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Volume 122, Number
34 Wednesday,
September 28th, 2005
Duane Howard had illustrious rodeo career; no
regrets
BY DORREEN YELLOW BIRD Grand Forks Herald
Duane, you are one of the honorees in the North Dakota Cowboy Hall
of Fame in Medora, N.D. How long did you cowboy?
I am 72 years old. I started riding in rodeos when I was about 17 or
18. I rode from 1953 to 1961. In 1961, I got hurt pretty bad in
Cheyenne, Wyo., so I was off for two or three years. Then, I rodeoed
after that, but I didn't ride bucking horses. I just rode bulls a
little bit.
I guess I rodeoed until about 1974.
What inspired you to go into rodeo riding?
I always liked rodeo riding and being involved with horses and
cattle. I used to go to Fort Totten and see the different riders,
mostly Indian cowboys. There were Indian cowboys who came from the
Three Affiliated Tribes, too. There were some pretty good guys here,
but the real good ones came from the Fort Berthold reservation.
My dad and mother raised Shetland ponies, and I started out with
them. I also learned to ride on old saddle horses, but I only rode
bareback until I was in the 7th or 8th grade, when I got a saddle.
Riding bareback helped me with balance.
I started getting on sucking calves down at my great-uncle Charlie
Geske's place near Minnewaukan. He used to provide the bucking
horses for Fort Totten rodeos. There were some Indian people who had
good horses, too, but when the rodeos needed a big bunch of horses,
they went to Uncle Charlie.
Uncle Charlie had a little arena below the barn. Every other Sunday
or so, they'd buck out some horses or ride steers. I think that is
where I got started.
How did you place in the beginning of your career?
At first, it wasn't much of a contest. Most of us didn't know what
we were doing. We didn't have any equipment, but we just gradually
invented things.
Then, we went to some rodeos just for "mount money," meaning there
was no contest-riding. You'd get $5 for a bareback or $7.50 for a
bronc. I rode bareback horse.
Then I met Bob Rindt, a teacher at Fort Totten. Bob would put on
rodeos, too. When he wasn't doing that, he would take us to rodeos
where we could get on "mount money" rides.
Rindt got me on my first bucking horse. That was a big deal for me.
The first horses I got on, I rode with a double rein like women. I
was pretty good at staying on. I couldn't do much, but I could stay
on.
Bob made a pair of chaps for me. They are the ones hanging in the
Cowboy Hall of Fame. They're 53 years old. Grandma Longie from Fort
Totten shot these bucks with a .22, and it made a small hole. I got
the Indian-tanned buckskin from her, and Bob made the rest.
One Fourth of July in Mandan, I was in the amateur bronc riding.
They threw all the horses into a hat and the amateurs and
professionals drew from the same hat. That is the first time I saw
Joe Chase of Fort Berthold. He rode this buckskin horse. He wore a
white shirt, and he was real tanned. He looked good. I thought, "If
I could ever ride like that guy, I'd be good."
I admired some other riders, too, but Joe was the one who stuck in
my mind.
I remember the first time I saw a riding bull: They just about had
to move me to shut the gate, it threw me so quick.
Then, I got to be with Alvin Nelson. He was a good cowboy. He could
ride bulls, but he didn't like to, and he was probably one of the
best bareback riders there was when he was right. He rode broncs
good all the time.
I didn't have a car or saddle, but I finally got my spurs put
together, and I had a rope.
We went to Albuquerque, Roswell and Deming, N.M. Alvin did well. I
didn't draw well in the bronc riding but did some bull riding; then
we went down into Louisiana to three little rodeos way back. One was
Natchitoches, La. I won at bull riding.
In 1953, Tom Tescher, Alvin Nelsen and Ivan Fiffer took me back to
Gary, Ind., and Rochester, N.Y. I didn't have a saddle, but I had a
bareback rigging and a bull rope. I was riding bareback then. I
could stay on and spur out pretty fair, but it was then I was going
to be a bull rider.
I didn't do very well in 1954. My dad said, "You're not going
anywhere. Why don't you quit?" I didn't want to do that, and I
didn't want to be a farm laborer.
But I was runner-up in 1955, 1960 and one other year in bull riding
for the RCA international title. The year I got hurt, I was way up
there in the standings.
