2020
Jordie Thomson
Legend, October 2020
Jordie Thomson
Jordie Thomson was born February 9, 1958 and was destined to be a cowboy. Jordie and his brothers, Lonnie and Kirk, grew up on the rodeo trail traveling with their parents Ken and Barb. His father Ken was the first president of the CPA (which was the founding organization of what is now the CPRA). Jordie’s career started much the same as most rodeo kids, competing in the Boys Steer Riding, at the FCA rodeos. At the age of fourteen, Jordie competed in both the Steer Riding and the Bull Riding. By the age of fifteen, Jordie had purchased his CPRA card and immediately blazed a trail. At fifteen, he was 88 points on Franklin’s Wilfred at Regina, which was a CPRA record at the time. To date, Jordie holds the record for the youngest qualifier in Bull Riding at the CFR. The year was 1975, and he was 17 years, 8 months and 11 days old. In 1976 saw Jordie’s first child, Joanna born, and he would qualify in two events for CFR, finishing 3rd in Bareback Riding.
Twice runner up as Champion Bull Rider for the CPRA in 1976 and 1979, Jordie finished in the top five in Bull Riding in the CPRA consecutively in the years 1975 to 1980. At that time, it is believed he held the record for the most consecutive CFR qualifications in the event of Bull Riding. Eight back to back appearances from 1975 through 1982.
Other accolades for Jordie include: 1979 Albert Central Circuit Bull Riding Champion, competed at the NFR in 1978 and 1979 and was the top Canadian money winner in Bull Riding at the NFR in 1978, high score at Kooralbyn, Australia in Bull Riding, Bull Riding winner in Salinas California, runner up in Bull Riding at Pendleton, Oregon in 1979. Throughout his career Jordie rode professionally in three events: Bull Riding, Bareback Riding and Saddle Bronc. Back in the early 80’s, Don Johansen explained “there were three bull riders who dominated rodeo conversations: Don Gay (Texas), Bobby DelVechhio (New York), and Jordie Thomson.” While Gay chalked up eight world titles, DelVechhio and Thomson never won a gold buckle, but they were the showmen of that era. No one had more fun on the rodeo trail.” Jordie was devastated when his rodeo career came to an early end. Jordie was stepped on by a bull, breaking his back, thus ending his riding career. Hartell, Alberta was home to Jordie at the time.
Jordie had another girl, Tessa in 1985, and a son, Robert born in 1986. All three children have families of their own now. Joanna had the privilege of traveling with Jordie through the States for a summer working on the movies. She recalls a movie they worked on (called “Cowboy Stories”, that was never released), and many great adventures. They took in many rodeos, filmed with a lot of old cowboys and Indians, and saw many native burial sites. In the years after rodeo, Jordie spent a considerable amount of time working in the movie industry, doing stunts for movies one of which was Lonesome Dove.
In the early 1990’s Jordie worked on the S’Tina Nation, breaking and working colts, and organizing bull ridings. In December of 1997, Chris Smith captured the epitome of Jordie Thomson in a poem entitled “A Cowboy with it All”. Sadly Jordie died at his home in Okotoks in 2010. Ten years later, we’re pleased to recognize Jordie Thomson as a Legend, in the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame.
Dallas Mackie
Builder, October 2020
Dallas Mackie
Born in Lethbridge to Marj and Fred Bradford, Dallas was the oldest of four children. When Dallas was one, the family moved to Maple Creek, Saskatchewan. The family expanded to six there, with the birth of brother Kelly, and sisters Jill and Stacey. Dallas doesn’t remember much of that time, but she did know she felt pretty special.
She recalls her life in Maple Creek as ideal. Before starting school each day, she went to the local café with her dad for coffee. When coffee was over, she and her dad would venture off to the barn at the fairgrounds, where Fred kept his horses. Dallas loved the barn, and the horses and she is certain it’s led to her life long infatuation.
It was a great adventure to go to the Grayburn Gap Rodeo and the Murraydale Stampede. On one of those trips Dallas recalls an accident, where their trailer with two horses rolled. No one was hurt and the horses were pulled out. The trailer was set on its wheels, horses loaded and we were off once again. Her dad competed on those horses that day.
