ND Cowboy Hall of Fame - Archived Articles

Eight Seconds To Go - History of ND Rodeo

“Eight Seconds Ago….”

Rodeo History Notes

from the Archives of the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame

Researched & Compiled by Phil Baird, NDCHF President,

Mandan, N.D.

Fifty Years Ago (May 1955)

In 1955, the Badlands Saddle Club organized and filed organizational papers under the leadership of Ben Baye, Olaf Leiseth, Carl Jorgenson, Fred Berger, Ben Johnston, and Hilda Steffenhagen. The Club played host to multiple rodeo events each year over three decades.

Prominent McKenzie Co. rancher Frank Keogh, father of North Dakota Stockmen’s Association President Brooks Keogh, passed away May 19, 1955.

Local rodeo producer Jim Barnhart planned a saddle club roundup for May 27-29, 1955 with a camp, BBQ, trail ride, parade, and rodeo on the last day in Medora.

Tom Tescher of Sentinel Butte was named the all-around cowboy, winning the saddle bronc riding at the 1955 Garrison, N.D. RCA rodeo held May 28-29^th. Top contestants: BB – Dean Armstrong, Sentinel Butte; SB – Tescher; BR – Milt Baker, New Town; CR & SW – Gene McCormick, Menoken; CUTTING – Monte Boren, Mandan. Fettig Bros. stock.

Forty Years Ago (May 1965)

North Dakota rodeo cowboy and rodeo producer Bob Aber appeared on the New York-based TV program, “To Tell The Truth” on May 19, 1965.

Delvin Reich of Zap was the top saddle bronc rider at the 1965 World Famous Miles City Bucking Horse Sale held May 22-23^rd.

Ed Hall of Mandaree took first in the calf roping and second in the bareback riding to claim the boy’s all-around title at the 1965 Killdeer, N.D. FFA high school rodeo held Sunday, May 30^th. Brenda Kraenzel of Hebron was named the all-around cowgirl. Other event winners included BB - Curtis Kelling, Killdeer; SB – LeRoy Fettig, Killdeer; BR – Terrald Bang, Killdeer; CR – Hall; SW – Dwight Hansen, Dunn Center; BAR – Mary Keogh, Minot; POLES – Kathy Sandberg, Pettibone. Fettig Rodeo Co. stock.

At the 1965 State Line Club RCA rodeo postponed from May 23^rd to Monday, May 31^st, Delvin Reich topped the bareback riding. Two-time national college rodeo champion Sonny Ehr of Minot won the steer wrestling. Former RCA world champion Alvin Nelson finished second in the saddle bronc riding. Fettig Rodeo Co. stock.

Mervel Hall of New Town picked up a double win in the bareback and saddle bronc riding events at the 1965 Marion NDRA rodeo held on Monday afternoon, May 31^st. Results: BB & SB – Hall; BR – Dave Hermanson, Litchville; BAR – Debbie Tvedt, Marion. Olaf Berg stock.

Thirty Years Ago (May 1975)

In 1975, Vern Erickson and Rod Tjaden of the Gold Seal Company approached the North Dakota Rodeo Association board with a proposal for a “North Dakota Rodeo Cowboy Heritage Center” at Medora. The Association eventually organized a rodeo cowboy photo exhibit featured later in the summer at the Roughrider Hotel in Medora. Thirty years later, the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame was scheduled to open in May 2005.

1975 NDRA Board of Directors: Dale Jorgenson, Watford City (president); Mervin “Bud” Anderson, Mandan (vice president); Bob Freise, Bismarck (secretary/treasurer); Denver Jorgenson (BB); Marlin Kapp (SB); Jerry Weinberger (BR); Harvey Billadeau (CR); Lynn Linseth (SW); LeRoy Kalenze (TR); Pam Anderson (BAR); Gayle Meyer Hanna (GT). Committee representatives: Raymond Thorson, Towner; Albert Rivinius, Elgin; Pete Dykema, Strasburg; Jim Mosbrucker, Mandan; Frank Privatsky, Steele, Frank Crimmins, White Earth.

All-around cowboy Wade Sundby of Williston took first place in all three roughstock events and the boys cow cutting contest at the 6^th annual Killdeer, N.D. FFA high school rodeo held May 17-18^th. Other 1975 event winners: CR – Gary Hepper, Fort Yates; SW – Aaron Jepson, Killdeer; BAR – Deb Gunderson, Bowman; BRKA – Wanda Irwin, Minot; POLES – Peggy Herberholz, Dickinson; GT – Deb Stearns, Bowman; TR – Jeff Gorrell/Arnie “Poncho” Irwin; GIRLS CUTTING – Rhonda Rustad, Kindred.

