Postcard from the Past – Wyo High School Rodeo Club Formed

As this year’s Wyoming State High School Rodeo Finals approach, formation of the event occupies the fading mind of the original reporter. In July of 1955 a green writer – Dick Perue – reported in the “Saratoga Sun:”

Saturday night July 3, the Wyoming State Championship High School Rodeo Association was formed at the Sisson Hotel with Stan Starr of Wheatland being elected president; Jim Moore of Midwest, vice-president; Mary Kay Walker of Saratoga, secretary-treasurer, and Dale Federer of Saratoga, advisor.

Membership in the association is open to anyone who will be a senior next year or below in a Wyoming high school, with dues being one dollar per year, Federer said. Definite plans for next year’s rodeo have not yet been started, but it is hoped it can be held at Saratoga again, he added.

Other articles from that first championship rodeo sponsored by Angus England Post 54, American Legion, were:

Good Announcer

Bill Whitney of Centennial helped keep the state junior rodeo moving at a fast pace June 3-4 with entertaining announcing of arena events. Bill, himself, is well known in rodeo circles throughout Carbon County and the state.

The Saratoga native later became a champion bronc rider—DP

The cutline for a photo in the “Sun” reads:

Congrats, Karon – Dale Federer advisor of Wyoming’s first junior state championship rodeo, congratulates Karon Wessels after she was elected rodeo queen July 3 at the Saratoga rodeo grounds. Lady-in-waiting, Frances Sedgwick, 16, of Lusk, is seen standing between Dale and Karon.

Karon is the 15-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Wessels of Laramie. Miss Wessels reigned over the rodeo festivities and entered in the girls’ barrel race and the girls’ cutting contest. She will represent Wyoming at the national junior championship rodeo in Harrison, Neb., July 21-23.

Miss Sedgwick entered in the girls’ cutting contest, the barrel race and the break-away calf roping event during the action-packed rodeo July 3-4.