schedule of events - montanaprorodeo.org montana pro rodeo program.pdfrandy rhoads this page...

1Scholarship Fundraising Banquet and Gathering

Saturday, January 27th • 2018Radisson Hotel & Convention Center • Billings, MT406.256.6515 • www.montanaprorodeo.org

Montana Pro RodeoHall and Wall of Fame

P.O. Box 930 • Billings, MT 59103

2 13th Annual Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame

Schedule of EventsSchedule of Events

A native Montanan, Kar-en Boylan’s life has been all about horses. Her early years were filled with Gym-khanas (games on horse-back), 4-H horse programs, and rodeos. Developing an early interest in drawing, these activities played a

major role in directing her focus to animals, especially horses.With a major in Physical Education and a mi-nor in Art, Boylan graduated from Montana State University in Bozeman, Mt. in 1969. She married, had three children, and ranched with her husband and family in Red Lodge, Mt., where they ran a cow-calf operation for 14 years and also raised registered Quar-ter Horses. They then moved to the Gallatin Valley of Bozeman, Mt., where they contin-ue to raise Black Angus cattle today.Throughout this time, Boylan painted when time allowed, started attending workshops, and shows. As a result of attending these shows and promoting her work Boylan has received numerous awards. Her images have been produced on numerous posters and several magazine covers. She has had several articles on her work and life pub-lished in magazines, and have been includ-ed in three coffee table books on Northwest Artists.Although she has worked in acrylic, gouache, pencil, and scratchboard, Boy-lan works mainly in oil. Wildlife has been in-cluded in her body of work, but her western style of life has been her main focus. Horses, cattle, and working cowboys dominate her subject matter. She tries to capture the awe and intensity of life in her paintings while portraying the beauty, hard work, and the reality of ranch life.Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame thanks Karen for her support and use of her artwork for our Program cover.

Cover artwork:Karen Boylan

Karen Boylan

11:00-2:00 Saddle Bronc & Tie Down Ground School Come learn from three of Rodeo’s

Greatest Legends: Roy Cooper, Monty Henson, and Dan Mortensen.

Learn the basic fundamentals and their secret insights in the Raddisson Atrium

2:00 Registration Opens – Radisson Hotel

2:00–5:00 The Big Visit – Radisson Hotel

5:00 Welcome by Emcee: Brent Jordan Invocation: Pat Linger National Anthem: Sierra Belvin, Mon-

tana High School Rodeo Association 2017 Queen.

Recognition of Special Guests and Rodeo Celebrities Sit-down Banquet: We promise the best

damn prime rib dinner ever served in the West!• Heads or Tails: A fun opportunity to

win a replica bronze of the 18’ Dan Mortensen statue located at

MetraPark Arena • Live Auction featuring World Champion Livestock Auctioneer Ty Thompson • Lady of The West • Great Montana College • Great Montana Western Store • Great Montana Rodeo Families • Great Montana Pro Rodeo • Great Montana Ranches • 2017 Western Heritage Awards • 2017 Induction Legends • Silent Auction Close TBA

9:00 Highline Country Band Featuring Darrell Gairrett and Randy Rhoads

This pagesponsored by

HOTEL &CONVENTION

CENTER

(Doctors Buggy will be auctioned live. See pages 18-19 for details)


Come Meet our2018 V.I.P. Rodeo Champions

Our V.I.P.s

Monty “Hawkeye” Henson

Monty Henson, some-times known as Hawk-eye Henson, is a three-time Professional Rodeo Cowboys As-sociation world cham-pion saddle bronc

rider. He was born in Farmersville near Dallas, Texas. He grew up with child-hood friend, PRCA bull riding champi-on, and fellow hall of famer Don Gay. Monty competed in many events as a boy and quickly became a fan favor-ite. During his rodeo career he won 3 world titles in 1975, 1976, and again in 1982. He won the average at the Na-tional Finals Rodeo 4 times. He won or placed at almost every major rodeo in the country. He has been around the world, rodeoing as well going to rode-os in Europe and Japan.Timeline1994:In 1994, he was inducted in the Proro-deo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colorado.2003:In 2003 he was inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame in Belton, the seat of Bell County in central Texas.2004:In 2004, he was cast as Hawkeye in four episodes of the HBO series Deadwood alongside Ian McShane, Timothy Olyphant, and Molly Parker.2006:In 2006, he was inducted into the Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame.

Dan MortensenDaniel Earl Mortensen was born December 16, 1968 in Billings, Montana to Sheryl and Don “Mort” Mortensen, the youngest of four children, a sixth gener-ation Montanan. Dan graduated high school

in 1987 and spent two years in Powell, where he finished 2nd in the Saddle Bronc competition at the College National Fi-nals Rodeo in 1989. He then transferred to Montana State University Bozeman. Dan would finish 2nd once more and win the College National Finals Saddle Bronc title his senior year. In 1990 he joined the PRCA. He would finish his rookie season as 14th in the world and win the PRCA Rook-ie of the Year award.In Mortensen’s 17-year career he quali-fied for the NFR 16 out of the 17 years, only missing 2004 due to an injury. He would

go on to tie Casey Tibbs with six World Saddle Bronc titles (1993, ’94, ’95, ’97, ’98 and 2003). He finished 2nd twice in 1996 and 2002. In 1994 Mortensen won the av-erage at the NFR. Then in 1997 he won his fourth saddle bronc title and took home the All-Around crown as well. Mortensen also has many Circuit and NRA titles. He won NRA titles in 1988 (one bull riding and one saddle bronc), Montana Circuit All-Around titles (’90 and ’91), Montana Cir-cuit Saddle Bronc titles (1989, ’90, ’91 and ’93 through ’96) and bull riding (1991). Additionally, he won the Columbia River Saddle Bronc Title in 1999, 2001 and 2002.Along with the bronze medal won at the 2002 Winter Olympic games, he com-peted at all of the top rodeos in North America, winning virtually all of them at least once. Having graduated with hon-ors from both Northwest College and MSU, he has been inducted into the MSU Athletic Hall of Fame and the PRCA Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs. Dan and his wife, Kate, presently reside in Billings, Montana with their two little girls and son.

