circuit Finals and the Montana Circuit Finals.

Scott and Penny’s 20-year-old son, Cutter, is a current student at Montana State University and works for Walton Scoreboards when needed.

The Waltons would like to personally thank all the people who have influenced them and contributed to their success: Karen and Harry Vold, The Gratny Family, George Steinberger, Walt Garrison, Shawn Davis, Rick Sallee, Andrew Jones, Emily Hilton and many others.

Great Montana Rodeo Families

Rodeo families of Montana that have contributed to the sport of rodeo

John and Tammy Novotny

John and Tammy Novotny met like most rodeo couples do: on the rodeo trail. Tammy was traveling the Circuit as Miss Rodeo Montana 1984 and John was fighting bulls on the Wrangler Bull Fighting Tour. Tammy was born and raised in Helena, Montana, while John came from the prairies of South Dakota. Eventually, he made his way to Montana while fighting bulls.

John began fighting bulls in 1977 and eventually made it onto the Wrangler Original Bull Fighting Tour in 1984, the last year where only the top 12 qualified. He continued to fight bulls until 1992. Throughout his career, he won fights in Denver, Rapid City, Dodge City, Cody Stampede, North Platte, Wheatland, Spanish Fork, and Billings. He worked the Montana Circuit Finals eight times and the Badlands Circuit Finals three times. He also fought bulls for the first two Dodge Circuit Finals. In 2022, he had the honor of being inducted into the Wrangler Originals Bull Fighters Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, Texas.

Although Tammy didn’t grow up in the rodeo world, she found her love of horses at a young age. She competed and won the Miss Last Chance Stampede title and two years later found herself competing for the Miss Rodeo Montana title, where she won and went on to finish in the top ten during the National Finals Rodeo. Tammy was an avid barrel racer and competed in the Montana Circuit where she qualified for the circuit finals in 1992 and 1994. Finishing Reserve Champion in 1992 qualified her for the Dodge National Circuit Finals. She went on to train barrel horses for all of her daughters and continues to help others get started in the sport.

John and Tammy were married in the fall of 1985 and spent the summers in Montana and winters in South Dakota. While in South Dakota, they started building their cattle herd and eventually made the permanent move, along with their cows, to Montana in 1988. After having their first daughter, Bailee (Stovall), in 1988, they bought their existing ranch in the Helena valley in 1989. Shortly after, they welcomed their second daughter, Annie (Sorge). A few years later, they had their last daughter, Allie. John got what he always wanted — three barrel racing daughters! Over the next 35 years, they continued to build one of the nicest herds of AI’d black angus cattle. They also had a few years where they raised and sold bucking bulls. The two of them have spent the last few decades fighting for ranchers’ rights and supporting the cattle industry. They continue to think of innovative ways to make the western way of life thrive and they have instilled their knowledge and passion in all of their daughters and grandchildren.

Great Montana Rodeo Families

Rodeo families of Montana that have contributed to the sport of rodeo

Bob Shelhamer

Robert (Bob) Shelhamer was born in Livingston, Montana, on April 30, 1916. Bob was raised in Clyde Park where he attended school through the 8th grade. He decided that was enough schooling to be a cowboy, and cowboying was all he ever wanted to do. He started breaking horses for other people to make his way in life and he rode a lot of remount horses for his brothers that were sold to the Army.

Bob leased a small ranch East of Clyde Park, and this is where his rodeo career started. He put on rodeos at his ranch and was a member of the Cowboys’ Turtle Association. In the mid to late 40’s, he was considered one of the best rodeo cowboys in Montana and was always a crowd favorite at the Ranch Hand Rodeo where he was the champion many times over in the 40’s, competing in Saddle bronc and roping events.

Bob married Dolly O’Rourke on June 8, 1936. In 1941 Bob and Dolly became parents to a son, Duane. Dolly was the glue to the family, and through thick and thin, she kept them going.

In 1943 or 44, Bob and his father bought a ranch northwest of Melstone. Taking about a week, they trailed all of Bob’s horses and mules from Clyde Park to Melstone, where he put together a large ranch and raised cattle and amazing horses.

All the time, Bob held onto his interest in rodeo, and he always had an arena with practice cattle and plenty of horses. He welcomed every young person who had an interest in rodeo to come and practice their events at the ranch. There is no telling how many people learned about rodeoing while earning their keep working summers for Bob and Dolly. If they didn’t have a horse, he would give or sell them one. His love of ranching and rodeo lived with him his entire life and was embedded in all who worked with him over the years.

Bob was especially proud of his Oswald bred horses and how he was able to set ranch and performance stock apart with that bloodline. He liked nothing better than to see one of his horses do well in the arena or out in the country working cows.

