Brenda Lee Bonogofsky Pickett

Modern-era Rodeo

Inducted 2017

Brenda Lee (Bonogofsky) Pickett was born April 6, 1962 in Bismarck, ND, and grew up working on the family farm/ranch located on the Heart River bottom near Carson, ND. Her family raised Simmental cattle and alfalfa for hay.

As a child, Brenda Lee was active in Horse 4-H and Play Days sponsored by the Bismarck Horse Club. She competed in NDRA rodeos, participating in breakaway roping, goat tying and barrel racing. During her college years, Brenda Lee continued to be active in rodeo. She also competed in ICA rodeos and USTRC events. In the summer of 1985, she competed on a WPRCA permit in barrel racing at PRCA rodeos in Colorado. Brenda Lee was named NDRA Breakaway Champion.

In 1981, Brenda Lee was crowned Miss Rodeo Carson. She went on to represent ND, traveling throughout the western United States as Miss Rodeo North Dakota in 1982. In 1983, she became the first Miss Rodeo North Dakota to be named Miss Rodeo America, traveling nationwide representing rodeo and the PRCA. She has served as a consultant or judge for several state rodeo queen pageants. Today, Brenda Lee continues to support the Miss Rodeo America Scholarship Fund through contributions.

Active in her community, Brenda Lee served on her church council from 1992 to 2005 and was responsible for the creation of a meals program through the church. She has also done pro-bono mental health counseling for 15 years.

Brenda Lee Pickett currently resides in Star, ID.