Dallas remembers chariot racing was big there, and recalls watching two women: Daphne Fordyce and Pansy White, who drove chariots and did Roman Riding. In her words “They were awesome”.
The Bradford family moved to British Columbia when Dallas was in the eighth grade. They spent one year in Kimberley, then moved on to Cranbrook. Fred and Marj bought an acreage. Fred built an arena on the back forty of the property they purchased, and so there was lots of riding anytime they wanted. Dallas’s mother wanted nothing to do with horses, and not all her siblings took to riding either. That didn’t stop the rest of the family, so horses they could learn and grow on seemed to magically appear. A short time later, her dad got involved with a group of men who wanted to rope and they formed the Pine Ridge Roping Club. The club is still active today, although sadly all the old founding members are gone.
Dallas recalls school was fun and she liked sports. There was lots of basketball and softball to play, and she would ride in the summer. “All good things must come to an end”, says Dallas. A year or so after graduation, Dallas and her high school sweetheart, Chuck Sleith were married. Chuck worked for the Department of Highways, where sadly a work accident claimed his life. At the time, their daughter Jamie was 3 and their son Bob was 18 months old. Dallas and her two children moved back to her Mom and Dad’s. Dallas together with her brother, Kelly, renovated an old house on the property.
Three years later, Dallas’ dad took her to a roping where she met Ron. That fall, the two were married. A year later their son, Mike was born. Together Dallas and Ron bought a property between Cranbrook and Kimberley (Dallas still calls it home today). Ron was not a horse person, but he was more than happy to build barns, fences, hay sheds or anything Dallas asked of him. Ron loved hockey, so the boys (Ron, Bob and Mike) played hockey, while Dallas and her daughter Jamie went off to horseshows. Eventually they started to raise Quarter Horses and Paints.
In the years that followed, a group of like minded people felt the community needed a fairgrounds, and so they set out to build it. All of Dallas’s grandchildren were in 4-H and rode. Everyone was handy, which is how the Wycliffe Exhibition Grounds came to be. Many hours of volunteer labour and borrowed equipment came into play. Fund raising, painting, digging post holes, etc.etc. until finally it was done. The grounds that were built at the hands of these families were used for several years by many different groups, and the grounds were then renovated to the pipe fences and gates you see today.
Soon Bob and Jamie went off to university, and the youngest Mike, went to farrier school. This worked well for Dallas, cause farrier bills added up very quickly. Mike also tried his hand at bareback riding, thus continuing the legacy of rodeo competitors in Dallas’s family. Sadly, Dallas lost her son Mike in a vehicle accident some eighteen years ago. Mike left a wife, Sherry, and two daughters, Josie and Justyn behind.
Some 35 years ago, six women from the original group that built the grounds decided to have a professional rodeo and raise some money. Artha Campsall, Anna Mae Gartside, Marleen McMann, Corinne Storteboom, Cheryl Olsen and Dallas were those original six women, and now the committee members. They were laughed at, when they proposed the rodeo, but forged ahead full force anyway. The ladies were so excited, there was no stopping them. Their first call was to Wayne Vold, although Dallas can’t remember why it was Wayne. Regardless he has been their man ever since, and Dallas doesn’t believe they could have done it without him.
Over the next few years several things happened, Marlene moved away, Anna Mae and Corinne went on to other volunteer groups and two more like minded individuals, Pat Armstrong and Stacey Coleman we added to the mix. The ladies operated for many years as the committee for the rodeo, and then sadly they lost their chair person, Artha. Artha and her husband had a small indoor arena in Fort Steele. While a group of volunteers were helping rebuild it with the women working on the ground, nailing on the inside walls, while some of the men were on the roof, a strong gust of wind knocked the boards off the roof on top of the ladies. Artha broke her ankle, while her husband and Dallas both broke their hips. While Artha was undergoing repairs to her ankle, she was diagnosed with cancer and within a month’s time, she was gone. Thankfully Artha’s husband recovered, and while Dallas’s hip was repaired, she has not been able to ride horses since. “Time goes on though and you learn to live through these things. Or at least, I sure did” says Dallas.