In 1960, I had a good year. I won about $3,200 and won the
all-around, but they didn't give anything that year.
In 1961, I got hurt on a bronc ride. A horse fell on me after the
whistle.
It was a big, tall jumping horse, good to ride. The pickup man
knocked the horse's feet out from under him. It slapped my head on
the ground. It sounded like a watermelon, they said. I had a brain
hemorrhage and was unconscious. It took me two or three years before
I could walk and talk.
After that, I didn't rodeo hard, but I did manage to place. I also
got married in 1957.
What is the difference between riding a bull and a bronc?
It takes balance in all aspects of riding. It is more flexibility.
You can't think about it. You know before it happens by your
feelings and watching the bull's head.
Bronc riding is the easiest. There are more older bronc riders
because bronc riding isn't hard on you if get your timing down, and
don't struggle with or fight your animal -- just go with the flow.
When you're riding good, you hardly even get sore. That's why you
see some guys ride so long.
What's a good horse?
A good horse or draw is one that jumps and kicks and turns back.
It's showy and level-headed, snappy and flashy so you can score
high.
For a bull: good jumping, kicking and spinning.
Do you have any regrets about rodeoing?
No, none whatsoever. I got to see different parts of the country and
meet many wonderful people. If I had my life to live over, I
wouldn't do it differently.
Not many people can say they spent their career riding bucking
horses or bulls, but Duane Howard can. After growing up near
Minnewaukan, he traveled the nation with well-known rodeo cowboys
such as Tim and Tom Tescher, Dean Armstrong and Alvin Nelson.
Howard won first place in several national rodeos. His career was
cut short when a horse rolled on him. After two years of
rehabilitation, he went back to rodeoing but only locally. When he
retired from rodeo riding, he ranched in the Minnewaukan area. He
and his wife moved when Devils Lake inundated his place.
They now live in Sheyenne, N.D. They have three daughters.
Minnewaukan native Duane Howard had an illustrious career in rodeo
competition. He was among the first to be inducted into the ND
Cowboy Hall of Fame at Medora. He now lives in Sheyenne.
Commissioners agree to release flood funds for
Maddock building
At their meeting September 20, the Benson County commissioners
decided to purchase a different vehicle for the Benson County
Sheriff's Department.
Commissioners were unanimous in approving the purchase of a 2004
Chevrolet with 300 miles on it for $14,900 from New Rockford
Chevrolet. The vehicle has a police package. Commissioners urged
Sheriff Ned Mitzel to attempt to trade in a 1999 Ford Crown Victoria
on the Chevrolet.
Present were commissioners Jason Lee and Curtis Hvinden of Maddock,
Ed Ripplinger of Leeds, Barry Cox of Warwick and Dwain Brown of
Sheyenne. Also present was County Auditor Bonnie Erickson.
Benson County State's Attorney James Wang said it appeared the water
dispute in Normania Township was near resolution. The ND Department
of Transportation (DOT) was looking over an agreement drafted by
Wang which will give the Benson County Water Board a "license" to
operate a plugged culvert adjacent to US 2. The culvert has remained
plugged because Ronald Hausmann of Churchs Ferry had an injunction
placed against it being opened.
Hausmann has since agreed to lifting the injunction but the DOT has
been wary of opening the culvert because of liability. The county
has agreed to shoulder the responsibility in an effort to get a
slough drained near the Daniel McConnell farm. The water is creating
significant problems for McConnell and the commissioners are
determined that McConnell will get relief, one way or another.
Wang said that as soon as the DOT approves the "license" Durbin
Excavating of Devils Lake will be contacted to unplug the culvert
and install a gate so the discharge of water can be regulated by the
water board. The gate can be shut if it is determined the water is
creating unexpected problems.
David Johnson and Bobby Buckmier met with the commissioners in
regard to the $90,000 the county pledged to construction of a
Multi-Purpose Building in Maddock which will house the Benson County
4-H program. The $90,000 came from flood insurance money at the old
4-H fair site at Minnewaukan. The Foss property on which the
building will be located has been deeded over to the city of Maddock
and all bills related to construction of the building will be
handled by the Maddock City Council. Benson County did more than
$30,000 in preparation work at the site, hauling in many truckloads
of fill. Commissioners agreed to release the $90,000 on condition
that there be some reimbursement to the county for the preparation
work once construction is completed. The building committee has
spent about $76,000 in private donations.
