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NFR Saddle Bronc of the Year Award for Sheep Mountain in 1967

 

 

This in the award for the 1967 NFR Saddle Bronc of the Year Award for Rodeo Inc's horse Sheep Mountain.

 

Sheep Mountain was bred and raised on the Tooke Ranch in Ekalaka. Mel Potter and Rodeo Inc had made a committment to put on the Chicago Rodeo the same time as the NFR in Okalahoma City. They found it only fitting that Feek travel to OKC in 1968 to accept the award for the first horse that was bred to buck. 

 

Feek rode into the arena and was presented this trophy by Clem McSpadden, shortly after accepting the award he rode out of the arena and suffered a fatal heart attack while grasping this trophy.

 

This was the crowing acheivement of Feek's life, a horse he raised on is ranch being recognized as one of the best. This trophy now hangs on Feek's widow, Thelma's wall at her house in Ekalaka.

 

Medal from National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

 

 

In the same year as he was inducted into the PRCA Hall of Fame, Feek became one of the few to be enshined into both halls in the same year.

 

Feek took his place in the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The same city in which he died in 40 years prior.

 

Representing Feek was his son Ken along with other family members in October of 2008.

 

Others joining Feek in the OKC in 2008 were: Lane Frost, Don Gay, Charlie Sampson, Hadley Barrett, Claire Belcher Thompson, and Marty Wood.

 

The medal rest next to the PRCA Hall of Fame Trophy and Sheep Mountain's plaque in Feek and Thelma's Ekalaka home.

PRCA Hall of Fame Trophy and Belt Buckle

 

 

Feek Tooke was a pioneer and a visionary in the bucking horse breeding business, and he was recognized in 2008 for his accomplishments and was inducted into the PRCA Hall of Fame.

 

Many of the contractors already hanging on the walls in Colorado Springs got their start or have strong ties to Feek's bloodlines.

 

Representing Feek at his induction was his great grandson Toby Tooke. Also attending were his son Ken and daughter Sharon.The Tooke's were assisted in getting Feek in the hall by Harry Vold, Larry Mahan, Mel Potter, Lyle Graves and Clem McSpadden. McSpadden's funeral was held the same day as the induction ceremony.

 

Others inducted in the class of 2008 were: Leon & Vicki Adams, Duane Howard, Tom Reeves, Shaun Burchett, Bobby Hurley, Buddy Lytle, Paul Tierney, and the horse Trails End.

 

The trophy is placed in Thelma's living room, and Toby proudly wears the buckle.

Feek Tooke Memorial Award

 

 

After Feek's death in 1968 at the National Finals Rodeo, the Tooke family in conjunction with the PRCA created the Feek Tooke Memorial Award.

 

This Award would be given to the top saddle bronc average winner at the NFR each year until a cowboy won it three times, which at that time it would be retired.

 

Ernest thought this would take a while before a single cowboy would go on to win this award three times.

 

The cowboy who would send this award to its final resting place in Colorado Springs, Colorado at the PRCA Hall of Fame would be Tom Miller who won it first in 1975, again in 1979, and finally in 1981.

 

Others to win this award were: Buzz Seely, Ivan Daines, Kenny McLean, Marvin Joyce, Dennis Reiners, Monty Henson, Bobby Berger,and Joe Marvel (twice).

Tooke Rodeo on the Wall of Fame

 


Feek, his horses, and the whole Tooke family that has contributed to the success of our bucking horse business was reward with our name being put on the Wall of Fame.

 

The Wall of Fame is the Montana Rodeo Hall of Fame, and is located in Billings, Montana at MetraPark Arena where the states biggest rodeo's are held.

 

Feek was represented at the induction by his great grand son Toby.

Ernest Tooke on the Wall of Fame

 


Ernest was inducted to the Montana Wall of Fame in 2012 for his contribution to the sport of rodeo in many compacities, joining his father on the granite wall in Billings at MetraPark.

 

Ernest had a dual RCA card at the age of 16, and he could ride bulls as well as put on sanctioned rodeos. He would continue throughout his life to promite the sport of rodeo with riding, judging, raising horses, and writing for all of the major rodeo publications in the United States and Canada.

 

He was represented by he daughter Carol and her family along with grandson Toby.

Other recognition...

 


The majority of all award winning horses from the 1980s up until today have bloodlines from the Tooke Horses...Bobby Joe, Commotion, Lunatic Fringe, etc. Feek's family is now in the process of trying to get inducted into what Hall of Fames they feel Feek or his horses deserve.

 

The Tooke's are working on getting Feek into the North Dakota Rodeo Hall of Fame for his contributions in the state...he put on rodeos all over western North Dakota, including starting the Match Bronc Ride in Dickinson, and the rodeo at Cenntinel Butte.

 

The family is also working on getting Prince, the foundation of his breeding program onto the walls of the PRCA Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

 

There are also efforts in the works to get Ernest into the PRCA Hall of Fame for his many contributions to the world of rodeo...starting to put on rodeos at the age of 16, to competing in bull riding, judging rough stock events and writing articles for all major publications in North America such at Argi-News, Rodeo Sporting News, Western Horseman, along with his books he has published about rodeo.

Award winning Timberline

 

 

Here is Ernest pictured with Luew Kuhn, Jack Fettig and Eddie Rypkema in Deadwood at the Days of '76 Rodeo in 1962.

 

Ernest recieved the award for the Top Bareback Horse at the historic rodeo. Tooke's born and raised Timberline took home the hardware.

 

 

 

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