Today the committee consists of Cheryl Olsen, Pat Armstrong, Stacey Coleman, Helen Hannah, Lorrie Goodwin, Todd Pellerin, Bob Bjorn and Dallas. Still raising money to keep putting on a rodeo, and enjoying it all the while. Their families all pitch in where needed, each of them doing various things to ensure our tradition continues. Dallas grins, and says “it has been a great experience and has kept us all out of trouble. We even have a woman running the timed event end of the arena and she does a great job.” Most recently, we’ve seen another change with two men joining in, Todd Pellerin and Bob Bjorn. Everyone works so well together, and each of them knows their job and does it well.
Dallas still lives in the same house she and her husband had, with seven horses left to feed and talk to. Her two granddaughters live next door and are horse enthusiasts. Her daughter Jamie and husband Lonnie ranch at Fort Steele. Jamie is a school teacher and still loves horses. Lonnie is a retired saddle bronc rider. They have two children who live in Vancouver and Calgary, where they are a doctor and a nurse practitioner respectfully. Dallas’s oldest son lives in Australia, with two grown children, a son, Sam who is an Engineer and a daughter, Elizabeth who works for the British Government. There are also two great grandchildren down under. The Cranbrook Pro Rodeo has been a large part of Dallas’s life, since its inception in 1987. It’s an exciting event to be part of, and one Dallas is very proud of. Hearing Dallas’s story amplifies why she was selected as the 2005 Committee Person of the Year, in the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association. An award she is truly deserving of, and tonight as we share the story of how the Cranbrook Rodeo came to be, we recognize Dallas Mackie as a builder, in the sport of rodeo and welcome her into the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame, as one of our inductees.
Guy Shapka
Contestant, October 2020
Guy Shapka
Guy was born on May 23, 1963 in Calgary, Alberta. The desire to be a professional cowboy was an inspiration that began at a young age and rapidly evolved. As a young man Guy’s father, Harold never had the opportunity or the funds to pursue his love for the sport. Since Guy was the only boy and the youngest child, Harold raised Guy under the prospect that he would become a cowboy and pursue a professional rodeo career. This journey began at the age of 9, when Guy attended a Calgary Stampede steer riding school hosted by Winston Bruce and Frank Edge. Two years later, he qualified for the inaugural Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) at the Edmonton Gardens. These experiences were invaluable, as they resulted in numerous friendships that would later aid Guy in advancing his rodeo career.
By the age of 15, Guy received a Severe Brothers bronc saddle from his father. In spring of 1979, he attended his first bronc riding school hosted by Wilf Hyland, held at Gid Garstad’s arena with Stan Weatherly’s broncs. Guys family moved to Spruce View, Alberta that same year, and it was then that Guys' pursuit of a professional rodeo career moved to the next level, practicing on a weekly basis at the Willsie’s arena in Caroline. This was made possible through the gracious acts of Ivan Daines’ and Lawrence Pengally, who provided broncs, as well as the mentorship of various cowboys within the region. One year later, Guy attended Ivan Daines’ bronc riding school in Innisfail.
Guy’s official bronc riding career came to fruition in 1980, at the age of 17, when he qualified for the National High School Finals in Yakima, Washington. The following year, he won the Alberta High School Saddle Bronc Finals, the Calgary Stampede Novice Saddle Bronc, and qualified for the National High School Finals in Douglas, Wyoming. In 1982, Guy’s career aspirations were exponentially heightened when he enrolled at Casper College in Wyoming. He developed lifelong friendships with individuals such as Skeeter Thurston, Con Williams, Cody Lambert, Tom Reeves, Jeff Switzer and Dave Appleton, all of whom were on the same career path.