Roy CooperRoy Cooper jumped out of the box, winning the world tie-down roping championship and Rookie of the Year honors the first year he became a full-time professional in 1976. Born Nov. 13, 1955, in Hobbs, N.M., Cooper

was severely afflicted with asthma as a child, which gave him little promise of becoming a professional roper. By the time he entered high school, however,

he had overcome his asthma and ded-icated himself to incessant practice of all elements of tie-down roping. He de-veloped into one of the most dominant ropers in the history of the sport, earning the nickname “Super Looper.” He was the first PRCA cowboy to surpass $2 mil-lion in career earnings and has won eight world championships, six in tie-down rop-ing, one in steer roping and one world all-around crown.World Championships: 8 (Tie-down rop-ing, 1976, 1980-84; steer roping, 1983; and all-around, 1983)Born November 13, 1955 in Hobbs, New Mexico Fame.


SADDLE BRONC & TIE DOWN GROUND SCHOOLCome learn from three of Rodeo’s Greatest Legends:

Roy Cooper, Monty Henson, and Dan Mortensen.Learn the basic fundamentals and their secret insights in

the Radisson Atrium January 27th from 11-2. Participants must be 14 years or older. Space is limited - Reserve today!D

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Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame

2017 Scholarships

Congratulations To All Recipients!


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 probram to assist Montana high school students further their education and pursue their interest in rodeo at the college level.

Houston Brown ..............Miles City ........ $3,000Colten Fisher .................Shepherd ........ $3,000Brityn Garrett .................Butte ............... $3,000Dillon Hahnkamp .........Melrose ........... $3,000Tara Hansen ..................Manhattan ..... $3,000Caydee Johnson ..........Manhattan ..... $3,000Danni Lynn Nardinger ..Joliet ............... $3,000

Shawn Perkins ...............Roberts ........... $3,000Bailee Stenger ..............Worden ........... $3,000Faith Tarter .....................Ashland .......... $3,000Hannah Vogel ..............Billings ............. $3,000Garrett Welch ...............Silesia .............. $3,000Sarai McCollaum .........Darby .............. $2,000Sierra Belvin ..................Reed Point ..... $1,000

Sarai McCollaum Sarai calls the town of Darby home and is the daughter of Scott and Tara Boulanger and Daniel McCollaum. Her four siblings are Titus, Kye, Zachary and Regan. This 20 year old blond blue eyed beau-ty graduated in 2014 from Darby High

School where she served as Vice President of the student body. An honor roll student and a member of National Honor Society, she also served as a Senate Page during the 2013 State Legis-lature. A very athletic young lady, Sarai was captain of both her high school track and basketball teams where she lettered consistently. Her school years were also filled with 4-H and Gym-khana activities where she acquired many awards in the Horse and Market Hog projects. Following high school, she attended Bitterroot College.


WEDNESDAYS & SUNDAYS

Preserving rich western history

SCM brings cowboy stories to the forefront western history for generations

to share.

SCM started out as a series airing exclusively on North Dakota NBC affiliates, but was quickly picked up by RFD-TV and placed in a primetime Wednesday evening time-slot. Since then it has adjusted it’s content to include cowboy/cowgirl figures from all over the nation.

Special Cowboy Moments is a half-hour television show featuring behind-the-scenes interviews of prominent cowboys and cowgirls. Additionally, each episode features important and interesting elements such as old photographs, super slowmotion action footage and more. It airs weekly on RFD-TV in primetime on Wednesdays and Sundays and it’s purpose is to preserve rich

“We believe that our show helps make our uniquely American cowboy and cowgirl figures household names,” said Kevin Holten, the show’s executive producer.

SCM will tape at the Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame Gathering on January 27th. at the Radisson Hotel, Billings MT.


Legends

Marvin JoyceThis rodeo legend was raised on a ranch near East Helena, MT. In 1960 he began his rodeo journey in Saddle Bronc riding with help from cowboys such as Walt Holland and Jack Dawson. Marvin won the High School All-Around District Champi-

onship in 1962.He was also a four-year member of the Montana State University rodeo club…And competed at Col-lege National Finals Rodeo. The Rodeo Cowboy’s Association selected him its 1969 Saddle Bronc Rook-ie of the Year. In 1972, Joyce captured the Nation-al Finals Rodeo saddle bronc title in Oklahoma City. After nearing a decade of pro rodeo, Marvin retired. He remained busy by managing the Tri-Cities Rodeo, serving on the rules committee, performing rodeo judging seminars, and putting on numerous bronc riding and bull-dogging schools. He also enjoyed a very suc-cessful career as a Real Estate Adjuster. He now lives with his wife, Jo-anne in Montana and Nevada.

