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ND Cowboy Hall of Fame announces inductees

MEDORA – Seven individuals and one event, many from the Minot area, will be inducted this year into the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame.

The N.D. Cowboy Hall of Fame announced the inductees during its 2017 Season Premiere at The Center of Western Heritage and Cultures in Medora, Saturday.

This year’s categories and inductees are as follows:

– Great Westerner: Clarence Parker of Minot. Parker, a widely recognized pioneer rancher, was an experienced horseman, cowboy, former professional jockey and a prominent Minot businessman.

– Long Rider: Paul Christensen of Sawyer. Christensen was a longtime educator at Burdick Job Corps Center in Minot and longtime volunteer with a number of organizations and programs, many inspiring young people in western life.

– Pre-1940s Ranching: Herbert Birdsall of Berthold. Birdsall grew ranching and rodeo into a family business.

– Modern-era Ranching: James Connolly of Dunn Center and Golden Valley. A longtime rancher, Connolly and his father formed the N.D. Stockmen’s Association.

– Pre-1940s Rodeo: Leo Sorenson of Garrison and Halliday areas. Sorenson was a rodeo judge for 50 years and worked rodeos throughout North Dakota.

– Modern-era Rodeo (two selected in this category): Brenda Lee Bonogofsky Pickett, of Star, Idaho, formerly of Carson, and Denver Jorgenson of Bismarck and native of Williston. Pickett was the first Miss Rodeo North Dakota named Miss Rodeo America. Jorgenson received the most bareback championships won in NDRA history at the time.

– Special Achievement: White Earth Valley Saddle Club. Incorporated in September 1956, the organization has held rodeos since July 1957.

N.D. Cowboy Hall of Fame trustees vote on the nominees by mail-in ballot.

This year’s induction ceremony will be held Saturday, June 24, at 1 p.m. MDT at Tjaden Terrace, Medora. Larry Mahan, six times world champion all-around cowboy, will be guest speaker. A trustees meeting will be held that morning at 9 a.m. MDT.

On Friday, June 23, an induction supper of prime rib for inductees and family and friends, also open to the public, will be held at 6 p.m. MDT. Those interested in attending can call the N.D. Cowboy Hall of Fame in Medora for tickets at 623-2000.

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