That same year, Guy qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Bozeman, Montana and won the Saddle Bronc Championship. During his second year at Casper College, he won the CNFR and the National Intercollegiate title. Following his Cheyenne Rookie Bronc Riding title in 1983, the rest he considers to be history. Guy says “I leveraged the Foothills Cowboy Association (FCA) as a springboard to turning professional in 1984. This marked the beginning of a 19-year professional career, where I chose to retire in 2002”. A notable career, Guys accomplishments and titles between 1984 and 2002 included:
1984: 1 st of 17 CFR’s in Saddle Bronc Riding, Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA) Rookie of the Year and Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Saddle Bronc Rookie of The Year 1987: Canadian Saddle Bronc Champion and qualified for the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) 1988: Competed in the Calgary Olympics and qualified for the NFR 1995: Qualified for the NFR 1998: Won the Calgary Stampede Guy Weadick Award 2000: Won the CFR Saddle Bronc Average title 2002: Competed in the Salt Lake Olympics and won CPRA Cowboy of the Year “Professional rodeo was, by far, one of the greatest times of my life” says Guy. “With it came an abundance of noteworthy rodeos, road stories and memories. Rodeos such as the Pendleton Round-Up and the Calgary Stampede were personal favorites”.
With the rodeos came countless road stories.
In his rookie year, for unbeknown reasons Guy remembers Butch Small taking him under his wing and acting as his mentor. Assuming it was because he looked up to Brad Gjermundson, Duane Daines, Lewis Field and others who would stay around for the winter rodeos. Guy recalls Butch would force Skeeter and Guy to sleep on the floor or box spring in his room, drive to rodeos using their own personal outfits, and eat at restaurants that were beyond our budgets. He would also try to take the little money we had playing the card game known as “Pitch”. This eventually backfired on Butch. As they were travelling from Fort Worth, Texas to Jackson, Mississippi Butch made us eat at his restaurant of choice and drive the entire route. As karma would have it, Skeeter ended up leading the rodeo that night, I was ranked, and Butch bucked off a blooper. Butch then swallowed his pride, took us to McDonalds, and proceeded to take the wheel all the way back to Fort Worth. Later that winter Skeeter and I devised a cheating scheme in Pitch that Butch nor anyone else could figure out. This allowed us to further chip away at Butch’s pride.”
Another story goes back to 1996, when the United States was searching for the Unabomber. Guy recalls: “Skeeter and I were at Williams Lake Stampede when we sent a note to Dave Poulsen in the announcer’s booth. The note said: “Would Ted Kaczynski, if you’re within the sound of my voice, please report to the fireworks area”. After Dave proceeded to announce this to the entire rodeo, someone tapped him on the shoulder and said, “Isn’t that the Unabomber?”. From that point forward, Skeeter and I were never to be in Dave’s good books.
Winning the National Intercollegiate title in Bozeman, Montana was a particularly special moment for Guy. He recalls “I had no intention of attending college until Trevor Helmig advised Dale Stiles, the Casper College coach, to consider me for the team. Dale took me in at the last minute and provided me with a scholarship. I was then fortunate to pay my dues by winning Dale and Casper College a national title”. Competing in North America’s most renowned and celebrated rodeos led to countless memories that Guy cherishes. He met a number of incredible people along the way, many of whom he will always be thankful for. Most importantly, he met his wife, Tammy Minor, because of rodeo and now cherish our family in his years of retirement.
In his younger years Guy’s family consisted of his father, Harold, and late mother, Gloria. He had two sisters, (late) Dallas and Janice, who spent some time barrel racing, primarily in the FCA. In 1992, Guy married Tammy. Since then, Tammy has been a schoolteacher for 29 years in their hometown of Alix, Alberta. They have two children, Tanner and Teagan, neither of which showed interest in the competitive side of rodeo. Instead, his son Tanner is turning 24 this year and entering his third year of law school at the University of Alberta. His daughter, Teagan is turning 22 this year and entering her fourth year of the registered nursing program at Red Deer College.
Guy would like to show his appreciation to a number of people who were instrumental throughout his career. Giving many thanks to: Tom Grant, who owned the Crossroads Hotel in Calgary and provided him with sponsorship; Bryan Mandeville, who connected him with Mac’s Convenience Stores as a sponsor; Kim Trowbride and Nancy Brown at Mac’s, along with others in the company; and Bill Yuill with Monarch Broadcasting in Medicine Hat, Alberta. A decorated list of people, Guy continues to add to his rodeo career achievements today, as we welcome him as one of the newest inductees into the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame.
Robert Bowers
Contestant, October 2020
Robert Bowers
Robert Bowers was born in Fort St. John, BC while his dad was competing at a Rodeo. They were living in Fort Nelson at the time. They moved around BC, before coming to Alberta, and settling in the Duchess/Brooks area.