After selling the ranch at Melstone and moving to the Lockwood area, he still had an arena and practice cattle to rope. He also managed the cattle for his nephew on the Cabin Creek ranch northeast of Shepherd, where he could be found horseback nearly every day on his home raised horses.

Bob passed this life to ride in the big arena in the sky on March 23, 2010, leaving his legacy to be passed on through his son, Duane, his grandchildren, Valerie, Shawn, Mike, and TC, and his extended family and friends.

Great Montana Rodeo Families

Rodeo families of Montana that have contributed to the sport of rodeo Reukauf/Glade Family

Arthur “Art” Earl Reukauf Jr. was born on March 1st, 1923 in Terry, Montana to Arthur Earl, Sr. and Henrietta (Weigum) Reukauf. June McMillan was born on August 17th, 1925 in Terry, Montana. On November 20th, 1944 they married in Miles City, Montana. In 1947, they purchased June’s home place on Cherry Creek, where they built a ranch. In November of 1945, their first daughter, Dixie, joined them, and in July of 1950, Lila joined the family.

Art and June ran commercial cattle on their place and raised registered Quarter Horses who were sought after by those in the rodeo world. Freckles Chek (Chek) was their well-known stud. He put a solid foundation on his offspring. The dams they used were also hand-picked with foundation bloodlines. Their colts had good minds, were athletic, and had superior conformation. Art and June hosted many performance horse sales over the years. The Reukauf’s horses are still talked about among folks in the industry and their rodeo bloodlines live on to this day.

Art and June were members of the Terry Rodeo Club and were big supporters of all rodeos. As their daughters got older, rodeo became an even bigger part of their lives. The girls enjoyed competing in rodeos all over southeastern Montana and became very competitive because Art told them they couldn’t go if they didn’t win. Dixie had a very impressive high school rodeo career, as did Lila. Lila went on to college rodeo at National College in Rapid City, SD.

Lila married Cliff Glade in February of 1972 in Rapid City, South Dakota, and they made a life together ranching in Montana on Cherry Creek. They also enjoyed raising and training Quarter Horses. Doing this allowed them to continue rodeoing, which they both enjoyed greatly. Cliff was very accomplished in all of the rough stock events, but really shined in bareback and bull riding. He eventually spent more time at the other end of the arena and really enjoyed team roping. He truly was an all-around cowboy. Lila had a passion for barrel racing. She loved training young horses and she had the tenacity to run what she raised. She was quite successful in the arena and won countless checks, prizes, buckles, and other prizes. She went on to win the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit in 1976 and she competed at the 1976 National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City.

Cliff and Lila’s first born, Cheyenne, joined them in July 1973 and Wyatt completed their family in December 1975. Once the children were old enough to sit on a horse, Lila got back to work. She continued to train young horses and, eventually, turned her attention towards competing in barrel racing futurities and maturities. Cliff continued to compete in rodeo events in the tri-state area. Eventually, their children grew and they both knew it was time for the kids to take over.

Cheyenne began running barrels at the age of five at playday rodeos. She loved competing and winning, and she enjoyed a fun competitiveness with her cousin, ReAnn (Dixie and Fred Berzel’s daughter). When she picked up a rope at 12 years old, she was a lefty, but her dad never tried to change that about her. She went on to win breakaway roping, pole bending, and goat tying at the Montana State High School Rodeo Championship in 1990 and 1991. She earned a full ride rodeo scholarship to Dawson Community College.

Wyatt competed in the rough stock events and in team roping. He won the Montana State High School Championship in bull riding in 1991. He went on to college rodeo at Montana State University in Bozeman. By this time, he primarily focused on bronc riding. He did some pro-rodeoing along the way. He eventually ended up in law school in Albuquerque, NM and he married Darcy Murphy in December of 2000. They have three children: Quanah, Ira, and Odessa. Quanah is a bronc rider and is college rodeoing for Casper College in Wyoming. Ira is a senior in high school who team ropes and plays hockey. Odessa is in eighth grade, and she rodeos, plays basketball, and competes in track.

Cheyenne married Shane Wilson in June of 2006. Shane’s grandparents, Corky and Clarice Hedrick, had a place near Reed Point, MT and were very involved in high school rodeo. Shane rodeoed in high school in Montana, competing in steer wrestling and team roping, and went on to rodeo at Miles Community College. Cheyenne and Shane’s only son, Stone, joined them in August of 2008. After many years of being out of the arena, she made a comeback in 2014 in an entirely new event—Women’s Ranch Rodeo. Her team won the Women’s Ranch Rodeo Association Year End in 2015.

