Introducing our 2nd 2020 Legend, Jordie Thomson

Jordie was born February 9, 1958 and destined to be a cowboy.  His father, Ken was the first president of the CPA (which was the founding organization of what is now the CPRA).  Jordie and his brothers, Lonnie and Kirk, grew up on the rodeo trail traveling with the dad and mom, Barb.  Jordie’s career started much the same as most rodeo kids, competing in the Boys Steer Riding, at mainly 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.  Jordie holds the record for the youngest qualifier in Bull Riding at the CFR.  The year was 1975, and he as 17 years, 8 months and 11 days old.  In 1976, having qualified in two events for CFR, Jordie finished 3rd in Bareback Riding.  Twice runner up to the Champion in Bull Riding 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 – five times, and it is believed he holds 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, Oregan in 1979. Jordie rode pro 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 either word 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, due to injury.

Always confident, bold and comical, Jordie never waned under pressure.  He loved to spur (not just ride), he was a horse trainer, dog lover and trainer, and a cowboy poet.  Jordie loved his family, and was always a good friend.  Sadly Jordie died at his home in Okotoks in 2010, at the age of 56.  Ten years later, we’re pleased to recognize Jordie Thomson as a Legend, in the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame.

Introducing one of our 2020 Legends, Tom Barr

Tom Barr made his first Canadian Finals appearance in 1988, in the Steer Wrestling event.  He went on to compete at the CFR 10 additional times.  Tom qualified for the NFR in Las Vegas in 1991, where he won a go-around in the Steer Wrestling event.  Winning it on Canada Night, was icing on the cake!

Tom was named Cowboy of the Year in the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association in 2007, while he was serving as a CPRA rodeo judge.  The humble cowboy was shocked with the news, receiving it via telephone while he was trying to buy cattle.  Once the news sunk in, he responded with ‘Oh, that’s pretty Neat!”.

Tom served four years on the CPRA board, where he learned a lot.  It was an opportunity to see how rodeo operates behind the scenes, how they handle situations, and work to keep the association going.  Something that Tom was/is more than happy to do, whenever the opportunity presents itself.  When asked about the future of rodeo, Tom replies “we need to build it up as much as possible.  The numbers are going down, so we need to build it up”.  Wise words.  Tom is working to make this happen, by promoting the sport of rodeo to the youth.  Tom has been involved in the Pincher Creek area, organizing youth rodeo and high school rodeo.

Over the years he has been kept busy serving on the Judging Commission, and served as a CPRA rodeo judge for some time.  He was very well respected and selected to judge the Canadian Finals Rodeo in 2006, for the first time.

Reflecting back on his career, Tom humbly says “I had a good career, I never won a championship buckle, but I’ve always thought I had a good career”.  Its no doubt others feel the same way!   For his abilities, personality and contributions to rodeo, we welcome Tom Barr as our Legend, in 2020 to the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame.

Online Auction Results

We’re so pleased with the Online Auction, having raised $1,780.00 for the Association.

Many thanks to each and every one who took time to bid on items, and help with our great cause. Special thank you to: Bar JF Vintage Ranch Decor, Brook Robertson, Blair Vold, Coleman Kelts, the CPRA, Tana Nixon and Thunderbird Apparel, who donated items to our auction. Your generosity is truly appreciated.

Special thanks to our highest bidders: Kenda Butterfield, Mac Leask Jr., Tana Nixon, Bryan Neill, Kathy-Darren Simpson and Judi Wilson. Your generous bids will hold a special place in our hearts this year.

Check out our Online Auction!

Active on Facebook right now - our Online Auction. Covid19 has affected us all in ways we couldn’t have imagined. With it, we need your support now more than ever!

Check out the Auction at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/838661729800859.

Welcoming our newest lifetime member!

Join us in welcoming our newest lifetime member to the Hall of Fame, 2019 Inductee Leon Laye, and his wife, Dana.

Introducing our 2nd Contestant, 2020 Inductee: Robert Bowers

A decorated, but humble man, Robert Bowers grew up around rodeos and knew from a very

young age that he wanted to be a Rodeo Cowboy. A multi-event cowboy, he tried all events at

some point throughout his career, but really excelled in two: Bareback Riding and Bull Riding. He

even qualified for all three roughstock events at the College National Finals Rodeo in Bozeman,

MT. Known for his quiet demeanor, as well as his long list of injuries, he has had many storied

accomplishments.

Rodeo was a family affair for the Bowers'. There's no doubt that Robert's dad, Bob Bowers, had

the biggest influence in Robert's career. One of his favorite memories is looking back through

old rodeo pictures and seeing his dad in the background, always yelling something; cheers or

instructions!!! There were plenty of road trips where Robert needed Bob to jump in and help out

with the overnight drives. Those would be great trips because Robert knew he had the best rope

puller around on his chute gate. His brother, Kyle Bowers, also an accomplished rodeo athlete

was always just a phone call away while on the road himself.

