Montana State University’s freshman Piper Cordes from Wall, South Dakota, competes on the rodeo team. Governor Greg Gianforte is set to sign House Bill 190, making Montana the fourth state to declare American Rodeo the official state sport. The bill passed in the Senate with a 40-9 vote, with a clause for immediate effect. The House also concurred with the amendment. This decision reflects Montana’s heritage and outdoor culture, representing a unique statement about the state.
Senator Wendy McKamey supported the bill, emphasizing rodeo’s importance in Montana. However, some senators expressed concerns about the bill, including its lack of Native American components. Despite these objections, the bill received widespread support, including from the Montana American Indian Caucus and the state’s elected officials.
Montana has a strong rodeo culture, with five colleges in the state having rodeo clubs or teams. The state has also produced numerous contestants for the National High School Rodeo Finals. Montana State University has a long history of hosting collegiate rodeo finals.
American Rodeo joins a list of state symbols in Montana, alongside the duck-billed dinosaur (state fossil) and the grizzly bear (state animal). This decision reinforces the significance of rodeo in Montana’s cultural heritage and outdoor lifestyle.
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