Bud Geer Honored at Opheim Rodeo

The Opheim Rodeo was held June 26, following a parade down Main Street.

The event started with a presentation of flags by Tanner Solberg and Russell Solberg on horseback. After the playing of Johnny Cash's "Ragged Old Flag", Cowboy Hall-of-Famer Miles "Bud" Geer was driven into the arena in a pickup. This years rodeo was dedicated to Geer, rodeo stock producer and cowboy.

Howie Solberg read about some of Bud's life: He was born September 18, 1921 in New London, Minn. Bud's father moved the family to Montana in the 30's to work on the Fort Peck dam. Bud and his wife Mildred, married in 1944 and had six children. The family farmed and ranched north of Nashua. In the 60's Bud transitioned the ranch to a rodeo stock business. One of his first bucking horses, Hobart, served as his daughter Shelly's saddle horse when not on the rodeo duty. Geer Rodeo Company furnished stock for rodeos throughout Montana, and as time went on, Bud's company expanded to 60 bucking horses, 20 bucking bulls, 12 dogging steers and 30 roping calves. In a 1979 article in the World of Rodeo and Western Heritage, Dianne Simmons wrote "Bud Geer of Nashua, Montana brought seven broncs to the American-Canadian Classic and was able to predict to a 't' how they would perform from the chute to the arena to the unsaddling pen." He could forecast with about 90 percent accuracy his broncs behavior. Geer knew his stock and shared his knowledge with the contestants which helped him be successful. Bud was inducted into the Montana Rodeo Hall of Fame last year.

Following the dedication Ms. Sarah Morales sang "The National Anthem" and Robert Toavs gave a prayer.

Toavs was the rodeo announcer, rodeo secretaries were Bunky Wirtz and Debbie Bailey, the timer was Jan Marshall, the judges were Dick Marshall and Bob Whaldon, and the pickup men were Mason and Sparky Ross. The bullfighters/clowns were Tanner Solberg and Wes Saul and the arena bosses were Russell Solberg and Gus Rosencrans. Jack and Deb Hinnaland provided the horses while Dewayne Ozark supplied the bulls, calves and steers.

Concessions were served by the Four Leaf Clover 4-H Club. The rodeo club members are Russell Solberg, Gus Rosencrans, Debbie Bailey, Renee Solberg, Herb Brandt, Les Redfield, Tanner Solberg, Alison Strauser, Howie Solberg, Tandie Solberg, Chase Redfield, John and Alea Pankratz. They would like to thank everyone for all of their support and help to keep the rodeo going.

Results

Bareback: Chase Redfield, Opheim, 64; 1st place and the only qualified ride.

Saddle bronc: Guy Simonson, Whitewater, 61 and the only qualified rider.

Calf roping: Tate Benson, Scobey, 17.0; 1st place and the only qualified roper.

Junior breakaway roping: no catcher.

Ladies breakaway roping: Jade Benson, Scobey, 2.9; 1st, and JayAnn Demarais, Malta, 4.2; 2nd.

Junior barrel race: Randi Azure, Poplar, 19.40, 1st; Aiden Wiese, Malta, 18.39, 2nd; Charlee Rhodes, Malta, 18.89, 3rd; Rachael Azure, Poplar, 19.40, 4th.

12-and-under barrel race: Maddison Harris, Richland, 19:38, 1st.

Ladies barrel race: Brenna Kruger, Zortman, 17.05, 1st; JaAnn Demarais, Malta, 17.40, 2nd; Kelsie Meland, Glasgow, 17.86, 3rd; Brett See, Glasgow, 17.97, 4th.

Bull riding: Ty Murphy, Saco, 66; 1st place and the only qualified ride.

Wild horse race: Brock Copenhaver, Ethan Copenhaver, Wolf Point and Chase Buer, Scobey, 1st place.

Team roping: Shane Bishop, Malta, and Jim Cole, Harlem, 7.0 1st; Shane Schwanke and Brandan Kruger, Zortman 7.7, 2nd; Spider Raman and Scott Strauser, Havre, 7.8, 3rd; Shane Schwanke and Jordan Handy, Zortman, 10.4, 4th.