Gene "Shorty" Hager told commissioners the county highway department
would have to charge more for the work it does. Hager told them that
$3 gas is ruining his budget. The county spent about $45,000 for
fuel in August.
Commissioners met with department heads in formulating the 2006
budget. A copy of the proposed budget is published in this issue of
the Farmers Press.
Terpening Construction of Maddock was busy last week pouring
concrete at the site of the new Multi-Purpose Building west of the
Maddock School.
Students visit farm
Leeds Elementary School students recently visited the corn maze and
pumpkin patch at the Jim and Judy Engstrom farm near Leeds. Left to
right are Rochelle Hansen, Garrett Johnson and Chace Laube.
In the corn maze are, left to right, back row: Kayla Wangler, Chelsi
Olson, Jeni Swanson and Chace Engstrom. Middle row: Andrea
Jorgenson, Darien Rolle, Kendra Leibfried and Thomas Urness. In
front is Kalvin Slaubaugh.
Shoots big honker
Nadia Campbell of Devils Lake shot this big honker in Benson County
September 25. The 12-year-old was hunting with her father, Clint
Campbell.
Pictured with her is their chocolate lab, Bruin.
Leeds class holds reunion
The Leeds High School Class of 1955 held its 50th anniversary class
reunion in Bismarck July 29-30. Twenty of the class of 36 attended
the event. Brian Larson was in charge of arrangements. Friday a
picnic supper was held in the motel where the group was meeting.
Saturday morning they visited the Heritage Center on the Capitol
Grounds and had their group picture taken on the Capitol steps. In
the afternoon Brian gave two shifts of pontoon rides on the Missouri
River. A buffet supper was held in a motel in the evening.
Sunday morning the group met in the meeting room where a classmate,
Bob Nilson, a Lutheran pastor from Kalispell, Mont. conducted
worship with communion. Most of the class had been confirmed by
Pastor Nilson's father, Rev. M.J. Nilson when he was a pastor in
Leeds. After coffee everyone departed for their respective homes.
Those attending and their spouses were: Sharleen (Halvor-son) and
Erling Axness of Leeds, Hubert and Joan Blegen of Kindred, Janet Ann
(Anderson) Carvell of Washburn, Nick Deplazes of Granville, Janice (Geisen)
and Howard Frisk of McLeod, Glenn and Janice Gransberg of Grand
Forks, Don and DeEtt Haugen of York, Sherilyn (Fogelson) Julson of
Dickinson, Ron Julson of Wahpeton, Norma (Kinneberg) and Bruce
Kinnear of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Idell
(Julson) Knudsvig of Annan-dale, Minn., Brian and Connie Larson of
Bismarck, Bernard and Sulanne McPherson of Auburn, Wash., Roland
Nelsen of Minne-waukan, Pastor Bob Nilsen of Kalispell, Mont.,
Audrey (Bisbee) Pierson and Marvin Schaap of Lisbon, Janyce (Maristuen)
Selland of Boise, Idaho, Margy (Lybeck) Stone of Knox and Joe and
Jean Urness of Minot.
Unable to attend were Lorelie (Marchus) Allen, Marcia (Maute)
Armstrong, Corrinne (Johnson) Boyer, Jerry Dryden, Eloise (Kinne-berg)
Fisher, Shirley
(Skeie) Harkness, Les Hendrie, Jim Hill, Jean (Sosalla) Jorgenson,
Roger Knutson, Walter Larson, Eldon Paulson, Janice Kay (Anderson)
Persinger, Miriam (Long) Royer, Carol (Lundeen) Thompson and Stella
(Birkland) Weaver.
Two class members, Margaret Alexander and Jeaneen Nolte, are
deceased.
