Keeping Montana’s Heritage Alive
Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame Scholarships
Written by Cyd Hoefle
Photos by Stu Hoefle and contributed by Jay Linderman
“To date, we’ve given away over $600,000 in scholarships to Montana kids heading to college,” Jay Linderman said. “At $3000 each, that’s over 200 of ‘our kids’ that have benefited from what we do.”
When the Montana Pro Rodeo Hall & Wall of Fame (MPRHWF) was organized over 16 years ago, the mission was severalfold. They were dedicated to preserving the western and rodeo heritage of Montana, as well as contributing financially to Montana high school students set on continuing their education.
The non-profit group provides scholarships to high school students involved in the Montana High School Rodeo Association. The scholarships are given to youth displaying talent, academic achievement, community service and need, and goes toward helping them continue their education at any university or trade school in the country.
The organization’s most public display of honoring the rodeo heritage is an 18-foot bronze of Dan Mortensen located outside the Metra. Mortensen, a decorated Montana rodeo cowboy achieved six World Saddle Bronc Championships and One World All Around Cowboy Championship titles. Unveiled in 2002, it was it was befitting that the statue by Western artist, R.F. Rains, became the centerpiece of the Montana Wall of Champions outside the Metra Arena in Billings.
Next to the Mortensen bronze, two brick walls from the Wall of Fame and showcase the names of every World Champion and Circuit Champion from Montana. In addition, a wall of stone blocks commemorates ranches across Montana that are living the western lifestyle and leaving a legacy. Some of the ranches are over 100 years and are 4 to 5 or more generations deep.
While the mission of the organization is to celebrate rodeo and the western lifestyle, they also recognize that it’s the up-and-coming younger generation that will ultimately keep the lifestyle going. For that reason, they are dedicated to raising $40,000 annually to give out in $3000 increments to high school students in rodeo that desire to pursue higher education.
Early on, it was easy to raise that amount, an annual banquet, held in January, and attended by approximately 800 people would raise the money in one night. The money was then distributed to the recipients at the Montana High School State Finals in June.
But times changed. Several years ago, the venue where the banquet was held was no longer available. The next applicable venue was half the size, which resulted in half the funding. Costs went up, donations went down. Suddenly the organization was dipping into their savings account to accommodate the number of scholarships promised to applicants.
“When we unveiled that first bronze, it was very well received.”
A fresh perspective was needed, and the board found it in Jay Linderman. A retired steer wrestler, ranch manager and businessman, Jay had time on his hands to do what he wanted to do. An unpaid volunteer, he chose to help the MPRHWF and take it to a new level. Since joining the organization three years ago, he’s been instrumental in raising public awareness of the association and getting more people involved.
“Times changed,” Jay said. “What worked in the beginning doesn’t anymore. So, it was necessary to figure out a way to be able to keep doing what we do.”
For the last several years, Jay has traveled to numerous events, setting up a booth with his brightly painted trailer, educating people about the scholarships and hoping to get more people involved and donating to the cause.
“To date, we’ve given away over $600,000 in scholarships to Montana kids heading to college,” he said. “At $3000 each, that’s over 200 of ‘our kids’ that have benefited from what we do.”
Jay’s objective is to educate the public about MPRHWF and to garner membership into the organization to raise some of the annual funding.
With Jay’s help, the organization came up with several divisions founded for individuals and businesses wanting to participate, including the Legacy Club and the Endowment program, both established for those wanting to make a donation of anywhere from $50 to $5000 that will go directly to scholarships.
But the most exciting fund raiser to date is the new Bronze Series. The team is commissioning several artists to do tabletop bronzes of Montana rodeo legends.
We’re the largest high school rodeo scholarship program in the country and we want to help as many kids as we can. Every little bit helps out.
- Jay Linderman
“It’s pretty exciting,” Jay said. “When we unveiled that first bronze, it was very well received.”
MPRHWF plans to do a series of 12 bronzes, celebrating Montana rodeo legacies, both past and present. The first bronze was unveiled in May of this year at the Wall of Fame in Billings and once again featured Dan Mortensen. This time the sculptor commissioned was Bob Burkhart. He cast 15 bronzes which were available through auctions, raffles and private purchase. Two months later, only 4 remain.
Following Mortensen will be bronzes of 11 other Montana rodeo legends including Deb Greenough, Bill Linderman, Larry Peabody, Ty Erickson, and Haven Meged to name a few.
At the recent Miles City Bucking Horse Sale, $3000 was raised when one of the Mortensen bronzes was auctioned off during the sale.
“It was a big deal,” Jay said. “We talked to a lot of folks and that first auction was really something. We’re working on the next one already.”
The MPRHWF is preserving the legacy of rodeo in Montana, which reaches far into the state’s past and is well ingrained in Montana history
“We’re the largest high school rodeo scholarship program in the country and we want to help as many kids as we can. Every little bit helps out,” Jay concluded.
For opportunities to purchase a bronze, visit their website at www.montanaprorodeo.org follow them on facebook or make plans to attend one of their upcoming events.
Events on the calendar for the remainder of the year that promote MRFHWF scholarships and opportunities to purchase bronzes are:
June 24 – 27: Art of the Cowgirl, Bozeman
July 1 and July 3: Red Lodge Home of Champions Rodeo Calcutta
July 24: Re-Ride Reunion, Sacajawea Inn, Three Forks
July 29 – 31: Last Chance Stampede Calcutta Auction, Helena
Aug 15: PRCA Rodeo auction of Mortensen bronze, Cascade
Oct 2: MPRHWF Annual Scholarship Banquet, Billings