Chad Berger

Modern-era Rodeo

Inducted 2018

Chad Berger was 6 years old when he started riding steers and Shetland bucking horses. By age 9, he was riding in Little Britches rodeos. Berger started entering NDRA rodeos at the age of 13 and made his first NDRA finals as a freshman. He competed at NDHSRA finals each year and qualified for Nationals his senior year, placing 9th place in the nation in Saddle Bronc Riding. Berger needed 47 points to win the National Championship on his final horse. The horse flipped end over end on top of him, breaking his arm.

In 1980, Berger became a cattle buyer working with his dad and brother Fred. At age 20, Berger married the love of his life, Sarah Stumpf. The pair was blessed with three children.

Berger rode bulls and saddle broncs until 1988. In 1992, Lee Selland asked him to start team roping. In 1993, he competed at the USTRC Finals in Guthrie, Oklahoma. He and roping partner Scott Selland won 6th place in the #9 roping. In 1994, Berger won 6 team roping saddles and a horse trailer, and won more saddles the next few years.

In 2000, Berger decided to get back to his roots and go into the bucking bull business. With wife Sarah, he started producing the Dakota Community Bank and Trust PBR Bull Riding Challenge.

By 2003, Berger had his first bull at the PBR World Finals in Las Vegas Nevada. By 2006, he was reserve champion for Stock Contractor of the Year and in 2007 won his first of 7 world titles. In 2009, the bull we co-owned, “Code Blue”, was PBR Bucking Bull of the Year.

Berger and his wife Sarah, along with children and grandchildren, continue to operate Chad Berger Bucking Bulls at their ranch home in Mandan, ND.