Bud PauleyRaised on a 7,000 Acre ranch near Miles City, and coming from a ranching and rodeo family, Bud’s future was in his DNA. He started riding Saddle Broncs as a fresh-man in High school, soon winning 2 high school state titles and an

All Around Title respectively in 1976 and 77. From there it was pursuing Ag Studies at Casper College with trips to the CNFR, where the team finished 2nd in the nation. His acumen in the bronc saddle led him to a PRCA Rookie of the Year award in 1978. He earned titles at Denver, Cheyenne, Colorado Springs, Prescott and Sen-tinel Butte to name a few. He qualified for 6 NFR’s from 1980-1985, and in 1985 he won the Saddle Bronc Riding at the Na-tional Finals Rodeo. Bud stated “Nobody enjoyed rodeo amore than I did, I loved it all”. He now lives with wife Judy, in Miles City.

Rooster ReynoldsBorn in Brownwood, Texas in 1961 to then crowned World All Around Champion Cowboy Benny Reyn-olds and mother Mary Reynolds, Rooster is the sec-ond oldest of four children. Rooster qualified for state high school rodeo in 1981 in steer wrestling. He won the Western tophand challenge that year in steer wrestling. In 1984 he won third in the College Finals in Bozeman in Steer Wrestling. 1987 was a big year – Rooster placed First in the NRA finals and year end, and the Eastern Idaho Rodeo Association finals and year end. Third in PRCA Rookie of the Year standings in 1988, Wrangler National Finals Average Champion 1995, Third in the World. National Senior Pro Rodeo Finals average Steer Wrestling Champion 2007.Rooster now resides at home ranch in Twin Bridges, Montana and team ropes

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



Legends

Western Heritage Awards

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

Gary RempelGary grew up on the back of a horse doing everything you do on a ranch. Gary competed in calf roping and team roping, but al-ways wanted to pick up. Most-ly self-taught, Gary learned the finer points of picking up when he went to Calgary and worked with Wayne Vold. He worked his first amateur finals (The Canadian Cowboys Association) in 1984, and the following year (1985) he was asked to work at the Calgary Stampede. He has been a pickup man at the Calgary Stampede every year since then, and was honored in 2009 for 25 consecutive years of service with a bronze and a presentation during the Stampede.

He has been selected by a vote of the Cowboys to work the Canadian Finals a record-setting 19 times. At the 2009 Canadian Finals Rodeo, Gary was awarded the honor of 2009 Canadian Cowboy of the Year”. He has worked the Montana Circut Finals Rodeo a total of eight times. He has also worked the Dodge (RAM) National Circuit Finals Rodeo three times. He achieved his ultimate goal of being voted by the cowboys to pick up at the National Finals Rodeo for the first time

in 1998 and now holds the record for the most trips to the National Finals Rodeo (9x) by a pickup man.Gary and his wife Jody live on 140 acres in Fort Shaw, Mon-tana. When he’s home, Gary works as a horse trainer. Gary has two children, Kevin and Shelly, and two grand-children, Samantha and Ryan.

Marge TaylorAs original as her art, and as durable as the leather she designs with, Marge Taylor is the creator artistic designer and owner of Leather Legends. Hav-ing grown up on a ranch near Jor-dan Montana, where rodeo and the western way of life have influenced her unique designs. Marge’s journey into leather work goes back to the tender young age of nineteen, when

her and her former husband Russ Taylor started their chap making business. A business that would serve rodeo cow-boys, working cowboys, and horse enthusiast for thirteen years. At the same time Marge had a mail order business making and selling custom saddle pants patterns, all while being a dedicated mother of four children.

In 1970, after divorce Marge worked numerous jobs but continued her passion for leather work on the side, while providing for her children. In 1993, she started Leather Leg-end although chaps have been a major focal point of the business, it has expanded to collectable angora chaps, garments and home decor. In 2000, Leather Legends was awarded Designer of the Year, in 2007 she won Best Adap-tation of Material at Western Design Conference. Marge’s work has went on to be displayed in the Cowboy Hall of Fame , as well as, to be worn by World Champion Cow-boys, Rodeo Queens, cutters, working cowboys, to a pres-idential inaugural ball and those that embrace the west-ern way of life. Although, if you ask Marge she would tell you none of these accomplishment were possible without her loving children and grandchildren.

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



Western Heritage Awards

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

In 1919 on a small farm five miles south of Miles City, Montana, Clyde Mc-Farland was born to Hugh and Agnes. Clyde grew up loving farm ranch life. He was a small boy when he got his first horse, Casey. He would gently stroke and talk to his horses and many would call him a horse

whisperer. One example of Clyde’s love and gentleness is that he would walk to school instead of ride because there was nothing for Casey to eat around the school. At 14, Clyde was asked to help out at a rodeo. He was thrilled. He took Casey and the rest is history. The Coha-gen Rodeo was one of many small rodeos he helped with. He assisted Marvin Brookman making the Miles City Fair Rodeo a success for several years.Clyde worked at the Bison Bar, eventually becoming part owner to help pay the bills on the farm and ranch. He came in contact with many cowboys and cowgirls. Some wanted to rodeo but were broke. Hence Clyde would pay their entry fees, beginning a mentoring of young cow-boys and cowgirls. He paid more entry fees than anyone we know and never entered a rodeo. Asked why he nev-er entered, he said, “I wasn’t good enough.” He never missed a local rodeo and attended the Denver Stock Show and the National Finals whenever possible. Clyde helped produce the Bud Pauley Ride of Champions and several of his horses were used in grand entries and as pick-up horses at the rodeos.Clyde is 98 years young and has touched many with his generous personality.

