Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame Inductees Honored in Helena

2/17/2015

 

Before a sold-out audience, the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame & Western Heritage Center (MCHF & WHC) honored the 2014 Class of Inductees into the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame, Saturday, Feb. 7 in Helena. Family and friends of inductees traveled from 12 states and Canada to attend. Masters of Ceremony Mike Gurnett and Will Rasmussen entertained the capacity audience at the Great Northern Best Western Premier and shared the biographies of each of the 37 inductees. “It is a humbling experience to see an audience be so respectful and engaged to hear every induction biography,” Gurnett, MCHF & WHC Trustee, said. “For two and a half hours you could have heard a pin drop.”

The induction ceremony is the hallmark event of the MCHF & WHC’s annual convention. The inductee class reflects a diverse cross-section of Montana heritage. “This year’s class includes a broad range of Montanans including a sheriff, a doctor, a tribal chief, a Hollywood stuntwoman, artists, ranchers, cowboys, cowgirls, and even a rodeo,” said Christy Stensland, executive director of the MCHF & WHC. The convention included a legislature appreciation reception, induction ceremony, business meetings, trustees gathering, a cowboy ball and benefit auction and entertainment by the Dillon Junior Fiddlers and Kyle Shobe and the Walk Em’ Boys. This is the ninth year for the convention. 

The nomination deadline for the 2015 class of inductees is March 31 and the general public is encouraged make nominations. The Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame exists to hold up the contributions of those that have come before us and to pass forward these contributions through the example of inductees for the benefit of future generations. Visit www.montanacowboyfame.org to review the nomination criteria.