Robert started his Rodeo career by riding Sheep when he was 3 years old and took to riding Steers in the BCRA at the age of 10. After graduating high school in Leduc, he went on to attend 2 US colleges on full riding scholarships. Robert spent 2 years at Twin Falls, Idaho, and 3 years at Bozeman, Montana, studying Business Management while pursuing his dreams of Rodeo.
Having tried all the events through high school and college, he always wanted to be a Bull Rider, although Bareback was a family tradition (started by his dad Bob, and carried on by Kyle). Robert’s hero was his dad who taught him to be patient, level headed and to keep it cool, A 2 event champion, Robert had a long and successful career. He’s Canada’s humble hero, having 3 NFR qualifications, 2 PBR World Finals qualifications, and 8 CFR qualifications. He was the 1991 LRA Junior Bull Riding Champion, a 1992 National High School Finals Qualifier, the 1993 CPRA Permit Award Winner, a 1996 College National Finals Qualifier for the Montana State Rodeo Team. In 1997 Robert Bowers left Edmonton as the newly crowned Canadian Champion Bull Rider and in 2002 he drove out of Northlands Park as the Canadian High Point Champion. Other career highlights include being Champion Bareback Rider of the 2000 Cheyenne Frontier Rodeo Days, 2001 Rodeo Houston Top Dollar winner, Bull Riding Average title at Denver in 2001. In 2002 he was a member of Team Canada at the Salt Lake City Olympics Rodeo. In 2004 he won the Bull Riding at the Calgary Stampede, earning $85,677. which was then the biggest payday to date.
He is the last Canadian Bull Rider to have qualified for all the finals….the PBR World Finals, the NFR and the CFR…in the same year – it was 1999. One of his greatest accomplishments was riding all 3 of his 10 th round NFR Bulls, placing second each time, for 3 years in a row. The third year, he was riding with his other hand. We all know that Robert Bowers is well known for his ability to adapt and ride with either hand when the need arose. He’s had several injuries but still carried on. Injuries include breaking his arm 6 times, his collarbone 3 times, his thumb twice, as well as ankle, jaw and elbow, once each. He even endured a collapsed lung after a run in with a bull’s horn during the Calgary Stampede.
But Robert has a very tough mindset and learned to work through his injuries. He HAD to find a way to get it done because Rodeo was all he wanted to do. The first time he started riding with his other hand was on a Bareback horse in college. Who knew he’d need that skill several more times during his career, including 2 rides at the NFR. When explaining the difficulty in doing so, he says, “Try brushing your teeth with your other hand and see how awkward it feels”.
Robert Bowers represents what rodeo is all about: Grit, Determination, Pride, Talent, and Modesty. He has a positive attitude in all that he does. Once retired from competition, Robert did color commentary with Duane Daines during the 2008 CFR and at the Ranchman’s Rodeo during the Calgary Stampede in 2015. He was employed with the Grey Eagle Casino for 2 years and in 2011 he became the Poker Room Manager at the Deerfoot Inn and Casino. He loved that role as he got to use his Business Management degree.
Robert and brother Kyle were contractors, transporting RV’s in 2017/18. He trained as a truck Driver, and when a great opportunity came along, he hauled oilfield equipment to and from various points in the U.S. That served as a prerequisite for what he’s doing these days….driving pipe truck on the Trans Mountain Pipeline near Kamloops, B.C.
A few years ago, Luke Cummings introduced Robert to Breena at the Rodeo Cabaret in Leduc. The rest, as they say, is history. Robert & Brenna were married and now have a beautiful little girl. Brynlee is the Love of their life! And just as we were completing this production, a precious baby boy has joined their family. On August 2020 Kolstyn Robert made his debut. They now live in the Vernon/Kamloops area. Welcome Robert Bowers as a member of the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame!!!
Willy
Animal, October 2020
Willy
In 2003 Steer Wrestler, Rope Myers strapped on a World Champion Gold Buckle after ten grueling rounds in Las Vegas. The little horse that carried the Oklahoman to the title was none other than “Willy” a brown gelding owned by the Cassidy family of Donalda, AB. This would mark the start of Willy’s shining decade as he helped four cowboys capture the coveted gold buckle. Canadian Lee Graves rode Willy at the NFR in 2005 and together they made Maple Leaf dreams come true. In 2007, Jason Miller of Wyoming rode Willy to victory and in 2008 Luke Branquino put his trust in the Canadian owned horse to win the World.
