Reynolds inducted into Montana Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame

The Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame (MPRHWF) recently announced the honorees for induction on the fifteenth anniversary of the prestigious organization.

Rodeo Legend inductees this year are: Deb Greenough, Fromberg, Montana; Larry Peabody, Pompey’s Pillar, Montana; Ryan Mapston, Belt, Montana; Josh Reynolds, Ekalaka, Montana; Carolynn Vietor, Phillipsburg, Montana (first female recipient of Rodeo Legend Award).

Ronnie Reed of Billings, Montana received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Western Heritage Award winners are: Jim Croff, Geyser, Montana; Mike McCoy, Laurel, Montana; Leonard Wortman, Boulder, Montana; Rennaker Family, Hamilton, Montana.

Montana Ranches inducted include: Kirch Ranch, Absarokee, Montana; Lazy K6 Ranch, Fort Benton, Montana; Rising Ranch, Baker, Montana; Teigan Land and Livestock, Teigan, Montana.

Montana Rodeo Families to be honored are: Dennis Tryan Family, Huntley, Montana; Pete and Aggie Stenger Family, Billings, Montana; Dennis Harms Family, Livingston, Montana; Rodney Newman Family, Melstone, Montana.

Lois Hill of Raynesford, Montana received the Lady of the West Award.

Drummond, Montana won the Great Montana Pro Rodeo Award and Dawson Community College Rodeo out of Glendive, Montana was awarded the Great Montana College Rodeo Program.

The Annual Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame Awards Banquet will be held January 25, 2020 at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center in Billings.

The Montana Pro Rodeo Hall & Wall of Fame is an organization made up entirely of volunteers from various walks of life. This organization is dedicated to honoring Montana professional rodeo cowboys and cowgirls who exemplify our Montana western heritage.

In the past fifteen years, scholarships have been provided to over 179 students totaling $537,000.00 in award money. MPRHWF has become the largest sponsor of high school rodeo scholarships in the nation. Most awards are $3,000, dispersed over the first two years of college. The student recipients are selected by the Montana High School Rodeo Association, based on scholastic ability, rodeo participation, community involvement, strength of character, and need.

The Montana Pro Rodeo Hall & Wall of Fame organization hosts a banquet on the last Saturday of January. At the banquet MPRHWF awards “Rodeo Legends,” ”Great Montana Ranches,” “Great Montana Families” and “Western Heritage” honorees.

The banquet and private donations are the organization’s primary fundraisers. Funds are also raised through the sale of “Brand Blocks,” twelve- inch square pieces of granite with the sponsor’s name, hometown and registered Montana brand etched into its surface. The Brand Block is attached to the exterior wall of the Southeast corner of the Metra Building, to be kept and displayed in perpetuity.

The MPRHWF commissioned and paid for the spectacular bronze statue of Dan Mortensen on Tee Box, erected at the Metra Park, in Billings Montana, to honor the seven-time Pro Rodeo World Champion Cowboy. The organization has also raised money to create its monument site — the Wall of Fame — an impressive brick wall at the Metra, to honor Montana’s Professional Rodeo participants with their names inscribed in granite as an everlasting memorial to Montana’s great rodeo heroes and the Montana western lifestyle.