Robert went to Bareback and Bull Riding schools with instructors such as Gary Leffew and Dave

Shields. Rodeo scholarships to the College of Southern Idaho and Montana State University

gave him the opportunity to make the next step in his riding career. Under the coaching of Shawn

Davis and John Larick, Robert really honed his skills in all three Roughstock events (and also a

little team roping, but don't share that too much).

Robert's had some major wins at some of the world's biggest rodeos. He has won the Bareback

Riding in Houston, TX (2000) and Cheyenne, WY (2000) and was twice the runner-up Canadian

Champion Bareback Rider (2001 & 2002). In Bull Riding, he's won at the Calgary Stampede

(2004) and a PBR Bud Light Cup in Calgary (1999). He was also the Canadian Champion

Bull Rider in 1997 and the Canadian High Point Champion in 2002. Robert earned three NFR

qualifications in Bull Riding and several CFR qualifications in both Bull Riding and Bareback

Riding. Robert was one of only a few who have made it to the Canadian Finals in two roughstock

events simultaneously. In 2000, he finished 17th in the World in Bareback Riding, just missing an

NFR qualification. Following in the footsteps of his dad, who was an Olympic athlete in Australia,

Robert became an Olympic athlete in Salt Lake City, UT (2002). He had a broken thumb and

had to ride with a cast but he didn't let that stop him. At the time of induction, he also holds

the record of being the last Canadian to qualify for the three major finals (PBR World Finals,

Canadian Finals Rodeo and National Finals Rodeo) all in the same year, which was 1999.

The one accolade Robert might be most proud of is winning 2nd in the 10th round of all

three National Finals Rodeos for which he qualified. The 10th round is where the best bull

riders in the world get on the best bulls in the world. In 1997, he was matched up against the

World Champion bull 77 Yellow Jacket of Flying 5's. In 1998, he was the first to ride the World

Champion bull 66 Skoal's King Kong of Rafter H's. In 1999, where he got on with his wrong hand,

he rode A20 Candyman of Western Rodeo's. Some other famous bulls that Robert rode were

Wolfman for 91 points, Redwolf for 94 points and Crossfire Hurricane for 92 points.

Robert went through his share of injuries, including broken arms (x6), collar bones (x3), ankles

(both), thumbs (x3), two bones in his lower back, his nose, his jaw, his elbow and his ribs. He also

suffered a collapsed lung and had major tears in both knees (with one major surgery), plus all

the bumps and bruises that a cowboy endures. In all, Robert had 11 surgeries related to rodeo

injuries. From those surgeries, he's still got 3 plates and 12 screws.

The injuries taught him how to ride through adversity. One thing Robert was known for was

riding and being competitive with either hand. At the 1999 NFR, when he broke his normal riding

arm four seconds into his 5th round winning ride, Robert came back and rode two more of his

last five bulls. He was never going to turn out of the NFR!!! Good thing his traveling partner rode

right-handed and had extras of everything Robert needed. Thnx again, Rob Bell!!!

Being a rodeo cowboy enabled Robert to travel the world, taking him to Japan, Brazil and all

over North America. An opportunity with the Calgary Stampede led to riding in Japan at several

exhibition rodeos showcasing rodeo to the Japanese. The largest audience he ever rode in

front of was in Barretos, Brazil at the International Rodeo. The arena seats 35,000 fans and the

crowds are there for a GOOD time!! The excitement and enthusiasm in that arena are second to

none.

Robert will be a Rodeo Cowboy forever but he is most excited about becoming a husband

to his wife Breena and a father to his daughter Brynlee.

Introducing our 2020 Animal Inductee: RTR Little Willy

Horses are a big part of rodeo, and RTR Willy (aka: Willy), a decorated Steer Wrestling horse is definitely one of these elite animals. Owned by Greg Cassidy, his decorated life spans 2 decades.

Greg purchased the registered quarter horse gelding RTR Little Willy (known as Willy), when he was just three. A “running bred horse, he’s the grandson of Easy Jet”. An appendix gelding (half quarter horse/half thoroughbred) Willy has taken three men to World Steer Wrestling titles over the years, helping cowboys win over $2.5 million in earnings. This brown gelding has been named the Canadian Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year five times and has been among the top three in the American Quarter Horse Association world poll three times, winning the American Quarter Horse Association’s World Championship crown in 2008.

In 2008, Seven of the ten men in Pool A of the Calgary Stampede rode a Cassidy Horse in the Steer Wrestling event. Three more competitors in Pool B were mounted on Willy. “Of the $60,000 paid out in Steer Wrestling in Pool A that year, nearly $50,000 of it was won on Cassidy Horses – one of which was Willy, who was nineteen years old at the time.

To name a few of Willy’s other accolades’: Canadian SW Champion in 2000/2003/2005/2008, CPRA SW Horse of the Year 2002/2003/2005/2006. 2004 PRCA Season Leader, and the 2008 NFR Fan Favorite. Willy attended the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City in 2002, and has won many season rodeo championships throughout the years.

There’s no wonder RTR Little Willy has earned a place in the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame, having carried two generations of Cassidy Cowboys, making a visit to the pay window a common occurrence. Greg competed on the gelding in his CPRA career, as have both his sons, Curtis and Cody. This four legged wonder horse holds a special place in the Cassidy family’s hearts, and we proudly welcome RTR Little Willy into the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame.