In that decade Willy was at the top of his game, aged like fine wine into an elite athlete that was second to none. So where did this Canadian Super Star come from? In short on a race track in Lethbridge with a set of papers that had the running bred legend Easy Jet on them. Charlie Cassidy, Greg’s dad, had picked him up and brought him home to the ranch to grow up. Greg recalls they began using Willy as a practise horse at home. In 1994, Greg hauled him to some pro rodeos and in 1996 Curtis who was just 16 won both the LRA and FCA titles on Willy. In 2000 Greg Cassidy would win his 4 th and final Canadian Steer Wrestling Championship on Willy.
Greg said that one of the traits that made Willy so successful as a bulldogging horse was his explosive speed out of the corner. He could start hard and catch steers very quickly. Continually in demand, Willy put in a full work schedule packing 4 or 5 guys per round. Just as important as his stamina was Willy’s calm demeanor in the box. He gave every cowboy a fair shot without fighting them in the corner. “We didn’t take him to the small shows” said Greg, “Curt would set up his runs so he wasn’t crisscrossing the country all year. We took him to the best rodeos because he was the best.” Today if you look at the record books it says Willy was chosen Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year in Canada six times.
Cody won back to back Canadian Championships on Willy and also rode him at the NFR. Curtis and Greg plus Lee Graves won Canadian titles on Willy as well. Greg won the $50,000 dollar prize and Curtis earned $100 grand at the Calgary Stampede courtesy of Willy. Looking back over the two decades that Willy dominated I asked Greg what his favorite memories of Willy were. “Well maybe the year I rode him to a Canadian Title but honestly it was just watching Cody and Curt ride him and win on him.”
Rodeo fans will not forget the final round of the NFR in 2010. Curtis Cassidy was in the hunt for a World Title. Curtis and Cody as well as Dean Gorsuch had been riding the 24 year old Willy all week long. Regardless of how the chips fell Cassidy’s had made the decision that this would be Willy’s last NFR. When the dust settled after the 10th round Gorsuch had claimed the crown. Curtis was left with a gold buckle that just barely missed his fingertips and Willy, well, he was honored with a heartfelt standing ovation from 16,000 fans at the Thomas and Mack Arena.
Curtis has nothing but praise for the horse that helped hundreds of cowboys win in the rodeo arena. “You know they set an arena record on Willy for the fastest ten steers thrown at the NFR, not once but twice. He was your horse for the average title. He was just that consistent.” Willy helped to build the Cassidy’s family legacy in the rodeo arena, but whether you were a rookie getting to ride a high calibre horse for the first time or a seasoned pro, Willy could take you to the pay window. Willy’s hoof prints in rodeo arena’s across North America will remain in the annals of history, but his heart is buried on the family ranch at Donalda, Alberta.
In 2020 Willy passed away at 34 years of age, a world traveller and champion on the rodeo trail. And one final award, his induction into the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame.
Todd Boggust
Contestant, October 2020
Todd Boggust
Todd Boggust was born August 20, 1964 and grew up the eldest son of Barry and Margaret Boggust of Paynton, Saskatchewan. A few years later, Marty would complete the ranching family and rodeo family who were integral to the Canadian Cowboys Association.
Barry was not only a top calf roper and steer wrestler, but served as the CCA General Manager for many years. Todd who was like most young cowboys, started out riding steers, throwing a rope and even riding bareback horses as a teenager. Tom Shuckburgh recalls that Todd was a cowboy from the start. With Doug Wilkinson living nearby with an indoor arena to rope and steer wrestle in, it wasn’t long before Todd’s natural athletic talent began to shine. If they weren’t roping and dogging there was plenty of cowboying opportunities on the ranch and nearby PFRA pastures, where Barry worked. “These things” said Shuckburgh”, made Todd the good horseman and smooth competitor that he was”.
