Fred Kist

Pre-1970s Rodeo

Inducted 2022

Freddie’s enthusiasm for the sport of cowboys began when he won a blue ribbon at the New Salem Horse show in the Pleasure Horse Class when he was 10 years old. After winning his first prize he built a chute at the old Kist Livestock Sales Ring in South Mandan. He began bucking calves after which he graduated to steers.

In 1956, at the age of 16, he won the State High School Bull Riding Championship in Beulah and his first silver buckle. He placed second in bareback competition at the National High School Rodeo in Reno, Nevada. Again in 1956, he distinguished himself as a champion when he entered the Minot State Championship Indoor Rodeo and won the State Bull Riding Title.

In 1957, he again entered state competition in bull riding and added dogging to his many rodeo accomplishments. The same year, he entered intercollegiate competition as a member of the Dickinson State Rodeo Team. His achievements included winning the bull riding event in Laramie, Wyoming. He was given a buckle trophy and a tooled saddle for All-around Cowboy. He placed in three events – bull riding, dogging and roping. He also won a buckle in the dogging event in Casper, WY. In Brookings, SD, he was awarded a buckle as runner up in the all-around competition.

Fred placed first in regional college competition in the bull riding event by compiling the most points during the season. States included in this region were ND, SD, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Utah, and Colorado.

In 1959, he won the N.I.R.A. Brahma Bull Riding Championship while attending Dickinson State Teachers College. He placed in every college show he entered that year and also won the All-around Cowboy Championship at the University of Wyoming rodeo.

In his rodeo career he won four trophy saddles and numerous silver buckles.