RODEOS, Our Yesterdays, Jefferson Co., MT USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. "List transcribed and organized by Ellen Rae Thiel, thieljl@aol.com All rights reserved." Copyright, 1998 by Ellen Rae Thiel. This file may be freely copied for non-profit purposes. All other rights reserved. RODEOS Our impressive rodeos of today, held in arenas surrounded by grandstands packed with people from in and out of the state, gathered to watch the fanfare of the entrance parade of horses and the many varied events, ranging from Bucking Horses, Bull Doggin', Calf Roping, Steer Riding, and Barrel Racing, are very unlike the rodeos of "Our Yesterdays", which were very small and simple in their event offerings, but more than made up for todays' fanfare by the closeness of friendship and joviality of the group participating. These small rodeos were held on neighbors' ranches, where the corrals were suitable for the occasions. We read from the Boulder Monitor of April 15, 1911 Last Sunday afternoon was the time set for the great Bronco Busting contest, which was held at the Con Smith ranch. This contest was arranged for the purpose of trying out the spell of Shelton, the wonderful Texas cowboy, but a Montanan couldn't be beat! Sam Arnold, the well known rider, came out winner of the Spurs, as Shelton failed to put in an appearance. Those participating in the contest were Jack Griffin, Cary Quaintance, P. H. Wickham, Jr., Frank Wickham, Thomas Hoopes, James McGowan, Charles Harrington, George Dunn, Jack Smith, Sam Arnold, Phil Smith and John Quinn. Then again an account of rodeos in the 1920's as told to us: These rodeos were held at the Lazy T Ranch, now owned by Paul Smith, then owed by young John L. Patton of Chicago, bought for him by his father who was called "The Wheat King of the Nation". John Patton, who employed twenty-two men during haying and harvesting seasons, supplied entertainment for his help by having them put on a rodeo every Sunday afternoon, giving the "riders" of the ranch an opportunity to show their skill. The top rider of the Lazy T. was Paul McFadden, now of Boulder. The Valley riders were always on hand to ride and help too. Among the riders were Ed, Frank, and John McCauley, Bill, Joe and Ed Murphy, George Vosburgh, Bill, Ed and Mike Quinn, George and Nifty Dawson, Jim McGowan, Spud Doherty, Ed and Tom Parker, Archie Woods, George Paradis, and a young Postmaster from Basin by the name of Talcott. There was a rodeo put on July 4, 1922, in which several outsiders took part, including Bill and Fannie Sperry Steele. Fanny was Champion Lady Bronc Rider of the world. This famous lady, now 89 years old, is living in Helena. On December 11, 1975, our Montana born Fanny Sperry Steele, who says, "There's never a "Bucker" that can't be rode, or a rider who can't be throwed," was inducted as an "Honoree" in the Rodeo Hall of Fame at the Western Heritage Center and National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City. Thus, Fanny Sperry Steele reflected glory on "Our Rodeos of Yesterdays" when she participated in one of our Valley events.