Great Montana Rodeo Families

Rodeo families of Montana that have contributed to the sport of rodeo Reukauf/Glade Family contd...

The Wilsons spent 17 years in South Dakota, ranching on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. In the fall of 2022, they officially made their move to their place near Reed Point. Shane grew up on this place and it has been a wonderful homecoming for them to be back in their home state of Montana. Shane competes in ranch rodeos and enjoys showing their 14-yearold son the ropes. Stone is currently learning how to steer wrestle and team rope and plans to compete in high school rodeo. They raise commercial cattle and draft cross

horses by crossing their draft studs (Percheron and Gypsy Vanner) on foundation bred Quarter Horse mares. While looking back into some of their mares’ pedigrees, they found there was Freckles Chek. Cheyenne’s grandfather’s stud had left his mark to find them so many years later.

The Reukauf-Glade-Wilson family are five generations deep here in the state of Montana and they are incredibly proud of that. They love their past and look forward to the future of their family with much pride and anticipation!

MONTANA PRO RODEO Hall and Wall of Fame Scholarship Fundraising Banquet & Gathering OCTOBER 2, 2021

16th

REGISTRATION FORM

REGISTRATION FORM

REGISTRATION FORM

REGISTRATION FORM

I am unable to attend but enclosed is a contribution to support the

I am unable to attend but enclosed is a contribution to support the Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame Scholarship Fund.

I am unable to attend but enclosed is a contribution to support the Montana

Hall and Wall of Fame Scholarship Fund.

I am unable to attend but enclosed is a contribution to support the Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame Scholarship Fund.

Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame Scholarship Recipients

2006

Haley Anderson • Glendive

Cody Flammond • Sidney

Whitney Gollehon • Fairfield

Sylvan LaCross • Red Lodge

Chad Marquardt • Kalispell

Parker Murnion • Jordan

Ashley Ouzts • Billings

Kristy Robison • Dodson

Dustin Wilson • Cut Bank

National High School

Rodeo Association

2007

Tiffany Moullet • Huntley

Thomas Reiser • Townsend

Kayla Jorgenson • Belgrade

Jacob Foulger • Kinsey

Bailee Novotny • Helena

Colton Sargent • Huntley

Josie Davison • Miles City

Jake Keams • Melrose

Jacey Fortier • Laurel

Bridger Chambers • Stevensville

Mykayla M. Tatsey • Valier

Clayton Ahlgren • Grass Range

2008

Kayleen Searer • Sidney

Cassie Woosley • Clyde Park

Chelsey Lund • Lewistown

Annie Novotny • Helena

Layne Wiebe • Jefferson City

Lexy Rianda • Kalispell

Ben Ayre • Glendive

Jack Brown • Shelby

Jake Halmes • Cascade

Caleb Horner • Ramsey

Tim Sparing • Helena

Witt Williams • Broadus

2009

Lacey Davidson • Butte

Mariah Rys-Sikora • Missoula

Ronda DeCock • Colstrip

Stormy Fink • Billings

Chelsea Brown • Big Sandy

Charlie Hollenbeck • Billings

Robert Wagner • Browning

Luke Gee • Stanford

JD Harrell • Roy

Carol Peabody • Geraldine

Chase Redfield • Opheim

Jason Schaffer • Broadus

Leslie Furniss • Missoula

Carly Sykes • Choteau

2010

Tace Patten • Bozeman

Tory Logan • Miles City

Colt Gardner • Winnett

Duston Stephens • Corvallis

Ellie Hogue • Phillipsburg

Malia VandenBos • Valier

Matt Halmes • Cascade

Matt Triplett • Columbia Falls.

Cierra Kunesh • Helena

Kelsey Lemon • Cornallis

Charlie Mack • Big Timber

Casey Waldhauser • Worden

Jourdan Han • Rudyard

Hanna Heckman • Choteau

2011

Justin Beschomer • Missoula

Parker Breding • Edgar

Weston Brown • Big Sandy

Jaylyn Garrison • Arlee

Kendall Green • Cohagen

Shaylee Hance • Circle

Tanner Hollenback • Dillon

Mandy Newman • Melstone

Nevada Newman • Melstone

Laine Patton • Bozeman

Lauren Reiser • Townsend

Emily Schall • Missoula

Jeana Wagner • Whitehall

Lorissa Harris • Shepherd

2012

Cille Patten • Bozeman

Hanna Heckman • Choteau

Jondie Rianda • Kalispell

Jackie Teague • Seeley Lake

Allison Wittkopp • Circle

Bree Dirks • Helena

Will Shirley • Conrad

Rye O’Neal • Valier

Austin Malek • Highwood

Dane Andreasen • Fort Benton.

