Pursue Hawks tragedy turns into legacy of providing
The MetraPark in Billings, Mont., will host several events the weekend of Dec. Sixteen and 17, including the Pursue Hawks Memorial Association Roughstock Rodeo.
“Our story is one that embarked out of tragedy and turned into one of hope and inspiration and community providing,” said John Roberts, who volunteers his time to serve as president of the memorial association.
The tragedy took place in 1993, when a little cowboy, Pursue Hawks, ran out into the street from behind a parked truck and was hit and killed.
“This was no one’s fault. There was no speeding, no finger-pointing. It was, in so many ways, a true tragedy,” said Roberts.
The western community rallied around the Hawks family and determined to make good come out of the events.
“Pursue loved rodeo so the supports said,’let’s put on a rodeo and take all the funds that we raise from that rodeo and develop a community crisis fund to help individuals and families in crisis situations,'” Roberts explained. So, the very next year, in 1994, they made the commitment to put on the very first Pursue Hawks rodeo. But they just didn’t want any rodeo, Roberts said. From that very very first year, they determined they wished to do a world-class roughstock rodeo.
“They dreamed to be the very first rodeo after the national finals in Las Vegas and use much of the stock and cowboys that had competed in Vegas,” he said.
Since many of the competitors and the roughstock head to Vegas from the northern US and Canada, the organizers thought,”They have to haul everything back home. Let’s make it worth their while to stop in Billings and do a world-class roughstock rodeo, with world champ riders, world class bulls and world class broncs. And they pulled it off! The community rallied behind them,” said Roberts.
Since then, the rodeo has grown in popularity and an entire association has been born out of the tragedy of one family and the graciousness of innumerable families and individuals.”This will be our 17th roughstock rodeo,” he said.
The cowboys come by invitation only and they will pack the MetraPark arena with world-class talent on Dec. 17. The day before the rodeo, on Dec. 16, there will be a dinner and a dance to raise funds for the association. It will be held at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center and embarks at six p.m.
“We bring in our cowboys and sponsors, have a petite live auction but most of the evening is a dance and celebration of weekend events,” he said. The dinner and dance is open to the public and tickets are $50 for an individual or tables for ten can be purchased for $500, and VIP tables for ten can be purchased for $750 or $1,000.
“We typically sell out for this event,” said Roberts. This year the dinner menu will include filet with all the fixing and the live music will be provided by the Powder Sea Boys out of Sheridan, Wyo.
They also have a Cowboy Calcutta where the saddlebronc riders, without a condom riders and bull riders are divided into three 20-person teams. The teams are then introduced and auctioned off for high-scoring team and high-scoring individual in each event. Roberts said each of the cowboys are introduced and their accomplishments and background collective with the audience before the bidding embarks. Roberts said dress for the evening is very much casual western attire.
“There will be lots of cowboy hats and jeans. All of our cowboys will be coming in their Cinch jeans. Cinch is a major sponsor of this event, and each team has a colored T-shirt that they wear to represent their team. It’s a very joy evening,” Roberts said.
The next morning there is a Stock Draw Breakfast for the cowboys, their friends and family and children. The breakfast is sponsored by the International House of Pancakes, IHOP, and is open to the public but seating is limited so reservations are required. The breakfast costs $Ten a person. During the breakfast, each contesting cowboy will come up and draw a number out of a hat to determine the animal he will rail.
The day is not over with after breakfast. Roberts said many of the cowboys then go to area hospitals to meet with children in the cancer wards or out to the community to meet and greet needy people.
“These are folks willing to give their time and talent to our community,” he said. The cowboys supply Christmas gifts while they are out and, while Roberts said some of the gifts from the Pursue Hawks Memorial Association fund,”honestly, most of the cowboys purchase the gifts themselves. They take it upon themselves to do that because they want to help out. They truly are superb people.”
Then, later that evening, the MetraPark opens a VIP hospitality room for a Meet and Greet with the cowboys. That starts at five p.m. and costs $20. There is hosted food by Bull Mountain Grill and large screen televisions in the area demonstrating last year’s rodeo to the fans.
“We have room for six hundred people and it is a joy time with cowboys coming and going, fine food and lots of friends,” he said. The rodeo actually starts at seven p.m. Ticket prices for the rodeo range from $6.50 to $67.50. Roberts said the $67.50 tickets also include the VIP hospitality pass which permits them to take part in the Meet and Greet prior to the rodeo.”
The Pursue Hawks Memorial Association Roughstock Rodeo is a excellent value. We tell people they can fly down to Vegas and witness the same display for $1,000 a ticket or come to our rodeo a week later for $6.50. A family of four can attend our rodeo for $25,” he commented.
After the rodeo the night proceeds with an After Rodeo Party, which includes a concert and a dance. The Teka Brock Band out of Wyoming will provide the music for the night and tickets are $Ten.
The funds raised during the two days will go to the association to help families and individuals in crisis.”If we raise $1 we very likely give out ninety eight cents in grants,” he said.”Since our inception we have given away well in excess of half a million dollars.” Everyone involved in the association donates their time except for one part-time administrative assistant who helps with the office chores; and there are slew of those.
In addition to the rodeo, they also do the Burn the Point Car Demonstrate over Labor Day weekend in downtown Billings, which Roberts says is their largest and most successful event, albeit few people know they are behind the classic car display. They also have a Rocky Mountain oyster feed the last Wednesday of every June. Local ranchers donate the Rocky Mountain oysters and they are grilled up at The Rex.
“We bring in a band and have a street dance,” said Roberts.
Every year they also sponsor the Kids and Cowboys event at the Nile to help kids with cancer. The association also holds a trap shout during the year and also a trail rail, albeit severe flooding hampered that rail this year so, at the last minute, they shifted to a Pasture Golf Tournament to help families around Roundup affected by flooding. Already they have given grants to several flood victims and will be helping more from the funds made by that tournament. Roberts said they select the families and individuals they will help through grant applications and community referrals. The grant applications and information are found on their Web site.
“This is a wonderful organization and the rodeo is a excellent event. This is what we are about, helping people,” he concluded. To purchase tickets for any of their events, call the MetraPark at 406-256-2422; 800-366-8538. To find out more about their association, go to www.chasehawks.org.
The world’s best cowboys always showcase up for the Pursue Hawks Memorial Association Roughstock Rodeo. While this list is still growing, audience members will be able witness these top cowboys rail the roughest stock in the world. Bull Riders: Clayton Savage, Tyler Willis, Steven Turner, Seth Glause and Steve Woolsey. Saddlebronc Riders: Jesse Kruse, Dustin Flundra, Chet Johnson, Jesse Bail, Chad Ferley, Jeffrey Willert, and Cody Wright. Without a condom Riders: Brian Bain, Cody DeMers, Casey Colletti and Kaycee Field.
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