By Tim Lee
Eighteen years ago, a group of cowboys and cowgirls dusted off their boots and decided to turn a heart-breaking sorrow into something beautiful. They never expected to watch their idea to honor their son, brother, cousin, and friend, Dusty Gliko, who passed away from a fluke pick-up accident, explode into a nonprofit that would donate a minimum of $10,000 every year in the form of an annual rodeo.
Now, eighteen years later the Dusty Gliko Bull Riding Challenge is returning to Great Falls on June 3rd starting at 7pm, and continues to grow beyond imagination as part of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) circuit. This event features world-class bull stock from Chad Berger Bulls and world-renowned rodeo clown Flint Rasmussen, who will be doing his final performance at this event before hanging up his spurs in retirement.
Dusty was a ranch boy that grew up in Belt, Montana who loved riding bulls and made it to the circuit finals many times in his life. He was known for his giving spirit and in the words of his Sister Jamie “Dusty loved his Jesus Christ.” This event strives to live up to his testimony by donating all its proceeds from sponsorships and entry tickets to Make A Wish Foundation Montana, and the Grace Veterans Home, in Great Falls. Each organization gets a minimum of $5000 and the remainder of the donations goes to help other unexpected causes.
Living up to Dusty’s patriotism, the board of directors also hosted a contest on their Facebook page to decide who would sing the national anthem by taking entries that they posted to their Facebook for their fans to vote on. Whoever is selected the winner will be singing the anthem at the beginning of the rodeo. Go watch the individual entries on their Facebook at Facebook.com/glikobullridingchallenge.
Tickets are available for sale at Hoglunds Western Wear or online at tickets.goexpopark.com.