Montana Medicine Show: Fanny Sperry Steele

Welcome to the Montana Medicine Show. I'm Derek stron. Fani spiri Steel was the treasure States champion cowgirl historian Ellen bomber dubbed her the quintessential Montana woman homegrown gritty and most of all independent of spirit. Born in 1887 Steele grew up breaking wild horses on a homestead near Helena. She recalled I had the staying power of a cockle bur a Bronco had a hard time throwing me off. I was light. I was quick. I had balance. At the 1912 Calgary Stampede steel rode a wild outlaw Bronco named Red Wing. Four days earlier that horse had thrown and killed Cowboy Joe Lamar wearing a wide crown sombrero a long black braids and a daring pair of black riding bloomers Fanny gave what the Calgary Daily Herald called the most spectacular ride ever seen by a cowgirl. She claimed a thousand dollar prize and won the title lady bucking horse champion of the world rodeo cowboy Paddy Ryan declared. I've

seen her ride Broncs male Brock Busters couldn't sit. She was one in a million in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show Steele rode bulls and performed trick shot routines. She retired in 1925 to run a dude ranch in 1975 she was inducted into the rodeo Hall of Fame nearing the end of her life Steele joked. If there are no horses in heaven I do not want to go there. She died in 1983 at the age of 95. From K.J. L.T. studios. I'm Derek strong. Montana medicine show is supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. A private corporation funded by the American people.