Story by Ruth Nicolaus
NORTH PLATTE, Neb - When Jim Gragg takes vacation, he goes to work, and loves every minute of it.
For the past fifty years, the Tryon, Neb. man has spent four days every June in North Platte, volunteering at the Buffalo Bill Rodeo. And even though it’s work, he loves it.
Since 1974, Gragg has untied calves after every tie-down roping run at the rodeo.
He was a high school sophomore when he began helping, and he’s never missed a performance or Wednesday morning slack.
He drives from his ranch south of Tryon every day, instead of staying in North Platte. It’s easier that way, because he can take care of ranch chores on the place he and wife Judy own. He puts on about 600 miles in the four-day period.
After each tie-down roping run, he and another man run to the calf and take the rope off, handing it back to the roper. It’s not a hard job, but with about 140-150 ropers throughout the four days of rodeo, it requires the ability to make the repeated trip from the side of the arena, to the horse, roper and calf, and back again.
Last year, Gragg was given the Trail Boss Award, an annual award given to volunteers who exemplify dedication and going above and beyond the call of duty to support the rodeo or its auxiliary events.
Gragg didn’t know he was receiving the award last year till he heard his name called. It was a big surprise, he said. “I was headed to the catch pen, and I saw all these people I know,” he said. He was escorted to the middle of the arena, where he was presented with the award.
“I was shocked, I was just so shocked,” he said. “Coming home that night, we generally have the radio on, but I was so wound, I rattled all the way home.”
As soon as he got home, he hung the plaque. “I found a spot and hung it on the wall.”
Gragg, along with other volunteers, helps with the calves and steers, making sure they’re sorted in the correct pens. When Hadley Barrett was announcing the rodeo, he always opened a gate to the catch pen, so Hadley could ride his horse into it during the bull riding.
Gragg loves every part of the rodeo, “everything,” he said. One of the highlights is for him to meet the rodeo stars who compete in North Platte. “I’ve met so many neat people,” he said, like (world champion tie-down roper) Tuf Cooper. One morning at slack, he was roping, and I thought, I’d just as well shake his hand. I’ll never get another chance. It’s neat to see all these people and be a part of their life, at least for a few seconds.”
Gragg and his wife Judy raise cattle and quarter horses. She usually doesn’t accompany him to the rodeo, but she was there when he received the Trail Boss Award.
A humble man, he was grateful to receive the award. “It meant the world to me. I never dreamed in a million, in a million-plus years, they’d even consider me for this award. It means the world to me.”
The time he spends at the rodeo is special to him.
“I just consider those four days my vacation. I just love it.”
This year’s rodeo is June 18-21 with nightly shows at 7:30 pm. The rodeo is held at the Wild West Arena in North Platte.
Tickets range in price from $11-$24 and can be purchased online at NebraskalandDays.com, at the NebraskalandDays office, and at the gate.