Introducing our 2020 Builder Inductee: Dallas Mackie

The Story of Dallas Mackie, in her words:

I was the first born daughter of Fred Bradford so genetically I had no chance not to be enamored with animals and particularly horses. My Dad, was a calf roper and I grew up around the Maple Creek rodeo grounds with Dad and all the local ranchers and horse people.

 I have many memories of Maple Creek, most of them involve horses, Dad’s barn at the rodeo grounds and traveling to the rodeos and ranches around Maple Creek. Dad had a pet goose that lived at the barn and Dad introduced the goose as his security. Goose certainly had any number of kids in the area terrified.

It was a great adventure to go to the Grayburn Gap Rodeo and the Murraydale Stampede. On one of those trips we had an accident and the trailer with two horses rolled. No one was hurt and the horses were pulled out, trailer set on its wheels, horses loaded and we were off. Dad competed on those horses that day too.

I remember that chariot racing was big there and we watched many races as my Dad usually was the starter. I also remember two women, Daphne Fordyce and Pansy White,  who drove chariots and also did Roman Riding. They were awesome.

I learned in those childhood days that women could do as many things as men if they were willing to work hard and listen.

My family moved to British Columbia and I convinced my parents to let me finish off my grade 7 in Maple Creek before I joined my folks to complete my high school education. In Cranbrook, my love of horses led to my husband Ron and I, building a successful business of breeding and raising Quarter Horses and Paints. I have 3 children. Jamie and her husband Lonnie are area cattle ranchers.  Their two kids are both involved in the medical field one being a doctor and one a nurse practitioner. Bob is a journalist in Australia and has 2 kids, one an engineer and one a policy writer for the British government. My two great grandchildren are Bob’s grandchildren. My youngest son Mike was a farrier and bareback rider who sadly passed away 17 years ago. His two daughters are accomplished riders and both are going to be teachers.

I never competed at rodeo but my daughter and I showed horses, english and western for many years. We travelled a lot with the horses, met lots of great people and rode some good horses. My favourite was probably a black gelding, an Appendix Quarter horse, named “8 Ball” who I rode English. I liked them all and I really enjoyed breeding and raising them.

The Cranbrook Pro Rodeo originated as a money raiser for the Exhibition Grounds. The Board of Wycliffe Exhibition Association was made up of a representative from each member group. The groups were varied but mostly related to youth or agriculture. 4-H, the Maverick Riders, Equestrian Education Unlimited, Wycliffe Community and others.

Artha Campsall and I were both members of this Board and we proposed having a Pro Rodeo in the hopes that it would make money and it has. Anna Mae Gartside, Marleen McMann, Corinne Storteboom, and Cheryl Olsen and I were the original committee members.  Over the next few years several things happened, Marlene moved away, Anna Mae and Corinne went on to other volunteer groups and we added, two more like minded individuals, Pat Armstrong and Stacey Coleman. We did eventually add a couple of men to the committee, Todd Pellerin and Bob Bjorn.

Today the committee consists of Cheryl Olsen, Pat Armstrong, Stacey Coleman, Helen Hannah, Lorrie Goodwin, Carlene Lochrie, Todd Pellerin, Bob Bjorn and myself.

All of our husbands and most of our children participated in volunteering at the rodeo and helping with many of the repairs and with any of the buildings that were built. The present Wycliffe Exhibition Grounds is a legacy of the hard work and great carpentry skills of the many volunteer groups in the District.

During the first few years of the rodeo we used volunteers from the member groups of Wycliffe at the rodeo. One group would do the concessions, another the gate, etc. Eventually all of the volunteers, including the committee, came from people who were interested in helping or loved rodeo, school groups, etc. During this time much work was done on the facility and a lot of it was paid for by the rodeo.

Today the facility has reverted to the Regional District of East Kootenay and the rodeo is just an event held there. We still plan on continuing on with the rodeo as long as we have sponsors, spectators and volunteers.

I would like to thank the CPRA for the honor of recognizing my contributions to the sport of Rodeo. I fully understand that my efforts would be negligible without my family, the Rodeo Committee, the many Community Volunteers and the Sponsors who have supported the Rodeo over the years.

Founding member, Jesse Hyland Suffers a Little Bad Luck

Jesse Hyland, one of our founding members, long time board member and inductee himself suffered a stroke this past Sunday evening, then fell and broke his right hip. Sonnie, his daughter told us "Jesse spent the weekend in the hospital, where he ran into some complications due to medication and his age, so they were unable to perform surgery on the hip until yesterday."

Sonnie was up to see Jesse today and was pleased to say "he'd been up taking a few steps, and had lunch so given the very risky surgery (due to Jesse's age and health issues) the next few weeks are critical, but overall he's doing amazing. He's maintaining good spirits and that signature laugh of his - appearing to take this all in stride".

Jesse will remain in the Foothills Hospital (unable to see visitors due to Covid19 restrictions) but we're so pleased to hear "things appear to be on the mend" for this very special man. Our thoughts are with him and his family for a safe, healthy and speedy recovery.