Butch BratskyButch Bratsky, Sr, is a native of Bridger, Montana began his rodeo career with the “Bridger Saddle Tramps” then partici-pated in the first Bridger Youth Rodeo in 1964. Butch went on to rodeo at Montana State Uni-versity where he was on two national championship teams, as well as winning the individu-al bull riding trophy in 1974. In

1974 Butch was also the CNFR Bull Riding Champion. Ranching and rodeoing continue throughout Butch’s life, he participated as a contestant until 1983, then moved into judging. He has served with numerous or-ganizations to promote rodeo and the western way of life, including MSU Rodeo Chute Boss Club, NILE, NIRA Foundation, Chase Hawks Memorial, Special K Ranch, Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch Foundation and many professional organizations. Graduating from Montana State University in 1975, Butch has worked in Farm and Ranch Management/Real Estate Brokerage with Farmers National Compa-ny, Agricultural Finance with Farm Credit, Montana Livestock and Wells Fargo. Currently he is Senior Bank-ing Executive with Stockman Bank. Family is important to Butch. Butch and Shannon have been married 34 years and have a son – Jared, living in Bozeman and daughter – Jamie, living in Billings. Congratulations Butch and family for continuing to support rodeo and the western way of life in Montana.



We’re proud to support the Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame.

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Lady of the West

The lady behind the scenes...

Shirley ClarkThe term Woman of the West ought to call upon images of pioneer women, the back-bones of the families that homesteaded our state. In a more modern time, the em-bodiment of a Woman of the West looked a little different, but the backbone of her fam-ily all the same, and a pioneer in her own right. Shirley Clark is exactly the kind of woman that comes to mind when talking about Women of the West and pioneers of our time. Shirley has attend-ed countless rodeos at every level of competition, providing secretary services to a large number of them, helped to form boards and events and sup-ported her husband, Gordon, in everything from his time in the army and rodeoing to a career in real estate. She accomplished all of these things while raising three daughters and a son and working full time for the Department of Livestock. Shirley was born into a ranching family on Febru-ary 4th, 1945. Her parents, Eddie and Betty Ku-nesh, ranched in the Big Coulee between Rapelje

and Ryegate. Shirley attended school in Ryegate, where she graduated in 1962. Shirley shared her entire school years at Ryegate with Gordon Clark. They were married in 1963.Gordon served in the army in 1965-66. While sta-tioned in Texas, Gordon and Shirley welcomed their first of three daughters, Tammy. After returning to Montana Tara was born, and shortly after Stefani. Their foster son, Loren Bell, joined the family later. Shirley started her career with the Montana Depart-ment of Livestock in 1963. Everyone who knows her can attest to her hard work and diligence to her job. She was with the Department of Livestock for over thirty years, retiring in 1995.Shirley has been an instrumental member of the Montana rodeo community her entire life, and has been involved in nearly every facet of the indus-try. One of her major accomplishments came from secretarying and point keeping for what was at the time called the Montana Summer Circuit. The pilot circuit system was such a success that two years later it became the model for what is the national PRCA circuit system we know today. Shirley is a wife, mother, sister, daughter, Woman of the West and true champion for Montana Rodeo and the western way of life.


Cowboy’sDigest


Great Montana Ranches

Ranches that have contributed to the Montana western lifestyle

JP COONEY RANCHHARLOWTOWNJ.P. Cooney bought the Duffy Ranch on Fish Creek, south of Harlowton, in 1926 and began putting to-gether the Cooney Ranch, buying homesteads all around. He and his sons raised Rambouillet sheep, summered them in the Little Belt Mountains. Some-time later in the 40’s they started raising a few Here-ford cows. J.P. and Leta Cooney raised seven chil-dren and passed the ranch on to their sons. Bob and Bill and Frank became Cooney Brothers, Jack had a place of his own. The ranch changed to Angus cat-tle in the 60’s. In 1998 they sold the last of the sheep. Bob and Loraine raised a family and their children John (Mary), Leah, and Leta (Gordon Nash) contin-ue with the ranch today. In 2016 they reorganized into two operating entities. John and Marys’ sons Spencer (Bethany) and Cavan are the fourth gen-eration to work the ranch as are Leta and Gordons’ daughters Sarah and Rachael (Kenny Lee).

Lande RanchThe Lande ranch was originated in 1917 when Jacob Lande, my great grandfather, and his 1/2 Indian bride, filed for allotments on the Crow reservation. He was originally from Norway but tired of the fishing vocation to try his luck in the new world in the early 1880s. My grandfather George took over the ranching operation when his father died in 1923 and was partners with my dad until his death in 1977. The ranch then passed on

to my mom Wilma and me when my grandfather died. CR Boucher became an instrumental part of the op-eration when he decided to quit the rodeo world and become an employee of 2 women. Holy cow what an education he got! I now run the operation with my family, husband Greg MacCarty, daughter Ali and her husband Chase Gauger and of course the one and only that keeps us in line, granddaughter Gwenny.

MOTHERSHEAD RANCH BROCKWAY, MT Pasture Creek is home to three generations of the Mothershead family. In 1910 Archie and Mina Mothershead filed on a homestead which was then a part of Dawson Coun-ty and now a part of southern McCone County. The family lived there for a few years and then moved to Canada sometime during 1913. Evidently Cana-da didn’t turn out to be the promised land as ex-pected, so in the spring of 1921 they returned to the homestead which is about seven miles from Brock-way, as the crow files. During the 40’s their son Ralph Mothershead leased the old homestead and later purchased it when his parents retired and moved to Brockway. Ralph and Annette Mothershead moved to our present location in 1942. Today Nick and Joey Mothershead currently ranch the same property, raising commercial Angus cattle.



