PRORODEO Sports News - September 5, 2025

bucking horse, Virgil, who is widely regarded as one of the best of all time. "I got to work with some of the best horses of all time. That's one of the things I do miss," Rempel said. "(Virgil) is amazing. Him, Grated Coconut and (Kesler Championship Rodeo's) Cool Alley were all great to be around." Rempel leaves rodeo with plenty of accolades outside of the NFR and PRCA annual honor. He was a pickup man for the Canadian Finals Rodeo 21 times. In 2009 he was named the Canadian Cowboy of the Year. He was inducted into the Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2013, and the next year was inducted into the Pendleton Roundup & Happy Canyon Hall of Fame. Leaving rodeo won't be easy for Rempel. Though having the op portunity to stay home rather than hit the road is something he admits he is looking forward to. He plans to take it easy with his wife, Judy. She will remain working for the next year or so, but the two have plans to travel. Rempel said it may be hard for him to stay away from rodeo altogether. He may help out local ranches close to his Montana home. He also told his C5 colleagues he may end up at rodeos they provide stock for, offering some critiques to his fellow pickup men. "They're going to have to put up with me a little bit," Rempel laughed. "I might show up here and there and critique those guys for the heck of it." No matter how involved Rempel is in the coming months and years, PRO RODEO will always hold a special place in his heart. "Rodeo is all I've done," Rempel said. "You meet so many good people … contestants and contractors … all the friends you make. I'll miss a lot of that. Rodeo gets to be part of you."

"I thought it would be as good a place as any," Rempel said. "It's a strange feeling. I got home and thought, 'Darn it, that was the last rodeo.' It's dif ferent but I've been working toward it for two years so it's fine. I've got lots of stuff to do." Rempel worked for the Calgary Stam

pede from 1985 to 2023. He spent the last two years with C5 Rodeo, a fellow Cana da-based stock contractor. He's

worked with great rough stock over the years, including ProRodeo Hall of Fame bucking horse Grated

Coconut from Calgary Stam pede. Recently,

he's worked with C5's star

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