08/23/2026
Thank you Loren Walker and crew for heading up major improvements at the Custer Rodeo Club Arena this year!
The rebuilding of the 1970s-era Custer Arena has been a years-long undertaking tackled by volunteers and donors too numerous to mention here. The work to rebuild started in 2007 with the inception of the Custer Ranch Rodeo, and over several years improvements included three new sides on the arena plus back pens and bucking chutes, as well as a roping chute and boxes. Then the work stalled for a few years as we all took time away to raise our families.
Speaking of families, these days the main event at the Custer Arena is a summer gymkhana series that meets on Sunday mornings. This series has expanded the Custer Rodeo Club family to include folks from Custer, Hysham, Hardin, Huntley, Forsyth, Miles City, Terry, and beyond— a total of 75 contestants this year competing in barrels, poles, flags, goat tying, and roping.
At first, Loren Walker was just another dad at the gymkhanas. But this spring he came to the club with an offer to head up not only the construction of the remaining arena fence, but also the building of a new crow’s nest and a second fence to keep local cows out of the concessions area.
Loren brought his own crew to do this work at the arena this summer. He picked up supplies, he gathered donations, and now the rest of us are just enjoying this almost unbelievable new chapter at the Custer Arena!
THANK YOU to Loren, Chris Strobbe, Walker Quarter Horses of Musselshell and the rest of the crew that worked hard to put these projects together.
THANK YOU Jeb Olson (another summer series dad) of Stick ‘em Up Fencing for making and donating four custom gates to complete the fences!
THANK YOU Big Sky Steel of Billings for making and donating the new sign at the arena entrance!
THANK YOU 12 Mile Mill of Shepherd for donating the lumber used for the crow’s nest!
THANK YOU 20X Panels of Shepherd for, through the years, giving us great deals on the continuous fence panels that now the ENTIRE arena is built out of.
THANK YOU Cowboy Meat Company of Forsyth for giving us a great deal on the shipping container that we (here’s looking at you head chef Mandi Watson!) now use as headquarters for the concessions.
Again, so many people and businesses have contributed to the Custer Arena through the years… but those mentioned here ran the last leg of the marathon for us all. Our kids (all 75 or so of them!) will grow up riding with their friends in this historic space, surrounded by beautiful views of the Yellowstone Valley, knowing that they are part of this community and likely dreaming of the days when they will compete in much bigger rodeo venues than this one. Perhaps someday a few of them will return to this same arena to carry the torch for a next generation… and maybe they’ll rebuild it all over again in 50 years 😉.
THANK YOU Custer Rodeo Club sponsors, donors, and volunteers… For investing in the next generation of Montana cowboys and cowgirls!