BUTCHER CENTURY RANCH Harry A. Butcher came west to the “Last American Frontier” of Fergus County Montana from Braxton County, West Virginia in 1913 to begin ranching. Harry was a fifth generation descendent of the “Over Moun-tain” Paulser Butcher/Bush frontier farming family which crossed the”Appalachian Mountains on game trails to claim land in that fertile Northwest Virginia Indian re-gion prior to the Revolutionary War.Harry began the Butcher ranch about 6 miles east of the future Winifred railhead town with a 320 acre homestead plus a 640 acre “Desert Claim” 20 north of the rail-head at Hilger, Montana in the spring of 1913.Harry married his brother’s widow with a 13 year old son and 11 year old daughter in 1924 and began ex-panding the ranching operation by adding cattle to the grain farming homestead through leases and pur-chase of abandoned homesteads. With the help of his nephew/stepson Milton H. (Bud) Butcher, they steadily built a 25,000 acre debt free ranch at the edge of the Missouri River Breaks without borrowing a penny. Both Harry and Milton purchased land individually which they operated jointly until 1952 when Milton separated his portion of the ranch when his younger half-brother Emmet joined the Butcher’s ranching operation. Em-met eventually sold his half of the original ranch and relocated to Lewistown.Until 1938, when the Butchers purchased their first In-ternational M tractor, they were farming 1,000 acres of grain with 75 head of work horses which they wintered without supplemental feed in the unfenced Missouri River Breaks. About 1946 Harry purchased their first “Big Tractor” (an international W-D9) and in 1948 Milton pur-chased a second W-9 tractor allowing the Butchers to convert from horse equipment to 14 foot tool bars and

10 ft one-way disks as a step toward their future expan-sions to 4-wheel drive tractors and large equipment farming. In 1948 they sold the work horse herd except for 4 teams used for haying and feed until about 1952.During the 1930s, Milton rode the Winifred cattle train to Chicago as herdsman where they sold two year old steers at the Chicago Auction and Milton would spend several weeks visiting Virginia cousins before ferrying cars and trucks from the South Bend, Indiana Stude-baker factory for the Lewistown car dealer. During this period, the Butcher ranch began using Hereford bulls on their original Shorthorn cow herd. Milton also closed his Hereford cow herd which did not add females until the 1990s when Ed and Trevis began introducing An-gus cattle. In the 1950s they marketed yearling steers/spayed heifers before conversion to a cow/calf oper-ation in the 1960s. In 1972 Milton had a heart attack forcing his retirement and sale of the ranch to Ed Butcher who left his college teaching career to return to operate this grain and cattle ranch with his two young sons Trevis and Ross. During the 1980s, they adopted the Savory manage-ment concepts to improve range management. In the late 1990s, Ed and Trevis (who became managing partner) converted the grain portion to dry land hay expanding the cattle production.Trevis and Karla became the 4th generation owner/op-erators of the Butcher’s Rolling Hills Ranch in 2008 upon Ed’s complete relinquishment of his share of manage-ment responsibilities this semi-retirement. With Trev-is’ unexpected death in 2017, the fifth generation of Butchers (Milton Joshua, Trevis J., and McKensie) has stepped up to join Trevis’ widow Karla to assume oper-ation of this historic 500e cattle operation.

Great Montana Ranches




Great Montana Western Store

Outfitting our cowboys and cowgirls for where ever the trail leads

Shipton’s Big RShipton’s Big R has been in existence since 1949 supplying farmers & ranchers with all of the products and services that they need. Tarter, Powder River, Nutrena, Weather Leather and many other top quality brands! Our culture parallels the same values as the Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame. We believe that many young rodeo cowboys & cowgirl grow up in the western lifestyle. Thus, the purpose of our stores is to service this family: animal feeds & medicine, tack, farm & ranch supplies, heavy duty gates & panels and everything else that is required to take care of the farm & ranch. And ... many of the necessities needed for the rodeo arena. For decades, Shipton’s Big R has heavily supported many regional rodeos, including NILE, Red Lodge, MontanaFair and Chase Hawks. One brand in particular resonates heavily in all of our stores ... Wrangler. Most every contestant wears this brand and Wrangler is “king” when it comes to almost every PRCA rodeo. We really do stock over 100 sizes of Wrangler “Cowboy Cut” jeans. On behalf of Gregg Carroll and Jay Carroll (owners), we are deeply

honored to be associated with the “Western Store Award” from the Montana Pro Rodeo Hall & Wall of Fame.

For pictures of the Event contact Jeanne Benson at 406-671-5353


Great Montana CollegeRodeo Program

Great Montana Pro Rodeo

University of Providence

Fallon County Fair & Rodeo

The University of Great Falls was renamed in July 2017 the University of Providence, with the main campus renamed the University of Providence, Great Falls. The new name recognizes the rich roots of the institution and the strength of its partnership with Providence St. Joseph Health.Dick Lyman, a Great Falls native, is the Rodeo head coach after founding the rodeo program at the University of Providence, Great Falls. Lyman has managed Jacobs Rodeo and helped his stepfather produce rodeos for more than 30 years. He played football at Montana State where he was a member of the 1976 national championship team.

Eight years ago there was no rodeo team at the University of Great Falls. For a few years in the 1950s and 1970s, the then College of Great Falls had a rodeo club, but that was all. Then in 2010, local ranch owner and cowboy Dick Lyman started UGF Rodeo as a varsity program. The program leaped onto the national stage, placing two members, one male, one female, into the top six in the nation at the 2017 College National Finals Rodeo.Those two were junior Cache Hill who finished fourth in the bareback ride and junior Abigail Knight who took sixth in the barrel race.“It’s outstanding to be able to get to this point. We’ve worked really hard on our program and these kids are starting to set a pretty good foundation,” Lyman said. “I’m really proud of those kids. They did so well. They stayed focused throughout the week and really worked hard all year to get here.”The spring season schedule has yet to be finalized for the Big Sky Region but as has been the case for the last three years, it will end with the University of Providence hosting the Big Sky Regional Finals.

