News

Lodoen family celebrates 65 years of cattle shows at fair

By Tyler Ohmann

06/19/2012

Things have changed at the Bottineau County Fair in the last 65 years. Board presidents have come and gone, buildings have been torn down and erected, acts have come and gone, but one constant has seen the oldest county fair in North Dakota every year since 1948—the Lodoen family.

Every since Leonard Lodoen proudly announced to his parents that he was going to join 4-H and start showing cattle in 1948 there has been a Lodoen that has showed cattle at the fair.

“When I was a kid I went over to a neighbors place that showed cattle, and I hung around a herdsman there named Bob Smith, and he taught me a bunch of stuff,” Leonard said. “One day I came home and said that I wanted to join 4-H.”

After Leonard, his younger brothers came and showed, then when his son, Matt was old enough he began to show, and thus kept the tradition alive.

"My first year was 1980, at eight years old, and I probably showed every year until I was 19,” Matt said. “It is just what we did, it’s what I did growing up.”

After Matt, his cousins began to show, and eventually his own children began. His son Ben even went as far as a national competition.

“It’s not just the fair, we show all over,” Matt said. “My kids started out in 4-H and then they moved on to the junior points show, and that is an every weekend deal in the summer time.”

Ben, now 20, still shows, but his crowning achievement came recently with a grand champion yearling at the Denver cattle show, which Matt dubs as ‘the Super Bowl of cattle shows.’

Ben isn’t the only Lodoen currently showing cattle, Matt and his wife Jenny have six children, the next oldest Rylee, 17, said that showing cattle is her thing.

“For me, I don’t do any sports, so showing cattle, I chose that over sports, and it’s something that you work on all year,” Rylee said. “The way you learn a lot of good traits and life lessons showing cattle is astounding. A lot of people don’t get that, you can’t just pick up and leave for a weekend, there are things you have to do every day.”

“It has paid off though, there is no better hobby I don’t think,” Rylee added.

Matt is glad that his kids choose to continue the family tradition.

“My philosophy is that sometimes the cattle can get a little expensive that we show, but there is a heck of a lot worse things that kids could be doing,” Matt said. “The kids have gotten really good at it, and it is a great way of life.”

“I’m very proud of my kids. People think nowadays that kids just sit around at their play station and stay in all day, but my kids are out in the barn at six in the morning every day,” Matt continued. “They do their other jobs during the day too, so they get their animals ready in the morning, then they go to their job and take care of their cattle at night,” Matt said. “It just gives them a good work ethic.”

The Lodoens own a ranch that is located about a half mile north of Westhope.

Rylee said she really enjoys showing cattle, and that makes it more fun, even though it can sometimes be tough work.

“It takes up a lot of time, but if you are willing to work at something it is worth doing it,” Rylee said. “It is really fun, and it’s something that I really like to do.”

“It is something that I’m good at, and when you are good at something, you like it a lot more,” Rylee added.

And all the Lodoens began showing at the Bottineau County Fair, something that Matt thinks kids should look into.

“Kids have to take advantage of the county fair. It is a great experience, it is the oldest fair in North Dakota, everybody knows that,” Matt said. “We can do it together as a family, the state fair too, that is our summer vacation.”

Rylee knows that showing cattle is a family tradition, and that it also teaches valuable lessons.

“This is something that is pretty much in my blood I guess, my grandpa did it, my dad it, my older cousins did it, my older brother still does it,” Rylee said. “It is a lot of hard work, and it teaches me a lot: responsibility, dedication, hard work.”

With all the many Lodoens that show, showed and will continue to show, they know it all began with Leonard.

“I came to my first fair here in 1948, and I was in 4-H from then until I was about 20 years old,” Leonard said. “We’ve been supporters of 4-H and involved in 4-H and it’s because of 4-H that I’m doing what I’m doing today.”

In fact, Leonard stated that one of his prize possessions is a traveling trophy that he earned, and he still has it at home.

Leonard also served on the Bottineau County Fair Board for 25 years. Matt’s wife, Jenny, now serves on the board as well.

Rylee takes comfort in knowing that her father and grandfather can look to her carrying on the family name.

“My grandpa is really proud of us, and he tells us every day, ‘keep working hard, because it’s paying off,’” Rylee said. “My dad and my grandpa just love it, and it gives our ranch a good name, and they get to see their offspring do well.”

Another benefit according to all the Lodoens are the many memories and friends that you make at fairs like the Bottineau County fair and through 4-H.

“They (my kids) have met a lot of life long friends, and they are all great people, you can’t say enough about the people around here,” Matt said.

Leonard is quick to point out the great memories he had at fairs past as well.

“We used to come down and sleep with our cattle in the haymow,” Leonard said. “It was great fun, and one of the things that you remember your whole life.”

Leonard said that he’ll be at the Bottineau County Fair every year for as long as is possible. And while many things have changed in the past 65 years, the Lodoen family in the cattle ring is one staple that has not.