PRORODEO Sports News - August 8, 2025

Charlie moved up the ranks to be come a sergeant before joining the United States Forest Service. There he became a special agent and worked for 32 years. He remained an active member of the Ski-Hi Stampede committee. He traveled to other PRCA rodeos to look for ways to improve his own in Monte Vista. "His dedication was to his job and his family, but also the rodeo communi ty," Shawn said. "He was so in tune with rodeo and the family of rodeo. He wanted to learn how to make im provements to our rodeo. He wanted to see what we could do to be top notch and be recognized." The recognition from the Ski-Hi Stampede brought Charlie to tears in the middle of the arena now named after him. Shawn, who was working one of the cameras, said he almost broke down, too. It also came nearly four months after Charlie went in to have stints put into his heart but exited the operating room after needing a triple bypass. Doctors discovered a 95% blockage in one of his heart valves. Two others were 80% blocked. "They took care of business right there," Shawn said. "He got right back into cardiac rehab within two weeks. He was in pain, but he was right back at it. He knows what it takes to be strong and knows things won't fix themselves." His father's love for the community has only grown stronger over the years. He remains a resident of Monte Vista with a ranch nearby the rodeo venue - his rodeo venue. "Any adjective that can be used to de scribe greatness, it was that moment," Shawn said.

93.5 The score given to bare back rider Kade Berry during the champion ship round of Cheyenne Frontier Days to win the title and set a new arena record. 94.5 The score given to saddle bronc rider Dawson Hay at the Hardgrass Bronc Match in Pollockville, Alberta. The mark is one point shy of the world record, which was set by his older brother, Logan, in 2022 in Pollockville. 100,000 The total payout for the inaugural Cheyenne Frontier Days Xtreme Bulls, part of the Rank 45 Xtreme Bulls Tour.

Charlie Burd, a longtime committee member of the Ski-Hi Stampede, had the arena named in his honor. Courtesy photo by Brian Williams/Valley Courier

PRORODEO Sports News 45