Shay Wacker • Melstone

Dustin Morigeau • Baker

Kaitlin Kolka • Forsyth

Mariah Rys-Sikora • Missoula

2013

Taylor Mydland • Joliet

Allie Novotny • Helena

Kooper Bott • Powell, WY

Charley Yeager • Choteau

Lacey Camp • Belgrade

Whitney Hillard • Miles City.

Ben French • Pompeys Pillar

Lane Krutzfeldt • Powderville.

Dakota Rice • Spirit Lake, ID.

Sylvis Robertson • Whitehall

Gavin Schuman • Big Timber

Merle Young • Chinock

Kieran Potten • Bozeman

Alyson Grinestaff • Bozeman

2014

Bryer Davis • Sand Coulee

Rebecca DeLaittre • Three Forks

Bailey Escott • Twin Bridges

Wyatt Foulger • Kinsey

Bailey Fruit • Ekalaka

Cody Magpie • Lame Deer

Kristine Paske • Drummond

Baylee Stratton • Bozeman

Cole Wagner • Valier

Tyler Weeding • Pompeys Pillar

Colton Weekes • Babb

Abigail Wilkerson • Wilsall

Laramie Pursley • Chinook

Kieran Patten • Bozeman

2015

Lyndi Anderson • Billings

Bryce Bott • Powell

Jimmy Heptner • Browning

Shayle Hildebrand • Joliet

Nicole Korte • Laurel

Levi Mydland • Joliet

Colby Ophus • Conrad

Kieran Patten • Bozeman

Will Powell • St. Ignatius

Cyris Robertson • Whitehall

Madison Waters • Malta

Wrye Williams • Broadus

Jerilyn Wiseman • Baker

Darby Yeager • Choteau

Hanna Heckman • Choteau

Opal Harkins • Billings

See page 16 for the 2023

Scholarship Recipients

Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame

Scholarship Recipients

2016

Trevor Clark • Brusett

Ty Everson • East Helena

Meagan Harris • Florence

Troy Kirkpatrick • Wise River

Jordan Lindsay • Bozeman

Morgan Link • Billings

Haven Meged • Miles City

Laramie Noble • Dillon

Tristan O’Neal • Valier

Tyler Robinson • Hardin

Brett See • Glasgow

Alexis Shipp • Miles City

Tawnie Tribby • Vaughn

LaTasha Wieferich • Sidney

Opal Harkins • Billings

Lindsay Garpestad • Great Falls

2017

Houston Brown - Miles City

Colten Fisher - Shpeherd

Brfityn Garrett - Butte

Dillon Hahnkamp - Melrose

Tara Hansen - Manhattan

Caydee Johnson - Manhattan

Danni Lynn Nardinger - Joliet

Shawn Perking - Roberts

Bailee Stenger - Worden

Faith Tarter - Ashland

Hannah Vogel - Billings

Garrett Welch - Silesia

Sarai McCollaum - Darby

Sierra Belvin - Reed Point

2018

Rachel Cutler - Bozeman

Garrett Duncan - Belgrade

Owen Gustafson - Browning

Will Heptner - Browning

Coby King - Dillon

Arena Plenty - Garryowen

Dylan Reid - Poplar

Kayla Schmiedeke - Stevensville

Hallie Sohr - Ronan

Jackson Stephens - Corvallis

Logan Thompson - Bozeman

Krissy VanderVort - Billings

Sierra Belvin - Reed Point

Kaitlyn Kolka - Forsyth

2019

Logan Beattie - Helena

Codie Bowen - Worden

Maclain Cathey - Hammond

Trey Dempewolf - Lindsay

Taylor Harris - Florence

Maggie Lund - Ronan

Meghan McGinley - Bozeman

Caleb Meeks - Geraldine

Rebecca Nelson - Roundup

Paige Rasmussen - Bozeman

Mikayla Witter - Helena

Garret Yeager - Choteau

Maggie King - Choteau

Katie Lynn Krause - Bozeman

Bo Vocu - Ashland

John Edwards Memorial

2020

Blayne Hubing - Circle

Nathan Ruth - Big Timber

Bode Spring - Bozeman

Rachael Stevenson - Hobson

Sadie Johnson - Lewistown

Cheyanne Carl - Ballantine

Teanna Layne - Valier

Tori Yeager - Choteau

Kaylee Hughes - Butte

Ellie Meeks - Geraldine

Ethan Frasier - Ashland

Laney Johnson - Havre

Katie Lynn Krause - Bozeman

2021

Braleigh Garrett - Butte

Haven Wolstein - Helena

Cece Reid - Poplar

Laney Johnson - Havre

Logan Smith - Deer Lodge

Trace Martin - Lewistown

Kaleb Norstrom - East Helena

Garrett Cunningham - Broadus

Kaleb Norstrom - East Helena

Kaleb Norstrom - East Helena

Paige Palin - Corvallis

2022

Gavin Knutson • Polson

Roan Burrows • Miles City

Sam Petersen • Helena

Caden Rhoads • Big Horn

Grady Larson • Sidney

Mary Gibson • Havre

Grace Wiening • Belgrade

Liberty Prowse • Lewistown

Ashley Parke • Huntley

Lacey Lawrence • Jordan

Hailey Gliko • Belt

Sam Petersen • Helena

John Edwards Memorial

Scholarships

are awarded in increments of $1,000, $2,000 and $3,000