Starting off his championship season run, Walt Moran of Trenton won the saddle bronc riding at the 30^th annual Steele Saddle Club NDRA rodeo on May 31-June 1, 1975. Top hands: BB – Kim Anderson (MT); SB – Moran; BR – Butch Lemay (WISC); CR – John Richter, Hazen; SW – Arnie Voigt, Mandan; BAR – Wanda Etzell, Rogers; GT – Gayle Hanna, Berthold; TR – Frank White Calf/Jim Schaafsma, Emmet.

Twenty Years Ago (May 1985)

In 1985, two Rhame high school rodeo competitors named Swanke earned all-around honors at the 5^th annual Williston, N.D. high school rodeo held May 4-5th. Lisa Swanke also took first in the goat-tying while boy’s all-round contestant Kevin Swanke snagged first place in the cow cutting competition. Top event placers: BB – Dave Berg, Mandan; SB – Brian Hartman, Mandan; BR – Wade Trapp, Marion; CR – Ron Frei, Beulah; SW – Matt Veit, Williston; BAR – Heather Hoff, Richardton; BRKA – Tara Hanson, Mandan; POLES – Bobbi Woodbury, Dickinson; GIRLS CUTTING - Tammy Peterson, Dickinson.

At the 6^th annual Dickinson, N.D. high school held May 18-19^th, Paul Mathern and Matt Veit tied for the boy’s all-around title. Hometown contestant Bobbi Woodbury claimed girls’ all-around honors. Individual event winners: BB – Dale Kling, Killdeer; SB – Brian Hartman, Mandan; BR – Everett Hall, New Town; CR – Dale Hall, New Town; SW – Jeff Kling, Killdeer; BAR – Tammy Peterson, Dickinson; BRKA – Chris Swanke, Rhame; POLES – Heidi Abraham, Fargo; GT – Shelly Andrews, Bowman; BOYS CUTTING - Kevin Swanke, Rhame; GIRLS CUTTING – Kay Berndt, Erie; TR – Mark Weisenberger, Golden Valley/Dan Lambourn, Rhame.

Kevin Swanke and Bobbi Woodbury earned more all-around contestant honors at the 1985 Beulah, N.D. high school rodeo held May 25-26^th. Top prep winners: BB – Dale Kling, Killdeer; SB – Brad Roshau, Dickinson; BR – Tim Mau, Tolley; CR – Brian Hartman, Mandan; SW – Todd Hall, New Town; BAR – Heather Hoff, Richardton; BRKA – Cody Miller, Bowman; POLES – Laura Sandvick, Killdeer; GT – Colleen Murphy, Killdeer; BOYS CUTTING – Kevin Swanke, Rhame; GIRLS CUTTING – Sheila Kuhn, Mandan; TR – Ron Frei/Marty Beard. Mosbrucker stock.

Ten Years Ago (May 1995)

Carmen Meyer of North Dakota State University took first in the barrel racing at the 42^nd annual SDSU Jackrabbit Stampede college rodeo, May 5-7, 1995 at Brookings, S.D. Dickinson State University contestant Shaun Stroh won the saddle bronc riding. DSU team member Ryan Hanna joined Chad Skager to finish first in the team roping. DSU all-around cowgirl Patty Jo Vanderburg placed second in the goat-tying and third in the breakaway roping.

North Dakota native cowboy Larry Sandvick marked 84 points on BBC’s “Greco Gal” to win first place at the 1995 Phoenix, Arizona Jaycees PRCA rodeo held May 11-14^th. He then took first place the same week-end at the 1995 Mother Lode Round-up PRCA rodeo in Sonora, California.

At the 1995 Central Dakota high school rodeo held Saturday, May 13^th in Bismarck, team ropers Josh Stadheim and Dan Wanek picked up another first place for the prep season. Results: BB – Russell Sperry, Trotters; SB – Jeremy Crane, Rhame; BR – John Wetzel, Bismarck; CR – Cody Smith, Trotters; SW – Josh Rinivius, Elgin; BRKA – Kelli Schwalbe, Beulah; GT – Faye LaDuke, Dickinson; POLES – Shannon Rustad, Kindred.

Former PRCA world champion Wayne Herman of Dickinson was the top bareback rider while Carmen Meyer of Watford City claimed first in the barrel racing at the 1995 Crazy Horse Stampede PRCA rodeo over Memorial Day week-end near Custer, S.D. Merle McGee of Rhame took first in the bull riding and Scott Selland partnered up with Ivan Teigan to win the team roping event. Korkow stock.

The 9^th annual Dakota Cowboy Poetry Gathering was held May 27-28, 1995 at the Medora, N.D. community center.

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