Berger Joins Father in North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame

By: Justin Felisko
June 19, 2018

PUEBLO, Colo. – Reigning Stock Contractor of the Year Chad Berger had to compose himself ever so briefly when he was on the Ridepass set during intermission of Berger’s annual PBR event in Bismarck, North Dakota.

It was less than eight hours since Berger had been inducted into the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame, and he was already trying to give credit to where he felt credit was due.

Berger brought up Proverbs 20:7 when discussing his induction with RidePass hosts Craig Hummer and Colby Yates, “The righteous who walks in his integrity – blessed are his children after him.”

“My mom dad had so much honesty and integrity that it was easy for me,” Berger said. “I owe this to everybody else.”

Berger’s plaque in the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame, which is located in Medora, North Dakota, will sit next to his father’s.

Joe Berger was inducted into the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame two years ago and Chad gave his father’s induction speech.

This time around, Chad, who has taken more bulls to the PBR World Finals than anyone in PBR history, had to take a minute to catch his breath before giving his own speech with his father in attendance.

“They put that little bitty mic in front of him and he got a little vapor locked,” laughed two-time World Champion All-Around cowboy Phil Lyne. “He was great.”

Lyne is the father-in-law of two-time World Champion J.B. Mauney and Shorty Gorham, and he was in attendance at Berger’s Hall of Fame induction and Touring Pro Division event.

He is also a childhood idol of Berger’s.

“Chad said this was more for his family,” Lyne said. “Really he wants to be a role model for his family and be thought of later for the person he was. It takes a special person. It is like anything. You get out what you put into it. You can see what Chad has put into his bulls.

“You just inspire other people. You turn people off. You turn them on. Chad turns them on. He really does.”

 
Berger made the 4-hour round-trip drive to Medora on Saturday for the induction ceremony before his $100,000 Match of Champions event at the Bismarck Event Center.

“It has been pretty emotional,” Berger said. “It is an honor. I am proud of my family, my friends and everybody around me for what they have become, but I am really honored to be in the Hall of the Fame.

“What is really special is nobody has won it since (my dad), so my plaque will go on the wall next to my dad’s for eternity,” Chad said. “When my grandkids go there someday they can tell their kids about me and my dad.”

The North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame was founded in 1995.

PBR Director of Livestock Cody Lambert was one of the many that wrote recommendation letters last fall for Chad to be inducted this year.

Lambert mentioned Joe’s success in his letter and ended his recommendation of the younger Berger by writing, “The PBR is better off having Chad Berger as a part of it, and the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame will be as well.”

Chad began Chad Berger Bucking Bulls in 2003, but he was a cowboy tried and true his entire life.

He was 6 years old when he began riding steers and bucking horses. By the time he was 9, he was competing in Little Britches rodeos.

Berger qualified for the National High School Finals rodeo each year of his high school career and nearly won a national title his senior year. However, his horse flipped over on him and broke his arm.

He rode bulls and saddle broncs until 1988. He then shifted to team roping after Lee Seiland asked him. In 1993, Berger competed at the United States Team Roping Championships in Guthrie, Oklahoma. Berger won six team roping saddles and a horse trailer the following season.

Chad’s induction into the Hall of Fame may be a credit to his PBR record seven Stock Contractor of the Year awards and to his annual PBR event, which just celebrated its 18^th anniversary this past weekend in memorable fashion, but he wants to make sure everyone knows he isn’t a one-man band.

Berger said this induction is a credit to his wife, Sarah, children, partners, sponsors, employees and fans.

“It means everything to me,” Berger said. “You don’t just find respect on the street corner. You have to earn that. Everybody interviews me all the time, but you are only as good as the people around you. I always made sure I had good people around me. I have the best set of help in the back pens. I have the best family. They all chip in and help. Without them you are nothing.

“Anybody that thinks they can do it themselves, I can promise they ain’t going to make it. You have to have good people around.”

Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko

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