In the early eighties, Canada was having a resurgence in world class steer wrestlers. At Amisk, Alberta a powerhouse steer wrestler, Blaine Pederson was on his way to a world title along with Mark Roy. Many a cold winter night Todd would make the long trek from Paynton to Amisk to practice with his idols, learning from the best.
Soon after turning professional in 1984, Todd’s prowess as a bulldogger was noted among his peers. His career took off, feeding off the success of Pederson and Roy, Todd often traveled with Less Laskosky, another NFR qualifier from Viking, Alberta. Boggust would qualify 12 consecutive times for the Canadian Finals Rodeo in Steer Wrestling, his first in 1985, when he was 21 years of age. Todd captured the Canadian Championship in 1995, when he also qualified for his first of five NFR’s. In 1996, Todd was the $50,000 Champion at the Calgary Stampede. Throughout his career, Todd won many rodeos including the famous Cheyenne Frontier Days in 1995 and the Reno Rodeo in the same year.
In the later half of his career, Todd lent his experience and inspiration to his traveling partners, BJ Zieffle and Jody Brown. BJ says “Todd was liked by everybody and was one of my best friends and mentors”. Todd was quick to credit his parents with making sure he had good horses to ride. One of his early mounts was a brown horse named Mickey, that his father bought off the Butterfields. Over the years, some of the horses he hauled and rode to so much success included the team Steamboat and What, as well as Blady and Concho.
Although Boggust seemed like an overnight success, he was driven. Always focused, even at a young age, buying land and cattle and beginning to pay them off while he was still a teenager. Everything he did was measured in merit. A respected Team Roper and he competed at pro rodeos in the event, Todd chose to focus on steer wrestling in pursuit of the ultimate goal: a World Championship. Todd had the perfect support team, his family and his wife, Denise. Todd and Denise did not marry until 1992, but began dating in 1983 as teenagers. Denise held a professional job in Calgary in the oilfield industry until she moved to the ranch full time after their marriage, on the Tuesday before the 1992 CFR. Right after the cowboy rehearsal friends and family rushed to Edmonton City Church to witness the union. A story tale year, with Todd qualifying for his first NFR.
In 1996, Todd and Denise were blessed with the arrival of their daughter, Angie. Denise took a leave from her career and joined Todd on the rodeo trail. Those days of traveling were the perfect opportunity for father and daughter to spend long stretches of time together. If Todd was warming up his bulldogging team, Angie was often seen in the saddle sitting in front of her dad. Tall and lean like her 6’4” father; Angie is a gifted athlete, focused and determined at everything she does. “I really feel like Angie has Todd’s quality of letting things roll off her. Todd would often say; listen to what people have to say, that what you want from it and leave the rest”, said Denise. Todd made sure Angie had a pony as soon as she was ready for one. She loved riding with her dad and helping on the ranch. She showed reining horses and excelled at all school sports and hockey. Angie earned a spot on the highest ranked volleyball tea in the province and was invited to play varsity volleyball at MIT in Boston. Angie also earned scholastic honours when she graduated with her Masters in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Today she is working on her PHD in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence at MIT.
While ultimately winning the world was a huge fire in Boggust’s belly, he also was constantly thinking ahead. Denise recalls on those endless drives down some interstate, Todd would drive for hours in complete silence, not even turning on the radio. “What are you thinking about?” Denise would ask and Todd would reply “I’m planning our future”. Although steer wrestlers come in many shapes and sizes today, the handsome cowboy is often compared to Trevor Knowles. They are both long and lean, have quiet hands, are excellent horsemen, and technically correct. What some might call the ultimate combination.
Cody Cassidy credits Todd with encouraging the young contestants to take a shot at the NFR. Since that early resurgence in the 80’s, Canada has had many steer wrestlers compete for the maple leaf at the NFR. While many of the world’s best steer wrestlers thought it was only a matter of time before Boggust would strap on the gold buckle, fate would intervene. Diagnosed with aggressive cancer, Todd passed away August 3 rd , 2001 only weeks fore his birthday. He was 36.