This event was conceived with two main objectives in mind for our organization. The first, honoring our great Montana Rodeo Legends with induction into the Hall and Wall of Fame. Secondly, it’s our main fundraising push to accumulate the funds necessary to supply the needed capital to sustain our Montana High School Rodeo Association Scholarship program. Our 501(c)(3) 100% volunteer organization, has awarded over $650,000 in scholarships to deserving young men and women scholar athletes on their way to compete in Collegiate Rodeo. We are the nation’s largest rodeo scholarship program!

Join the Legacy Club

Match your donation to any of these amounts to join!

Founder ..................................................... $5000

This lifetime donation offers two Carroll Leather commemorative jackets, one commemorative vest, ball cap, quarterly newsletter and 10 annual passes to our Legacy Room

Legend ...................................................... $2000

This 10-year donation offers one commemorative Carroll Leather jacket, one vest, one ball cap, quarterly newsletter and five annual passes to our Legacy Room

All Around ................................................. $1000

This 5-year donation offers one commemorative vest, one ball cap, quarterly newsletter and four annual passes to our Legacy Room

Champion ................................................... $200

This annual donation offers one ball cap, quarterly newsletter and two annual passes to our Legacy Room

Rookie ................................................. $50 - $100

This annual donation offers one ball cap and quarterly newsletter

The Legacy Club of The Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame was created to compliment the fund-raising efforts of the MPRHWF. Our hope is to simplify and coordinate the process for our donors to participate in our scholarship fund raising program. We have created five donor levels depending on the amount donated. Membership levels run from $50 to $5000. The thank you gifts to our members graduate from embroidered MPRHWF logoed caps to commemorative Carroll Leather jackets.

The Legacy Club traveling trailer and information booth will be seen at rodeo and Western events throughout the state. Raising awareness for the MPRHWF will be our primary focus as well as spearheading Rodeo Cowboy Calcutta Auctions at rodeos across the state. The Legacy Club will also be offering several ways for our fans to purchase or join an auction or raffle to own the newly commissioned Dan Mortensen Bronze. Stop by, visit and perhaps find a level of membership level that is comfortable for you.

Thank you to our 2023 Vendors

Western Legacy Center

Buckaroo Fringe

Big Sky Outlaw Designs

KO Leather and Cowboy Hats

Allen KnowsHisGun Fine Art

Cross N Custom Cinches

Elyssa Leininger -

Western & Wildlife Art

Veterans Navigation Network

Burkhart Bronze –

Ray Shively Custom Leather

Willie’s Distillery

Northern Ag Network

Sage Brush Trading Post

Hall

P.O. Box 930

Billings, MT 59103

A heartfelt THANK YOU to all of our generous sponsors throughout the year. We could not accomplish our mission of honoring our past and preserving the western lifestyle we enjoy without support of each of you. Our sponsors include:

Al’s Bootery C-Bar-J

GFK Trailer Sales

Billings Hotel & Convention Center

Stockman Bank

Montana Silversmith’s

Red Lodge Rodeo Committee

Rhoadside Event Center & Blue Cat Bar & Grill

Lost Village

Connolly Saddlery

Transitional Marketing

Sibanye Stillwater Mining

Western Security Bank

Alexa’s Accounting

Doug Mathis, AnnouncerRodeo

Young Riders Series Rodeo Club

Northwest Pipe

Fauth Agency

Meier Chiropractic.

Metra RV Center

212 Bar & Grill

Quick Stop Drive In

Fort Rockvale

Fly In Lube & Wash

Legacy Lands

Home of Champions Rodeo

Billings Dermatology

J R’s Repair

Falstad Oil

Parkland Distributing

Billings Livestock/PAYS

Burkhart Bronze

Western Ag Network DiaEvents

First Impressions Taxidermy

Montana Pro Rodeo

and Wall of Fame