The Fallon County Fair has been in existence since 1923. Rodeo has always been a fan favorite to the residents of Fallon County. Fallon County has two small towns in the county which are Plev-na and Baker. Big name cowboys in the 70’s and 80’s would fly in for the rodeo as the oil boomsupported a good rodeo along with horse races.As time has passed, the rodeo has went from a PRCA to an NPRA back to where it is now as a PRCA. The fair board in 2011 decid-ed to tear down the old wooden grandstands and rebuild the grandstands. With spending over 3 million dollars in doing so to make it a very nice grandstand along with it being an approved storm shelter underneath it wascompleted. The added purse for the rodeo was always around $20,000 up until 2015 when Eddie Coulter and the current board then agreed to try to bump the added purse up and pursue more sponsorship to host one of thebest rodeo’s right here in Baker. The board had a great response from local businesses and also decided to completely redo the rodeo arena. Volunteers tackled the old arena tearing it out piece by piece. New ground was brought in, the arena was done by a local welder, and 2 days before the 2015 PRCA rodeo it was completed. The arena is much bigger now compared to the old one that was oddly shaped. So in 2015, our added purse

was $60,000, in 2016 we bumped it up to $82,500 while featuring the Team Roping in loving memory of Rodney Askin. Also in 2016 the board and commissioners felt a need for new concession stands so new concession stands were built and completed just before hosting the 2017 Montana State High School Finals. We had so much excitement over doing something different that we decided to feature some other events in 2017 (Steer roping, Tie-Down roping, and Barrel Racing) where our added purse money was $90,000. In doing this, it really brought in contestants as we hosted over 500 contestants. In 2018 we plan to keep the featured events rotating.Our rodeo with the improvements and the added money has become a stop for most that are still going down the road come the middle of August and a must stop for our Montana Circuit cowboys and cowgirls. We were voted Montana Large rodeo of the year in 2015 & 2016. In 2017, it just got announced that we won Large rodeo of the year in the WPRA. We have a working board, a very special community that supports our efforts and we will keep striving to make Fallon County Fair & Rodeo a placeeveryone wants to come watch, enjoy the fun, and meet new friends.

PRCA Rodeos in Montana that exemplify the sport of professional rodeo


Missoula – University of MontanaGlendive – Dawson Community College

Havre – Montana State University, NorthernPowell, WY – Northwest College

Bozeman – Montana State UniversityDillon – University of Montana, Western

Casper, WY – Casper CollegeMiles City – Miles Community College

Other GreatCollege Rodeo Programs

DiaEVENTS


Proud to be a long-time supporter of the Montana Pro Rodeo Hall & Wall of Fame.


Montana Rodeo Families


Stringari FamilyThis double tough cowboy was raised near Belfry, MT and hails from one of the Big Sky’s great families. Dan is a veteran of the United States Air Force, where he served as a mechanic for America’s supersonic arse-nal. During his tour of duty he won two Bullriding titles in the European Military Rodeo Circuit. After serv-ing his nation, he returned to cowboying near Red Lodge, MT…not soon after, he got the steer wrestling bug. He went to a Walt Linder-man Steer Wrestling school and the rest was history. He qualified for the very first Montana PRCA Circuit Finals and worked many of the top rodeos in Montana and Canada. Later in life he hit his stride in the Senior Pro Rodeo Tour, traveling with his dear friend and rodeo Hall of Famer Benny Reynolds. Dan went on to win 14 Sr. World Steer Wrestling Titles, and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2002.

Pecora FamilyBob Pecora and Family for 35 years have embodied the western and rodeo way of life. His talents are steep in the professional reined cow horse industry, from training to showing, with many awards to mark his career accomplishments. Rodeo is in his blood, qualifying for the MT High School Rodeo Finals, National High School Rodeo Finals and earning a PRCA Contestant card in the event of Saddle Bronc. Bob competed against the greatest bronc riders of his era and went on to win the Montana Circuit Finals Rodeo, claiming his station with in Mon-tana rodeo history. Bob and Family has produced ev-ery aspect of rodeo, from promotion to pick up man! He’s also the founder of the World Class Bucking Horse Association, which has grown from a regional event to having its finals held this year on the famed Las Vegas strip, at the South Point Hotel and Casino. Husband, Fa-ther, Cowboy. Bob Pecora.

Lenning FamilyRaised on the great Crow Reservation near Pryor Creek and then brought up near Miles City…Duane and his family is Mon-tana Cowboy through and through. Duane High School rodeo’d, compet-ed in Tie Down and Bare-back riding. He also com-peted at the very first Miles City Bucking Horse Sale in 1952. After High School he served in the US Army, out of Ft. Lewis and rodeo’d with his friend C.R. Boucher. Duane and family love ro-deo, and Mike, Mitch and Charlie…all great Lenning men excelled in the sport! Duane and his wife, Shirley, bought the family ranch near Columbus and have ranched there for 57 years. Raising great rodeo hors-es during over the years, rodeoing and helping Mon-tana’s rodeo youth. Duane and family have lived and exhibited what it means to be one of the Big Sky coun-try’s great rodeo families.

