This Week in the West: Rodeo Cowboys on Strike? The Story of Herman Linder

🤠This Week in the West 🎙️ Episode 40: Rodeo Cowboys on Strike? The Story of Herman Linder

📢 Episode Summary: This week on This Week in The West, we turn the spotlight on rodeo legend Herman Linder, remembered during the week of his birth on August 5. Known as the “King of the Cowboys,” Linder wasn’t just a champion in the arena—he was a driving force in reshaping the sport of rodeo itself. From humble beginnings in Alberta to record-breaking victories at the Calgary Stampede, his legacy stretches across borders and generations.

Listeners will hear the dramatic story of October 30, 1936, when Linder and 60 other rodeo cowboys walked out of Boston Garden in protest, effectively launching the first organized labor movement in rodeo. Their bold stand led to the formation of the Cowboys’ Turtle Association—so named because they were “slow but sure”—which would eventually become today’s Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). Linder’s leadership helped bring structure, fairness, and accountability to a sport that badly needed all three.

Beyond the bucking chutes, Linder promoted rodeos across North America, represented Canada at Expo 67, and was honored with inductions into both the Canadian and American rodeo halls of fame. He even earned the prestigious Order of Canada before passing away in 2001 at the age of 93. His legacy isn’t just one of titles and trophies—it’s one of integrity, advocacy, and the enduring spirit of the West.

 

🔍 What You’ll Learn:

• How a 1936 cowboy strike in Boston led to the founding of modern professional rodeo organizations.
• Why Herman Linder earned the nickname “King of the Cowboys” and how he dominated the sport in the 1930s.
• The role Linder played in professionalizing rodeo, advocating for better conditions, and shaping its future in both the U.S. and Canada.

👥 Behind the Scenes Host: Seth Spillman Producer: Chase Spivey Writer: Mike Koehler

🔗 Further research:

• Western Horseman Magazine: The Tale of the Boston Strike: https://westernhorseman.com/rodeo/the-boston-strike/
• The Canadian Encyclopedia entry on Herman Linder: https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/herman-linder
• Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame entry on Herman Linder: https://www.canadianprorodeohalloffame.org/1982

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