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Jeff Gorrell

Modern-era Rodeo

Inducted 2026

Jeff Gorrell was born September 10, 1957, the third child and oldest son, to Jay and JoAnn Gorrell in Williston ND. The Gorrell’s ranched in the Trotters/Squaw Gap area for many years. Jeff attended school at Plainview Elementary and graduated from Beach High School in 1975.

At the age of 4 Jeff picked up a rope and started roping with his dad at the family ranch. Jay recognized Jeff’s potential and athletic ability. When Jeff was 10 yrs old, Jay sent Jeff to the Jim Rodriguez Jr/Ken Luman Roping School in Rapid City, SD. Jeff participated in Little Britches and High School rodeos during his youth and high school years. In 1973 Jeff and Warren Wilson won the North Dakota State High School Rodeo Team Roping Championship and qualified to go to the National High School Rodeo Finals in Ogden, Utah. In 1974 Jeff and Arnie “Poncho” Irwin won the North Dakota High School Rodeo Team Roping Championship and qualified to go to the National High School Finals in Tomah, Wisconsin where they won the 1974 National High School Rodeo Team Roping Championship.

Jeff was awarded a full scholarship to Dawson Community College (DCC) in Glendive, MT where he hit his stride. Jeff was the DCC Rodeo Team Captain and participated in calf roping, team roping (header & heeler) and steer wrestling. Jeff frequently captured the all-around title at the college rodeos for his competency in all three events. DCC claimed the men’s team trophy in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association-Big Sky Region in 1977 and 1979.

Jeff competed and achieved the following awards.

  • 1973 North Dakota High School Rodeo: Team Roping Championship
  • 1974 North Dakota High School Rodeo: Team Roping Championship
  • 1974 National High School Rodeo: Team Roping Championship
  • 1978 Big Sky Region College Rodeo (2nd in steer wrestling)
  • 1982 Montana Circuit (Average Winner-Team Roping Header)
  • 1984 NRA (Team Roping Header)
  • 1987 NRA (Team Roping Heeler)
  • 1998 NRA Team Roping Header)
  • 1990 Badlands Circuit (Team Roping Header)
  • 1992 Badlands Circuit (Team Roping Header)
  • 1995 Badlands Circuit (Team Roping Header)
  • 1992 NDRA, Badlands Circuit (Team Roping Header)
  • 1997 NDRA Badlands Circuit (Team Roping Header)

 

Jeff’s mentors were his dad and fellow team ropers Glen Hough and Phil Luman. Jeff and his younger brother, Joel, were team roping competitors at many of the North Dakota/Montana regional rodeos. Jeff ranched and raised quarter horses for many years at Beaver Creek Ranch where he raised his two boys, Colt and Clint. Jeff coached his boys in Little Britches, high school and college rodeos as well as many other area kids in roping and horsemanship frequently loaning his horses to others participating in high school rodeos. Jeff retired and moved to the Gorrell Family ranch in Trotters in 2016 where he continues with his horsemanship and assists his son Clint (Kaitlyn) with their ranching and quarter horse business. Jeff has five grandkids.