Honors to be given to military at Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo

  • Published
  • By Anne Morrison
  • Hilltop Times staff
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  The Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo is honoring our service members with a night dedicated to retired and active duty military members. In addition, an Airman from Hill will be recognized every night at the rodeo. Patriot Night will take place July 21 and all regular rodeo events will begin at 7:30 p.m. each night.

In the selection process, 13 rodeo queen contestants each picked a military member -- some in the Army Reserve units and some from Hill.

Master Sgt. Steven Hallenbeck, 775th Civil Engineer Squadron, an EOD squadron at Hill, is one Airman being honored.

"I don't deserve this as much as the ones I work with and for do," said Hallenbeck. Despite a rough year in his unit, Hallenbeck said he wouldn't change a thing.

"It's been tough," he said. "We're where the rubber meets the road; we're taking the fight to the enemy."

Hallenbeck plans to get out of the Air Force this year and move to Alaska with his wife and newborn, Piper. "It's been a good ride," Hallenbeck said. "But it's almost time to get off."

Staff Sgt. Keith Kehle, of the 75th Force Support Squadron, is one of those being recognized each night of the rodeo. In addition to receiving honors while working with the Army in Iraq, Kehle has also received an award from the Air Force for his work in the field. He will be presented with the achievement award Friday night during the rodeo.

Ogden's PRCA rodeo has been placed in the top 20 PRCA rodeos after being nominated for "Best Rodeo in the PRCA" four times, according to the Ogden Pioneer Days website. This year's celebration will be the 78th anniversary of the event and will take place July 20-July 25, with the rodeo starting at 7:30 p.m. every night.

The sponsor for the event, American Monument, will be selling discounted tickets for $5 from the $12 entrance fee for military members and their family. Military members must buy the tickets online, as none will be sold at the door. Tickets can be purchased at AmericanMonument.com underneath the patriot banner sign.