1979 John Arntsen

Unquestionably one of the all-time bareback riding greats in the Canadian Cowboys Association, John Arntsen was the 1971-2-3 Bareback Champion. Although remembered most for his expertise in that event, John was a two-event cowboy who was always tough at the other end of the arena as well, in the calf roping.

It is indicative of the respect of his peers that John was named Captain of the Team Saskatchewan entry which competed in the 1979 and 1980 World Cup of Rodeo at the Calgary Stampede. In 1979, John and the captain of Team British Columbia led the stampede parade along with Casey Tibbs.

Always involved in the organizational development of the Association, John has been a member of the CCA since 1964 and served on the CCA Board of Directors from 1967-69 and again from 1977-80 after his 1970-76 term as president. On the local scene, John became one of the volunteers on the Beechy rodeo committee for the first rodeo in 1968 and served as a judge or arena director on several occasions.

For his prowess in the arena, concern for cowboys and dedication to the sport of rodeo, John was named CCA Cowboy of the Decade for the seventies – a coveted award sponsored by the Roger Lehr family.

It is with pride that we welcome John Arntsen, winner of the bareback competition at our first rodeo in 1968, as one of the judges for Beechy Western Days 22 annual rodeo!