MPRHWF announces 2024 class of legend inductees

The 2024 Hall of Fame Legend inductees have been chosen by the Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame. Among the honorees this year are Bob Askin, John Calliflower, John Carr and Korry Mitty. John Larrick will receive the Lifetime Achievement award. Honorees will be celebrated at the annual Scholarship Fundraising Banquet and Gathering in October.

Each year, awards are given to individuals, families, businesses and ranches who have contributed to and sustained rodeo and the Montana way of life. The cowboys and cowgirls who have made rodeo great are memorialized on the Wall of Fame at the Monument Site, located at the First Interstate Arena in Billings.

This year's class of inductees includes Lynda Ottun, Lady of the West; and Bill and Joe Blankenship, Great Montana Pick-Up Men.

"The Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame remains committed to celebrating accomplishments of our rodeo cowboys and cowgirls, and adding to the $675,000 in awarded scholarships to our state's high school rodeo athletes as they seek higher education," president Brent Jordan said in a media release.

2024 MPRHWF Inductees:

Lifetime Achievement:

John Larrick, Three Forks

Lady of the West:

Lynda Ottun, Rosebud/Billings

Legends:

Bob Askin, Miles City

John Calliflower, Rocky Boy

John Carr, Lewistown/Belize

Korry Mytty, Missoula

Great Montana Stock Contractors:

Sanckey Pro Rodeo, Joliet

Great Montana Pick-Up Man:

Joe Blankenship, Glendive

Bill Blankenship, Glendive

Great Montana Livestock:

Custer Livestock, Ekalaka

Western Heritage Award:

Kelly Compton, Broadus/Billings

David and Ijkalaka Russell, Ekalaka

Warren Johnson, Gardiner

Bill Workman, Eureka

Great Montana Ranches:

Stirling Meadows Ranch/Jackson Family

Loyning Ranch, Warren

Ron Wetsch, Drummond

Great Montana Rodeo Families:

Trexler Family, Corvallis

Bud Walen, Havre

Great Montana Rodeo/Tour:

Indian National Finals Rodeo/INFR Tour

Great Montana Western Night Club:

Blue Moon, Columbia Falls

Great Montana Veterinarian:

Dick Cunningham, Hysham

Great Montana Western Store:

Western Ranch Supply

Great Montana Western Magazine:

Range Magazine

Western Heritage Actor:

Bill Pullman, Boulder

Also acknowledged at the Banquet will be the 2024 MPRHWF Scholarship winners, who were selected at the Montana High School Rodeo Finals in Kalispell. This is the nineteenth year scholarships have been awarded to Montana high school students. Briley Anderson of Manhattan was awarded the Art of the Cowgirl – Tammy Pate Memorial Scholarship. This is a new scholarship, being awarded for the first time in 2024 by the MPRHWF. The 2025 MHSRA Queen scholarship recipient is Sophia Wyatt of Dillon.

MPRHWF 2024 Scholarship Recipients:

Landon Burleigh, Lewistown

Drew Ellingson, Sidney

Logan Gerhard, Thompson Falls

Weston Hersel, Lewistown

Garrett Larson, Sidney

Clay Pendergrass, Roy

Maurice Redhorn, Browning

Cash Trexler, Corvallis

Hailey Burger, Helena

Payton Levine, Wolf Creek

Kate Weining, Lewistown

Ella Begger, Townsend

Ella Moedl, Worden

Grace Lenhardt, Helena

Samantha Gerlach, Columbus

Emma Atkinson, Great Falls

2025 MHSRA Queen: Sophia Wyatt, Dillon

Art of the Cowgirl – Tammy Pate Memorial Scholarship: Briley Anderson, Manhattan