Born to buck

Rodeo-goers ooh and ahh as riders cling to bucking stock or bulls, hoping to see an eight-second ride. What spectators do not see behind the scenes is the importance quality stock plays in providing an evening of rodeo entertainment.

For 52 years, Hollenbeck Rodeo Company, owned by Squeek and Maureen Hollenbeck, of Winner, South Dakota, has supplied stock for rodeos throughout the Mid-States Rodeo Association area, including 42 years as the provider for Clearwater's Big Rodeo.

Rodeo is a Hollenbeck family tradition. Squeek spent years bulldogging and participating in team roping at rodeos across Nebraska.

Squeek's grandfather was in the stock contracting business, as well as his uncles, Burl and Doyle, who operated Hollenbeck Brothers Rodeo Company.

"They were in the stock contracting business out of Long Pine," Maureen said.

The family ties continued. Squeek started as a pickup man. His mother timed events.

When his grandfather and uncles opted to sell the business in 1965, Squeek, his dad, Vincent, and family friend, Roy Sell, took over, forming the H & S Rodeo Company.

"They decided to gather a few horses and a few bulls and we started in 1968," Maureen said.

Originally, the partners purchased horses through sales barns or from friends who owned spoiled saddle horses.

"We did that for a lot of years before we started raising our own bucking stock," she added.

Eventually, the Hollenbecks joined a born-to-buck breeding program.

"We have a set of horses and stallions that are proven bucking horses," Maureen said.

The Hollenbecks have sold multiple horses to Joe Simon of Dakota Rodeo, who has taken the stock directly to Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association events.

"He has taken our cream of the crop and taken them to PRCA rodeos. Several have gone to the National Finals Rodeo, so that has been a lot of fun for us to watch those horses go on to really big rodeos."

Bar Tender has earned a powerful reputation, drawing a crowd of followers wherever he travels. Simon has a picture of Bar Tender on his truck and when they pull into a rodeo's grounds, fans flock to the truck, asking about the horse.

In the past, the Hollenbecks raised 120 to 130 head of bucking stock.

Maureen said, "We've downsized some. Now we have 90."

The couple followed a similar path with bull stock.

Some of the first bulls were roping calves from the Hollenbecks ranch near Winner, where they run a cow-calf operation.

One of the top bulls they raised was a hereford-brahma mix.

They have raised up to 80 head. Currently, they run 70 bulls.

"We usually don't buck anything until they are three years," she said.

Bulls usually remain in the rotation up to age eight. Bucking stock remain in the herd for a longer time.

"Bucking stock has an easy lifestyle. Their job is to stay home and eat and load up for rodeo on the weekend, doing what they like to do," she said. "Once they've been hauled, they're ready to get on the truck ... They like to go."

Sell and Vincent decided to leave the business in 1990, spurring a name change to Hollenbeck Rodeo Company.

Through the years, the family's children, Scott and Dori, joined in the venture, working as arena cleaners. Squeek's brother, Lonnie, and his family assisted as timers and hauled stock from arena to arena. Scott's wife is a veterinarian and will tend to animals if an injury occurs.

Cody Hollenbeck, a nephew, and Kris Schenefeld keep the arena cleared.

Now, granddaughter, Sydney, helps make the show run smoothly.

An animal science major at South Dakota State University, Sydney moves stock from pen to chute during the rodeo.

"I really like the horses and bulls," she said.

After starting her rodeo career in 4-H and high school rodeo, she now participates in breakaway roping.

She said she likes the atmosphere and people associated with rodeo.

Maybe, someday, she will run the contracting company.

"I like it around Winner. I'm a homebody," she said.

The Hollenbecks have noted changes in rodeo throughout their 50-year career.

Maureen said, "Back in the day, when you'd have 50 to 60 bull riders, sometimes we'd run slack in bull riding. We'd have 25 to 30 barebacks, 40 saddle broncs. We ran a lot of rough stock, unlike what we see now," she said.

The decline in participants may be two-fold.

"We think some of it is that stock is bred up now," Maureen said. "In years when we saw so many numbers in bull riding, it was right after the movie '8 Seconds.' Everyone wanted to be a bull rider and they came out of the woodwork."

Another cause of lower numbers in rodeo events may be attributed to a decline in farm-ranch families.

"You don't see as many of the high school kids rodeoing. Back then, there were so many. Kids grew up riding horses and had that background," Maureen said.

She credits the rodeo committee for orchestrating a top-notch show.

"They work hard. There are so many improvements from when we first came here 42 years ago."

Maureen called the 42-year run at Clearwater's event "amazing."

"What a wonderful committee this has been since the first year we came down here. They treated us so well and welcomed us into the community. It's almost like when we pack up to come down to this rodeo, it's like we're coming home. We have such good friends down here - the Mlnariks, Snodgrass family, Filsingers - they've become our extended family," Maureen said.