History
The Great Lakes Rodeo was originally the Sawyer Stampede. Started in 2005, the Sawyer Stampede was created as a way to help finance the "W", a local recreation center. The Sawyer Stampede soon outgrew the facilities in Sawyer. It then relocated to the Marquette County Fairgrounds and renamed the Great Lakes Rodeo. The rodeo has grown to an annual attendance of 2500. In 2020 we were forced to postpone our our 15th Annual Rodeo to 2021 because of the Covid-19 outbreak.
History Made at 2013 Great Lakes Rodeo
For those who were fortunate enough to attend the Great Lakes Rodeo last year, 2013, on Sunday, then you were privileged to see the rodeo community come together to help one of their own. Jake Gee, GLR record holder for best score in bareback bronc, was re-awarded his buckle from 2010 after his first ride since tragedy struck him in 2011. The article below was written by Wendy Shimun of Iron River, MI.
The sport of rodeo brings with it the Western culture, the cowboy code and unlike many other sports, it also brings encouragement from the very competitors you are up against. Just how supportive those in the rodeo community can be has never been more evident than in the recent story of professional bareback bronc rider Jake Gee.
The Wisconsin cowboy lost everything in a fire at his residence, just outside of Portage in March, 2011.
“He lost everything but his spurs,” Gee’s friend, and fellow rodeo competitor, Andy Carter said.
This included not only his bareback riding gear, but numerous awards for his rodeo accomplishments, including belt buckles, Great Lakes Circuit Finals jackets and a rifle.
Trying to get back on your feet after such a loss is difficult enough and rodeo equipment has not been a top priority for the cowboy.
“I have not been able to afford to buy all of my gear back,” Gee said, “It is hard enough just regaining the essentials in life.”
The bareback riding event is considered the most physically demanding in rodeo and requires several pieces of equipment. A bareback rider’s gear bag normally holds a rigging and rigging pad, a glove, latigos, boots, spurs, a hat, chaps, a safety vest, a tail pad and a handle pad.
“When you add it all up, it’s a couple thousand dollars.” Gee said. Because of this, Gee has not competed in rodeo since the fire.
Determined to support their former contestant and his efforts to get back into competition, the Great Lakes Rodeo committee decided to replace one of the belt buckles won by Gee in previous years. Gee won the bareback riding event at the Great Lakes Rodeo in 2008, 2009 and 2010, and holds the arena record with a score of 93 points at the 2010 event.
The Maynard Buckle Company belt buckle is a handcrafted, custom made award, replicating the championship buckle won by Gee in 2010. It will be presented to him during the 2013 Great Lakes Rodeo this weekend.
“It has really been a boost for me to try harder to start riding again,” Gee said of the support from the Great Lakes Rodeo committee.
With a little added encouragement from Carter, along with some borrowed equipment, Gee plans to make his first ride in more than two years right here at the Great Lakes Rodeo.
He said the efforts made by his rodeo friends and the Great Lakes Rodeo committee reminded him of how caring and thoughtful the rodeo community is and how happy he is to be a part of it once again.
“I am excited to be doing what I love again, but also nervous,” the cowboy said, adding that riding bareback isn’t exactly like riding a bike.
“It’s been quite awhile. I am hoping for the best and will take whatever comes,” the humble bronc rider said, adding “I hope I haven’t lost the talent I once had.”
The Wisconsin cowboy lost everything in a fire at his residence, just outside of Portage in March, 2011.
“He lost everything but his spurs,” Gee’s friend, and fellow rodeo competitor, Andy Carter said.
This included not only his bareback riding gear, but numerous awards for his rodeo accomplishments, including belt buckles, Great Lakes Circuit Finals jackets and a rifle.
Trying to get back on your feet after such a loss is difficult enough and rodeo equipment has not been a top priority for the cowboy.
“I have not been able to afford to buy all of my gear back,” Gee said, “It is hard enough just regaining the essentials in life.”
The bareback riding event is considered the most physically demanding in rodeo and requires several pieces of equipment. A bareback rider’s gear bag normally holds a rigging and rigging pad, a glove, latigos, boots, spurs, a hat, chaps, a safety vest, a tail pad and a handle pad.
“When you add it all up, it’s a couple thousand dollars.” Gee said. Because of this, Gee has not competed in rodeo since the fire.
Determined to support their former contestant and his efforts to get back into competition, the Great Lakes Rodeo committee decided to replace one of the belt buckles won by Gee in previous years. Gee won the bareback riding event at the Great Lakes Rodeo in 2008, 2009 and 2010, and holds the arena record with a score of 93 points at the 2010 event.
The Maynard Buckle Company belt buckle is a handcrafted, custom made award, replicating the championship buckle won by Gee in 2010. It will be presented to him during the 2013 Great Lakes Rodeo this weekend.
“It has really been a boost for me to try harder to start riding again,” Gee said of the support from the Great Lakes Rodeo committee.
With a little added encouragement from Carter, along with some borrowed equipment, Gee plans to make his first ride in more than two years right here at the Great Lakes Rodeo.
He said the efforts made by his rodeo friends and the Great Lakes Rodeo committee reminded him of how caring and thoughtful the rodeo community is and how happy he is to be a part of it once again.
“I am excited to be doing what I love again, but also nervous,” the cowboy said, adding that riding bareback isn’t exactly like riding a bike.
“It’s been quite awhile. I am hoping for the best and will take whatever comes,” the humble bronc rider said, adding “I hope I haven’t lost the talent I once had.”
