NDWS Rodeo Inducted into NDCHF
The 200 Trustees of the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame (NDCHF) selected 6 individuals and one event for their Hall of Honorees in Medora. The North Dakota Winter Show Rodeo was inducted in the Special Achievement category. The other 2011 inductees include in the modern-era rodeo category, Maude (Kirk) Gullickson of Center and Bruce Northrup of Medora were inducted. Guy Anthony Fox of Fort Berthold was inducted in the pre-1940 rodeo category. The modern-era ranching category recognized Roger Stuber of Slope County. In the pre-1940 ranching category, Archie Campbell of Wells and Eddy counties was inducted with Marie (Cordner) Tyler of Moffit and Bismarck with the cowboy long rider award.
The induction of the seven new honorees took place in Medora on Saturday, June 25, 2011.
The 7 new inductees will bring to 132 the number of men and women who have been honored since 1998, and Dorgan notes this year's inductees come from Burleigh, Billings, Oliver, Slope, Wells and Eddy counties and the Fort Berthold Reservation.
The North Dakota Winter Show Rodeo began after construction of the N.Dak. Winter Show Events Center in Valley City in 1963. J.C. Stevenson produced an NDRA Championship Rodeo in the new arena, hosted by the Winter Show.
The rodeo was sanctioned by the PRCA the next year. Bob Aber, from Beach, N.Dak., has been associated with the event for 48 years, first as stock contractor and now as producer. The ability to attract top contestants and outstanding stock has allowed North Dakotans to enjoy pro-rodeo and to follow the careers of cowboys and cowgirls as they progress toward the National Finals Rodeo and Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association World Champion titles.
Such performers as Brad Gjermundson, Tex Appledoorn and the famous N.Dak. "Six Pack" have astonished the crowd who fill the 3,450 seats for each performance, held each year in early March. Fans say this local event is on par with rodeos in Cheyenne, Pendleton and Houston.
Specialty acts and visiting rodeo royalty, like Miss Rodeo Americas Brenda Lee (Bonogofsky) Pickett and Ashley (Andrews) Alderson, both originally from N.Dak., have graced the arena each year since 1964. In 1976, a Miss Rodeo North Dakota Winter Show pageant was established, giving young women an opportunity to vie for the Miss Rodeo North Dakota title.
