ST PAUL – Six people have received the call for inclusion into the St. Paul Rodeo Hall of Fame.
The 2024 inductees include Luke Branquinho (timed event cowboy); the late Jesse Manegre, (rodeo director); Dick Kirk (St. Paul Rodeo Association member); Andy and Barbara Fieger, both deceased (association members); and the late Maurice Merten (association member), according to a press release.
Branquinho won the steer wrestling event at the St. Paul Rodeo three times (2006, 2015 and 2021), and competed at it 19 of the 22 years of his pro rodeo career.
It was a haven, a restful place for contestants during the busy Independence Day run of rodeos across the country, he said.
“The Fourth of July is one of the biggest times of the year in rodeo, and you’re going 100 miles per hour and it’s hot and you’re tired,” he said. “Then you step into that cool air, the cool breeze, the pine trees at St. Paul and it’s almost like a little paradise there.”
When Branquinho began competing in rodeos, he’d heard about the prestigious St. Paul event but had never been there.
“The arena, with the trees in it, the crowd, the committee, everything about St. Paul is what rodeo, to me, should be," he said.
Branquinho won five world champion steer wrestling titles during his career (2004, 2008, 2011-12, 2014).
For Jesse Manegre, the St. Paul Rodeo was something he loved.
Born in 1900, he helped with the rodeo from its beginnings in 1936, organizing the trail ride, working the arena and prepping it. He served as a rodeo director for 20 years and vice-president for 15 of those years.
Granddaughter Linda Manegre Sedlock remembers riding with Manegre during the trail ride and tagging along as he volunteered at the rodeo grounds.
“He always looked forward to getting his farm equipment out and hauling it to town,” she said. “He just loved the rodeo. He loved helping with it, and it suited him. He would be very proud of this award.”
Sedlock’s parents, Bill and Jean Manegre, were also members; Bill worked as a gate man while Jean helped with the trail ride breakfast and worked in the ticket office.
Dick Kirk, at 94 years of age, remembers coming to the rodeo grounds with his parents, Lester and Loretta, as they worked, and being given a quarter to go downtown and buy candy or a soda pop.
He continued the tradition his parents started, later becoming a St. Paul Rodeo Association member.
Kirk was on the grounds committee, applying water to the arena and disking it as needed, and planting grass after the rodeo was over, to prepare for its use as the local high school's football field.
He helped good friend Ted McKillip start the iconic Tack Room Saloon, and as a young man, sometimes bought the stock for $25 each after the wild horse race event was completed.
Even though he no longer helps with the rodeo, Kirk said he loves watching rodeo on the Cowboy Channel, keeping an eye out for St. Paul Rodeo personnel like announcer Justin McKee or rodeo clown JJ Harrison.
Kirk’s daughter, Shannon Kirk Ernst, continues the tradition as a volunteer with the rodeo; her husband Randy Ernst is also a director.
Like Manegre Sedlock, Steve Coleman remembers tagging along with his granddad, Maurice Merten, a St. Paul Rodeo Association member, as Merten parked cars at the rodeo.
“He was the head car parking man,” Coleman said. “I saddled up my old horse and helped him park cars for several years.”
Merten also “packed” his share of lumber, Coleman, a former director, said, when the grandstands were being built: “He was right there, a handy man, big and strong.”
Part of Merten’s farm makes up the south part of the rodeo grounds -- he lived just south of town. His family continues the tradition; his daughter Maureen Merten Coleman, Steve’s mother, helped with the court committee for 25 years. His children and grandchildren are involved with the rodeo as well.
The children of Andy and Barbara Fieger are delighted their parents are inductees into the Hall of Fame.
“They gave of their time, and that’s what they had to give,” said son Dennis, along with siblings Rick and Cheryl.
Andy worked on the grounds, preparing it for the rodeo, while Barbara was part of the group of women who made and served potato salad and sandwiches at the trail ride. Making the food was as important as the trail ride, daughter Cheryl Lucas said, adding “They had fun.”
Andy took tickets during the rodeo with good friend Swede Pavlicek, and Barbara worked in the ticket office. The two were part of the trail ride committee for more than 40 years.
In the early years of the rodeo, Barbara was involved with decorating and cooking for the annual members' meeting.
“Mom participated in that,” Cheryl said. “They loved it. It was a big party, getting ready for the party.”
Barbara loved the rodeo, decorating her house with red, white and blue bunting and geraniums during rodeo week.
“Mom was really proud of the rodeo,” Cheryl said.
“We saw the effort our parents put into their involvement and the fun they had as a result of it,” Dennis said. “It was a labor of love for them, definitely something they took to heart. They wanted to do their part. We’re happy they’re being recognized for their participation. They worked hard and loved it.”
The Hall of Fame Barbecue honoring the Class of 2024 will be held at 5 p.m. July 1 in the rodeo arena. A meal will be served, with live and silent auctions. Auction proceeds benefit the St. Paul Rodeo Foundation.
Tickets for the barbecue are $40 and are not available at the door; they must be purchased in advance at StPaulRodeo.com .
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