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 and rodeo family who were integral to the Canadian Cowboys Association.
Barry was not only a top calf roper and steer wrestler but served the CCA as general office manage 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. South of Paynton, at Amisk, Alberta a powerhouse steer wrestler, Blaine Pederson was on his way to a world title along with Mark Roy, another Saskatchewan native. Many a cold winter night Todd would make the long trek to practise with his idols, learning the ropes from the best. Although Todd was younger than Blaine and Mark, soon after turning professional in 1984, Todd’s prowess as a bulldogger was noted among his peers. His career took off like bottle rockets. Besides feeding off of the success of Pederson and Roy, Todd often traveled with Lee Laskosky, another NFR qualifier from Viking, Alberta.
Boggust would qualify for 12 consecutive Canadian Finals Rodeos in Steer Wrestling, with his first in 1985 when he was 21 years of age. Todd captured the Canadian Championship in 1995 and qualified for his first NFR on 5 separate occasions. 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 that same year.
In the latter 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 Baldy and Concho.
Although Boggust seemed like an overnight success he was very driven. He was 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 by merit. Todd was also a respected Team Roper and although he competed at pro rodeos in the event, he chose to focus on steer wrestling in pursuit of his ultimate goal, a World Championship.
Todd had the perfect support team, his family and his wife Denise. Although Todd and Denise did not marry until 1992, they began dating in 1983 as teenagers. Denise held a professional job in the booming Calgary oilfield industry until she moved to the ranch full time after their marriage. They were married on the Tuesday before the 1992 CFR. Right after the cowboy rehearsal friends and family rushed to an 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 could often be found in the saddle sitting in front of her dad, while the proud horseman took care of business. Although Angie had just turned 5 when Todd passed away, Denise maintains Angie has many of Todd’s personality traits and their short time together left an indelible mark on Angie.
Tall and lean like her six foot, four 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, take 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 team 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 an aggressive cancer, Todd passed away August 3rd, 2001 only weeks before 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, 2020/2021.