Witcher FamilyJack Witcher was raised on a ranch east of Volberg, Montana. He graduated from Custer Coun-ty High School in Miles City and moved to a ranch in Kinsey, Mon-tana, in 1961, and has lived there ever since.Jack has three children, Cindy, Kelly, and Chris Witcher. He started roping calves when he was 14 yrs old – also began steer wrestling and team roping. Jack rode bare-back broncs and bulls in high school, and won second at the Calgary Stampede in 1971, and third in 1973, in calf roping. He won the Cheyenne Calf Roping Champion-ship in 1972 and was Calf Roping Champion in 1977 for the Montana PRCA Circuit. Jack trained roping horses for almost all his life, and had many of his horses compete at the NFR in team roping events and calf roping. Jack won World Champion in 1980 and 1982 in the PRCA Old Timer’s Rodeo.His daughter, Cindy, qualified for the NFR in 1975 in Barrel Racing. In 1990 his son, Chris, was Calf Roping champ in Montana Circuit finals. His son, Kelly, is a Laser Tech expert, and developed the laser sites for F16 and F18 fighter jets.




Scholarship Recipients

2006Haley Anderson • Glendive ................. $3,000Cody Flammond • Sidney ................... $3,000Whitney Gollehon • Fairfield ................. $3,000Sylvan LaCross • Red Lodge ................ $3,000Chad Marquardt • Kalispell ................. $3,000Parker Murnion • Jordan ...................... $3,000Ashley Ouzts • Billings ............................ $3,000Kristy Robison • Dodson ........................ $3,000Dustin Wilson • Cut Bank ...................... $3,000National High SchoolRodeo Association ................................. $3,000

2007Tiffany Moullet • Huntley ...................... $3,000Thomas Reiser • Townsend .................. $3,000Kayla Jorgenson • Belgrade................ $3,000Jacob Foulger • Kinsey ........................ $3,000Bailee Novotny • Helena ..................... $3,000Colton Sargent • Huntley ..................... $3,000Josie Davison • Miles City ..................... $3,000Jake Keams • Melrose ........................... $3,000Jacey Fortier • Laurel ............................ $3,000Bridger Chambers • Stevensville .......... $3,000Mykayla M. Tatsey • Valier ................... $3,000Clayton Ahlgren • Grass Range ........... $3,000

2008Kayleen Searer • Sidney ....................... $3,000Cassie Woosley • Clyde Park ............... $3,000Chelsey Lund • Lewistown ................... $3,000Annie Novotny • Helena ...................... $3,000Layne Wiebe • Jefferson City ............... $3,000Lexy Rianda • Kalispell .......................... $3,000Ben Ayre • Glendive ............................. $3,000Jack Brown • Shelby ............................. $3,000Jake Halmes • Cascade ...................... $3,000Caleb Horner • Ramsey ....................... $3,000Tim Sparing • Helena ............................ $3,000Witt Williams • Broadus ......................... $3,000

2009Lacey Davidson • Butte ....................... $3,000Mariah Rys-Sikora • Missoula ................ $3,000Ronda DeCock • Colstrip .................... $3,000Stormy Fink • Billings .............................. $3,000Chelsea Brown • Big Sandy ................. $3,000Charlie Hollenbeck • Billings ................ $3,000Robert Wagner • Browning .................. $3,000Luke Gee • Stanford ............................. $3,000JD Harrell • Roy...................................... $3,000Carol Peabody • Geraldine ................. $3,000Chase Redfield • Opheim ................... $3,000Jason Schaffer • Broadus ..................... $3,000Hanna Heckman • Choteau ............... $1,000Leslie Furniss • Missoula ......................... $2,000

2010Tace Patten • Bozeman ....................... $3,000Tory Logan • Miles City ......................... $3,000Cold Gardner • Winnett ....................... $3,000Duston Stephens • Corvallis ................. $3,000Ellie Hogue • Phillipsburg ...................... $3,000Malia VandenBos • Valier .................... $3,000Matt Holmes • Cascade ...................... $3,000Matt Triplett • Columbia Falls. ............. $3,000Cierra Kunesh • Helena ........................ $3,000Kelsey Lemon • Cornallis ...................... $3,000Charlie Mack • Big Timber ................... $3,000Casey Waldhauser • Worden .............. $3,000Jourdan Han • Rudyard ........................ $2,000Hanna Heckman • Choteau ............... $1,000

2011Justin Beschomer • Missoula ................ $3,000Parker Breding • Edgar ......................... $3,000Weston Brown • Big Sandy................... $3,000Jaylyn Garrison • Arlee ......................... $3,000Kendall Green • Cohagen .................. $3,000Shaylee Hance • Circle ........................ $3,000Tanner Hollenback • Dillon .................. $3,000Mandy Newman • Melstone ................ $3,000Nevada Newman • Melstone ............. $3,000Laine Patton • Bozeman ...................... $3,000Lauren Reiser • Townsend .................... $3,000Emily Schall • Missoula .......................... $3,000Jeana Wagner • Whitehall .................. $1,000Lorissa Harris • Shepherd ...................... $2,000

2012Cille Patten • Bozeman ........................ $3,000Hanna Heckman • Chateau ............... $3,000Jondie Rianda • Kalispell ..................... $3,000Jackie Teague • Seeley Lake .............. $3,000Allison Wittkopp • Circle ....................... $3,000Bree Dirks • Helena ............................... $3,000Will Shirley • Conrad ............................. $3,000Rye O’Neal • Valier .............................. $3,000Austin Malek • Highwood .................... $3,000Dane Andreasen • Fort Benton. .......... $3,000Shay Wacker • Melstone...................... $3,000Dustin Morigeau • Baker ...................... $3,000Kaitlin Kolka • Forsyth ............................ $1,000Mariah Rys-Sikora • Missoula ................ $2,000

