Gary Rempel – Background 10/28/10

Born Sept. 5, 1951 in Elrose, Saskatchewan.  He was raised on the Matador Ranch near Kyle, Saskatchewan, one of the largest ranches in Canada.  At it’s inception in 1905, the Matador Land and Cattle Company was six townships (140,000 acres) and was a part of the Matador holdings that stretched south to Texas.  In 1923 the lease was taken over by the Saskatchewan dept. of Agriculture to establish the first government supervised community pasture in western Canada.  John Rempel, Gary’s father, started riding on the Matador in 1943 and was appointed manager in 1962, and was there until his retirement in 1984.   Gary grew up on the back of a horse doing everything you do on                                                                                  a ranch. Cowboying was all that he ever wanted to do.

His father John worked occasionally as a pickup man for the late Jerry Meyers, of the Bar T Rodeo in Saskatchewan.  Gary competed in calf roping and team roping, but always wanted to pick up.  Gary got his opportunity when Jerry had 2 rodeos on the same weekend, so Gary’s official debut was in Hallonquist, Sask., working with Pete Aksomitis.  Mostly self-taught, Gary learned the finer points of picking up when he went to Calgary and worked with Wayne Vold.  Wayne taught him a lot about doing things right the first time, and how to turn turn horses back when they buck, to make them buck better and earn more points.

 

He worked his first amateur finals (The Canadian Cowboys Association) in 1984, and the following year (1985) he was asked to work at the Calgary Stampede.  He has been a pickup man at the Calgary Stampede every year since then, and was honored in 2009 for 25 consecutive years of service with a bronze and a presentation during the Stampede.

He has been selected by a vote of the Cowboys to work the Canadian Finals a record-setting 14 times:  ’86, ’87, ’99, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, 2010 and 2011.  He surpassed the previous record of 11 times that was held by Wayne Vold.

 

At the 2009 Canadian Finals Rodeo, Gary was awarded the honor of “2009 Canadian Cowboy of the Year.”  This annual award is presented by Douglas Lake Ranch to the cowboy judged best in ability, sportsmanship, appearance, personality, and who has contributed most to the betterment of rodeo.  Gary received a $2,000 cash award and a bronze trophy by Ross Contway, as well as a leather bound bible from the Fellowship of Christian Cowboys.

 

In 2010, Gary received international recognition when a bull jumped out of the arena and into the stands at the 2010 Canadian Finals Rodeo. Gary had roped the bull just prior to his jump into the stands and althought there were a few injuries, Gary is credited with minimizing potential injuries and mayhem.

 

He moved to the State of Montana in 1992 and has worked the Montana Circut Finals Rodeo a total of eight times:  ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, and ’07, ’08. He also worked the Columbia River Circuit Finals once.

 

He achieved his ultimate goal of being voted by the cowboys to pick up at the National Finals Rodeo for the first time in 1998 and has gone back in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.  He is only the second Canadian to work as a pickup man at the National Finals Rodeo.  The other was Wayne Vold. 

 

He has also worked the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo three times:  in 2003, 2005, and 2008 (in April of 2009).

Gary’s first Pendleton Roundup was in 1991, an opportunity that came about through the invitation from Pendleton for Calgary Stampede to bring their bucking horses to Pendleton.   Calgary hauled horses down for the first time in 1990, and after experiencing the unique arena, then rodeo manager Winston Bruce wanted a Calgary Stampede pickup man to be in the arena.  Gary has picked up at Pendleton every year since then, and has worked with other notable pickup men there with many credits to their names including Kenny Carpenter, Pat Beard, Lloyd Faria, Del Northcott, and Billy Ward.   Pendleton remains one of his all-time favorite rodeos.  He has also been the bull roper for the Pendleton PBR Classic since its inception.

 

Gary Rempel is a gold card holder (life member) with the PRCA and the CPRA (Canadian Pro Rodeo Association) and some notable rodeos he has worked include (besides Pendleton):

The Omak (WA) Stampede Omak Stampede

San Antonio (TX) Livestock Show & Rodeo San Antonio Rodeo

Houston (TX) Livestock Show & Rodeo Houston Rodeo

Ellensburg (WA) Rodeo Ellensburg Rodeo

Puyallup (WA) Rodeo Puyallup Rodeo

San Juan Capistrano (CA) Rodeo Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo

Caldwell (ID) Night Rodeo Caldwell Night Rodeo

Hermiston (OR) Pro Rodeo Farm City Pro Rodeo

Nampa (ID) Rodeo Snake River Stampede

Innisfail (Alberta) Pro Rodeo

Bremerton (WA) Rodeo Kitsap Stampede

Denver (CO) Stock Show & Rodeo National Western Stock Show

 

Gary now works primarily for the Calgary Stampede, but has also worked with many contractors including:

Wayne Vold Rodeo

Sankey Rodeo Sankey Rodeo Company

Kesler Rodeo

Brookman Rodeo Brookman Rodeo Company

Flying 5 Rodeo

Cervi Rodeo Cervi Rodeo

Corey & Horst Rodeo