Members of the Leeds Class of 1955 who attended a reunion in
Bismarck are pictured. Left to right, back row, are Ron Nelsen,
Sharleen (Halvorson) Axness, Janet Ann (Anderson) Carvell, Janice (Geisen)
Frisk, Norma
(Kinneberg) Kinnear, Audrey (Bisbee) Pierson, Sherilyn (Fogelson)
Julson and Margy (Lybeck) Stone. Middle row: Joe Urness, Don Haugen,
Ron Julson, Glenn Gransberg, Hubert Blegen, Bernard McPherson and
Marvin Schaap. Front
row: Idell (Julson) Knudsvig, Brian Larson, Janyce (Maristuen)
Selland and Bob Nilson. Not pictured is Nick Deplazes.
Teach rosemaling
Area artist JoAnn Copeland taught a step-by-step lesson on the
techniques of rosemaling, assisted by 5th and 6th grade art teacher
Audrey Herman. The Leeds School provides a unique and diverse art
program for all grades. Left to right are Thomas Urness, JoAnn
Copeland, Audrey Herman and Justin Wangler.
Here are two examples of rosemaling by 5th and 6th graders at Leeds.
Win fishing tourney
First place winners of The Big Show Fishing Tournament on Devils
Lake Sept.
17 and 18 were Dennis Andruski of Grand Forks and Larry Zimmerman of
Napoleon. They are pictured with Dan Lohnes, right, manager of the
Spirit Lake Marina. The duo would need a wagon to haul home their
trophies from the weekend event. They took home $10,000 for their
two-day catch of 52.51 lbs. They were also the winners of the Fifth
Annual Spirit Lake Marina Walleye Classic Fishing Tournament Sept. 2
and 3 and won the largest walleye award with a weight of 8.15 lbs.
Thirty-seven teams participated in the tournament, which was the
final tournament on the Casino Cup Circuit.
Here's proof that fishing is good
Jason Feldner of Perch-Eyes Guide Service of Minnewaukan ended the
open water fishing season with his party getting its limit of big
walleyes.
Feldner holds a 7-pounder.
Mike Davis of West Chester, Pa. holds a 6-pounder. Davis was in
North Dakota visiting his son, Kevin.
Kevin Davis of the Minot Air Force Base holds a 6-1/2-pounder. They
ended up getting 10 walleyes Sept. 25.
ND Farmers Union hosts DC fly-in
More than 40 ND Farmers Union members joined over 200 farmers and
ranchers from across the country in Washington, DC earlier this
month for the National Farmers Union's legislative fly-in.
Participants urged congressional members to address rising energy
prices, support disaster relief and oppose budget cuts in
agricultural spending. Among those participating in the event was
Joann Bergrud of Maddock. She is serving on ND Farmers Union's 2005
Policy and Action Committee.
"Personal office visits gave us the opportunity to take rural
America's concerns to Washington," Bergrud said. "We were able to
explain to members of Congress the economic effects of high energy
prices, the danger of budget cuts to essential agricultural programs
and the importance of receiving adequate disaster relief for
struggling crops."
Higher fuel and fertilizer costs topped the list of issues Farmers
Union members discussed with legislators. Farmers and ranchers are
among the largest fuel users in the United States and face
significant increases in operating expenses. Unlike other
businesses, farmers and ranchers cannot pass along increased
production costs, because they do not set the prices for their
commodities.
"Producers in North Dakota are facing a loss of nearly one-third of
their net farm income this year," said Robert Carlson, who led the
North Dakota delegation. "Fuel expenses are setting all-time record
highs right in the middle of harvest, and the prices farmers are
receiving for their crops are dropping at the same time."
Farmers Union members also spoke out against impending budget cuts
to agricultural programs. "Cuts to agriculture, food, and nutrition
programs would place a further burden on the already struggling
rural economy,"
added Bergrud. In addition, Farmers Union members voiced support for
implementing mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL), and a
federally controlled National Animal ID System.
During the fly-in, the North Dakotans met with Senators Kent Conrad
and Byron Dorgan in the US Capitol and with Representative Earl
Pomeroy in a hearing room in the Rayburn House Office Building. In
addition, the farmers and ranchers were guests at the US Department
of Agriculture. USDA officials listened to the concerns of fly-in
participants regarding current and proposed federal policies.
Joann Bergrud of Maddock was among more than 200 farmers and
ranchers who voiced concerns to lawmakers on Capitol Hill during a
Farmers Union legislative fly-in to Washington, DC. |
