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By Peggy Nelson
Excerpted from “The Bucking Horse Man”
Printed with permission

     Leo Samuel Moomaw, one of the Omak Stampede’s founders, was born April 3, 1894, destined “to forge the Western entertainment industry,” writes his daughter, Peggy Nelson, in the introduction to a book she’s writing about her father.
     Nelson, Omak, shared excerpts of “The Bucking Horse Man” for the 75th Stampede celebration.
     Moomaw considered himself a farmer and a stockman, with emphasis on the stockman. “He knew and loved horses; he tolerated cattle,” Nelson wrote. “Sheep, goats, and other critters simply took up space.”
     He had made a good living trading horses and cattle; the rodeo business was good to him, according to Nelson.
     Moomaw was a member of the Colville Confederated Tribes, and a lifetime member of the Rodeo Cowboys Association.
     Leo Moomaw and Tim Bernard had what some would call the perfect partnership based on a foundation of respect and trust.
     The lives of both men followed similar tracks that led them to join forces in 1932 and continue building rodeo into a sport within the entertainment business.
     Their partnership was built on a shared vision that utilized the strengths and skills of both men.
     Moomaw was the cowboy who took care of the rodeo stock. Bernard was the businessman who took care of the contracts for rodeo performances.
     Moomaw worked behind the scenes. Bernard was the visible partner who worked in front of the crowd.
     Moomaw had been producing rodeos in northeast Washington since 1914 with horses he had captured, raised, or acquired through trade. He had a reputable string of broncs that attracted top cowboys and provided a good show.
     Yet, he needed the help of someone who could handle the details of arranging dates and places for shows, deal with banks for financing as needed, and coordinate with local rodeo committees in each town.
     Tim Bernard moved into the Okanogan Valley in the 1930s with a sizeable herd of cattle that he had trailed from Oregon to start a ranching operation. He had been a banker in Spokane for a time and polished his negotiation skills as a loan officer.
     Both men recognized the opportunity for a business venture that could expand the rodeo performances into small towns across the Pacific Northwest and western Canada that would draw crowds willing to pay to see top quality stock meet up with top quality riders.
     Rodeo events drew crowds and community festivals could be built around them that would bring people to town to relax, shop, or celebrate whatever they were celebrating.
     Moomaw had the horses and steers for riding events, the crew to manage them, and the experience in providing a quality show.
     Bernard had the knowledge and skill to sell the idea to local businessmen as a basis for a community festival.
     The partnership was formed and sustained with a simple hand shake that formed their bond of trust. Tim headed out to sell the idea and set it up. Leo prepared the stock to travel.
     In order to make their shows more efficient, horses were caught up before the show and tied in the order they would be used, a chute was designed that facilitated the saddling process and decrease the time between rides.
     Tim Bernard was successful in his promotions and several towns agreed to have a rodeo happen in their town.
     In each town a group of local businessmen was sold on the idea of an advertised event that would bring people to town for shopping and family entertainment. Usually a committee was formed to work out the details including collecting prize money, arranging for a place to hold the event, advertising, and payment of contractor fees.
     Some committees wanted to see the first show before committing to a contract. Moomaw and Bernard often took a percentage of the gate receipts in payment for services and made sure prize money and workers were properly paid.
     In August of 1933, Leo Moomaw, Tim Bernard, Charlie Robbins and Tom Johnson produced the first Omak Stampede with top quality bucking horses, lots of help, and a good crowd.
     In 1933 Moomaw and Bernard saw the need for some local excitement. They interested a group of Omak businessmen on the idea of a local rodeo and who agreed to allow the event.
     Word was spread throughout the rodeo world that a Moomaw/Bernard rodeo would take place in Omak.
     In August, the first rodeo was staged on the school athletic field, attracting top cowboys from the United States and Canada that included several local riders.
     Stock was trailed from the Moomaw ranch near Monse a few days before the event. Horses including Badger Mountain, Dynamite, Mae West, Blucher and Hot Shot were veterans on the rodeo trail.
     The event was staged on the school athletic field. A portable fence and bucking chute were erected in an open field near the town to form the temporary arena.
     Word was spread among the local ranchers and riders. More than 40 cowboys entered the contest to compete in bronc riding, calf roping, bulldogging, or the wild ride.
     Hamburger Jack Meyers drew Lightning Creek, a rank bronc who was not about to cooperate with the saddling process. Leo was “earing him down” by holding the horse by the ear and nose to control his head while the saddle was set in place and the rider mounted.
     When the gate swung open, Leo’s toes were caught in the gate, nearly pinching them off. Hamburger Jack rode the wild horse through some hard jumps and placed third in the money behind Norm Stewart on Hitler and Doc Watson on Blucher.
     The wild ride was a regular event at most of the Moomaw-Bernard rodeos during the ‘30s. This event was a saddle bronc riding contest in all but one very important detail.
     Riders came out of the chutes with both hands in the air. No buck rein was used to balance the rider or guide the horse.
     Some cowboys could ride a bronc quite a ways and would have a wild spurring lick on them.
     The event was not timed but judged by how far the rider was able to stay aboard. Mathew Dick, Nespelem, won first place in the contest, followed by Bert Evens, second; Bev Conners, third, and Wally Moomaw, fourth.
     The calf roping was won by Irby Mundy of Colorado Springs, Colo. Lawrence Morris, Brewster, and Leo’s brother-in-law, won second place money.
     Rollie Rucker, who traveled with Irby Mundy from Colorado, took third place.
     One of the workers moved through the crowd and “passed the hat” to collect the price of admission.
     There was a large crowd of spectators who contributed to the pot but the gate receipts came up short. Moomaw and Bernard had to pay off part of the show out of their own pockets.