2013Taylor Mydland • Joliet......................... $3,000Allie Novotny • Helena ......................... $3,000Kooper Bott • Powell, WY ..................... $3,000Charley Yeager • Choteau ................. $3,000Lacey Camp • Belgrade ..................... $3,000Whitney Hillard • Miles City. ................. $3,000Ben French • Pompeys Pillar ................ $3,000Lane Krutzfeldt • Powderville. .............. $3,000Dakota Rice • Spirit Lake, ID. ............... $3,000Sylvis Robertson • Whitehall ................. $3,000Gavin Schuman • Big Timber .............. $3,000Merle Young • Chinock ........................ $3,000Kieran Potten • Bozeman..................... $1,000Alyson Grinestaff • Bozeman ............... $2,000

2014Bryer Davis • Sand Coulee ................... $3,000Rebecca DeLaittre • Three Forks ......... $3,000Bailey Escott • Twin Bridges .................. $3,000Wyatt Foulger • Kinsey ......................... $3,000Bailey Fruit • Ekalaka ............................ $3,000Hanna Heckman • Choteau, .............. $2,000 Cody Magpie • Lame Deer ................. $3,000Kristine Paske • Drummond .................. $3,000Baylee Stratton • Bozeman ................. $3,000Cole Wagner • Valier ........................... $3,000Tyler Weeding • Pompeys Pillar ........... $3,000Colton Weekes • Babb ........................ $3,000Abigail Wilkerson • Wilsall ..................... $3,000Laramine Pursley • Chinook ................. $2,000Kieran Patten • Bozeman .................... $1,000

2015Lyndi Anderson • Billings ....................... $3,000Bryce Bott • Powell ............................... $3,000Jimmy Heptner • Browning .................. $3,000Shayle Hildebrand • Joliet ................... $3,000Nicole Korte • Laurel............................. $3,000Levi Mydland • Joliet ............................ $3,000Colby Ophus • Conrad ........................ $3,000Kieran Patten • Bozeman .................... $3,000Will Powell • St. Ignatius ........................ $3,000Cyris Robertson • Whitehall.................. $3,000Madison Waters • Malta ...................... $3,000Wrye Williams • Broadus ....................... $3,000Jerilyn Wiseman • Baker ....................... $3,000Darby Yeager • Choteau .................... $3,000Hanna Heckman • Choteau ................ $2,000Opal Harkins • Billings ........................... $1,000

2016 Trevor Clark • Brusett ............................. $3,000Ty Everson • East Helena ....................... $3,000Meagan Harris • Florence ..................... $3,000Troy Kirkpatrick • Wise River .................. $3,000Jordan Lindsay • Bozeman ................... $3,000Morgan Link • Billings ............................. $3,000Haven Meged • Miles City .................... $3,000Laramie Noble • Dillon .......................... $3,000Tristan O’Neal • Valier ........................... $3,000Tyler Robinson • Hardin ......................... $3,000Brett See • Glasgow .............................. $3,000Alexis Shipp • Miles City ......................... $3,000Tawnie Tribby • Vaughn ........................ $3,000LaTasha Wieferich • Sidney .................. $3,000Opal Harkins • Billings ............................ $1,000Lindsay Garpestad • Great Falls .......... $2,000


NORTHWESTPIPE / RANDY

BENTLEY


Two tickets to first performance of the 2018 National Finals Rodeo. Donated by Bob Ragsdale.

Steer Hide, brindle & white color, 7’ wide x 9’ long. Donated by Ron Reed.

Brand Block, 24” x 24”, to go on wall at Metra.

Wildlife Bronze by Ron Rains. Donated by his son, Tyler Rains.

Artist Proof Belt Buckle – Dan Mortensen, Number 010 2002 – Dedication of Montana ProRodeo Hall & Wall of Fame on October 16, 2002. Donated by Kendra Becker.

Set of Longhorns, 6-1/2’ span, red roan. Donated by Ron Reed.

Set of Longhorns, 6-1/2’ span, black and white leather. Donated by Ron Reed.

Doctor’s Buggy, made by Staver Coach, Chicago IL in 1902. This buggy is completely renovated with new top, new rubber on wheels, new leather dash, new paint – burgundy with metallic, pin stripe in gold. Painted by Alvin Kruse. Ron has owned this buggy since 1976. Donated by Ron Reed.

Framed Buckskin with many names of the cowboys and people at the Dedication of Montana ProRodeo Hall & Wall of Fame on October 16, 2002. Donated by Doug Graves.

Framed picture of Running Horses. Donated by Cheryl Davis.

Quilt “Sangria”, king size, turquoise and orange, 2017. Made and donated by Donna Redding Kraft.

Red Wrangler Shirt with yellow lettering and bluebell patch given to me by Jim Shoulders at the January 2007 ProRodeo get together. Donated by Ron Reed

Larry Mahon hat, made by Milano Hat Compnay, 20x choice of belly, brown or black. Donated by Lou Taubert Ranch Outfiters, Anita Taubert

Let ‘er Buck - print donated by featured artist, Karen Boylan


Live Auction Items


RON REED &HONORABLEKELLIE REED



Made by Staver Coach, Chicago IL in 1902. This buggy is completely renovated with new top, new rubber on wheels, new leather dash, new paint – burgundy with metallic, pin stripe in gold. Painted by Alvin Kruse. Ron has owned this buggy since 1976. ~ Donated by Ron Reed.

Doctor’s Buggy

RON REED &HONORABLEKELLIE REED

NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDBILLINGS, MT

PERMIT 1Montana Pro RodeoHall and Wall of Fame

P.O. Box 930 • Billings, MT 59103

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