Boggust’s passing was mourned throughout the rodeo world. He was laid to rest on Saskatchewan soil only miles from his ranch. Hundreds of people journeyed to the ranch to salute their friend and hero. Though he left his family much too soon, he ensured they were secure with a ranch and plans he had made for their future. After Todd’s passing, his fellow cowboys bestowed upon him Rodeo’s highest honor by crowning Todd “2001 Cowboy of the Year” in the CPRA. Denise raised Angie into a beautiful and successful woman. Today, cattle still provide a living on the ranch that Todd began as a teenager.
It is with great pride that we name Todd Boggust into the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame for 2020/2021.
Tom Barr
Legend, October 2020
Tom Barr
Tom was born on a ranch in Mossleigh, AB in June of 1963. He moved with his parents to the Porcupine Hills north of Cowley, Alberta when he was 5. Tom attended school in Lundbreck and then went to horseshoeing school in Oklahoma. Tom was involved in several sports growing up, playing baseball with the local Country School league in the Porcupines, hockey up to Junior B in the winter, hockey schools in the summer, but Rodeo claimed his heart. Tom had ridden all his life on the ranch, so in High School Rodeo he began sharpening his skills in Team Roping, and Steer Wrestling. A tall, strong, lanky teen thanks to ranch work and hockey training, made Steer Wrestling a very good fit for Tom.
In the early practice days Tom and his dad Bob often crossed to the East side of the Porcupine Hills, to practice at Kerm Stav’s arena. Gary Jensen coached him along, while his dad learned to haze. Eventually, Tom’s parents built an arena in the yard and got steers to practice both Steer Wrestling and Team Roping on.
Tom excelled in High School Rodeo, competing at Steer Wrestling in National Finals in Douglas, Wyoming in 1981. As Tom moved up the ranks to the Pro circuit, he travelled with many different cowboys. Tom picked up something from everyone, like Bill Reeder, who showed him how to get set up in the rodeos so it was possible to make it to each one. Tom was so good at setting up the schedule that he took on the responsibility of entering the rodeos with whoever he travelled with.
He spent time working at Tom Bew’s ranch, where with Lee Phillips he learned more about Steer Wrestling. Tom’s rookie year in the CPRA was 1987. He made the finals in 1988, which also saw Tom get married and have his first daughter, Lacee. Tom now began his own rodeo family with wife Carol, stepson Conlee, and daughter Lacee. The whole family travelled the rodeo circuit all down the west side of North America and across Canada.
For the next sixteen years Tom was a force to be reckoned with in teer Wrestling, making the CFR eleven times. At the rodeos he would shoe as many horses as he could, compete, shoe a few more horses, then head out for the next rodeo. His rodeo wins were impressive and consistent and numerous. Some favourites were Ponoka, Medicine Hat, Calgary, Cheyenne, Pendleton and Reno. Tom’s dad, Bob, would often haze for him. Other times Rolly, 240 (Darrel Fisher), and Darcy Fisher would do the honours. Tom was fortunate to compete on some great horses in his career: Huggy and Spider, Buck and Beaufort and Indy and Snort. These horses earned their keep and at times put groceries on the table with their mount money.
In 1991 at the height of his career, Tom headed south, making the NFR and winning a go-around on Canadian Night, a career highlight. 1991 also saw his family grew by another daughter, Brittany. Now there was a truckload to haul down the road, with the Steer Wrestling team, the kids and a barrel horse. Everyone was involved in the rodeo lifestyle, traveling from town to town across Canada from Rodeo Royal in March to the CFR in November.
For sixteen years, Tom dominated the Steer Wrestling in Canada and put on clinics to encourage more competition in the sport. His daughters grew up and became accomplished Barrel Racers, both attending National High School Rodeo Finals stateside. When Tom was 40, he suffered a broken pelvis in the practice pen, which ended his competitive career. He was still on the rodeo trail with Brittney and became a CPRA Rodeo Judge. His many years of rodeo experience in the arena and on the CPRA board as a director, gave him aa solid perspective for this position. He was elected to Judge the Canadian Finals Rodeo five times, and also judged the Calgary Stampede for a few years. In 2007 Tom was rightfully awarded Cowboy of the Year award, in the Canadian Pro Rodeo Association.
Tom slipped quietly out of the bright lights of the arena without any fanfare, as was his way. He has enjoyed Pro Rodeo for many years, We’re pleased to welcome Tom as a Legend in the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame.