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Montana Silversmiths’ Women of the PBR- #TAKEASECONDLOOK: Sarah Berger

October 17, 2018

The Women of the PBR photo shoot. Photo: Clark Marten Photography

Taking a look behind the scenes with the Women of the PBR, we have seen a variety of ways that these ladies play vital roles.

Today, we check in with Sarah Berger, wife of stock contractor Chad Berger, and discuss the family, events and fashion.

PBR.com: Welcome Sarah, glad to have you here! Let’s start off with an easy one, where are you from?

Sarah Berger: Mandan, North Dakota.

PBR.com: How did you first meet Mr. Berger?

SB: Oh my goodness, well I met him in kindergarten. I wasn’t in kindergarten, but he was in kindergarten with my cousin that lived next door. And they would have kindergarten picnics, so I got to go with her a couple time and that’s how I first met him.

PBR.com: Knowing each other since kindergarten, that is wild. When did it start to progress and you and Chad start dating?

SB: Well, in junior high he came to ask me, but in junior high it’s not really dating. But then I remember going to the outdoor swimming pool in Mandan and he dunked me and that was the end of that. He told his sister in high school, “I’m going to marry that girl someday.”

PBR.com: So, what was Chad like during that time?

SB: He was very sweet, very courteous. We did some really fun things, whatever it was. If he was baling hay I would go with him. I went to some rodeos with him.

PBR.com: So did you grow up in the Western lifestyle?

SB: Not at all. I was a band girl. Homecoming Queen, drum majorette, played the bass clarinet.

PBR.com: So how was your transition into the Western lifestyle? You have tons of bulls, you are on the road all the time, how did all of that happen?

SB: It just happened. You know, Chad sets a goal and if I wasn’t for it I’d be against it. So I just supported him and did whatever I needed to do, because it takes all of us. It takes the whole family, and then other people to do what we’re doing.

PBR.com: So what do you enjoy the most about being a stock contractor and this business?

SB: Honestly, it’s the people. It’s the people and the friends that we’ve made. And what we’ve experienced and what our kids have been able to experience. Our kids have been coast to coast, and Lacy and John and I all went to Hawaii with bulls.

PBR.com: So what are events like for you?

SB: I just go with the flow. And I love to watch bull riding. I’m not out there flanking bulls though. And I’m so glad. Lacy, she used to haul bulls. When we started out and only had a few bulls, that girl at 22-23 years old was hauling bulls. And then our son would go with her sometimes too, but she would be flanking bulls too. And now she’s in charge of the breeding program.

PBR.com: So when did your family start working with bucking bulls?

SB: This is our 15th year. 2003 was when we started really going, following the PBR. That’s when Chad’s dad had all of his good bulls, like Little Yellow Jacket. And then it was just too intriguing for Chad.

PBR.com: So if Chad wasn’t a stock contractor what do you think he would do?

SB: You know, he always said he wanted to be a lawyer. But he’s been a cattle buyer since he was 18 years old, so I can’t see him doing anything other than that. And before we got into this though, he team roped. And that was so fun! The kids were little and we would go every weekend and we would take their ponies. Who would ever think that team roping would be so much fun, but we made lifelong friends doing that! So something in the rodeo world for sure.

PBR.com: So 15 years into it, he’s a seven-time Stock Contractor of the Year. What has the journey been like?

SB: Well you know that first year he won, 2007, that wasn’t even on my radar. And then all of a sudden I started thinking, “this could happen.” And you know, he goes for it. He goes all out.

PBR.com: So when you are not going around here doing PBR stuff, what do you like to do for fun?

SB: I hang out with my sisters. I have three sisters who are my best friends. I love to read. I would like to ride horses but only do that when it’s for work. I love to spend time with my family.

PBR.com: You also put on some amazing events that we hear about.

SB: Yeah, and the Match of Champions, it’s a little bit mind-boggling. You know, this is our 18th event that we’ve put on. And I worked that very first year full-time at a print shop, plus was doing… I didn’t know. And it does get a little easier every year, but you know, I get a little older every year too. And we do a pre-party, we do the event Friday and Saturday. We do the Steak Fry, and sometimes weddings. Chase Outlaw got married at one. And it’s exhausting. I’m good, I get everything done up until the event time comes and then it’s just pow!

PBR.com: What was it like having the Outlaw wedding at the ranch?

SB: It was fun! Tuesday, Chase called Sadie and asked, “do you think your mom and dad could let us have a wedding?” We were having the party anyway, having the Steak Fry. His groomsmen, I mean Tyler Harr, who knew? He’s a wedding planner. I didn’t have to do a lot.

PBR.com: So let’s talk fashion. You have a great style. Is it just something that comes to you?

SB: I’ve always loved fashion. You go through your “mom stage” and stuff, but I don’t know. Now I just wear whatever I am comfortable wearing. I don’t really follow trends. I am glad that these (ripped jeans) are trending because I love ripped-up jeans. So maybe that is trendy, but the rest of it…

PBR.com: You also have wear some amazing jewelry, some wonderful statement pieces.

SB: And Chad has bought most of those pieces for me. I was telling Fallon (Wentz) and Vickie (Wentz) that Chad’s mom sold turquoise so he has been around turquoise his whole life. But I have always loved turquoise. Turquoise and coral are in right now, but I will always wear it. This stuff is just fabulous.

PBR.com: We talked a little bit about your style, the lean toward comfort. Do you fall more toward a certain realm of fashion?

SB: A mixture, definitely. I’ll go through periods were I will wear cowboy boots and then I’ll go through periods when I don’t. Sadie and I hit up antique stores and pawn shops, things like that. I think things that stand out as a little bit different.

PBR.com: Would you say your everyday style is different from what you wear to events?

SB: Absolutely! If I’m not leaving the place, it’s sweatpants. And the office is just right behind the house, so when I am going down to the office to do something, I can wear whatever.

PBR.com: So are there any fashion faux pas that Chad makes, or times where you have to rein his outfits back in?

SB: To be honest, he used to press his jeans all the time, but that’s gone out the window. But honestly he doesn’t care what anybody thinks. You should see him in the airport. The cap and cowboy hat, and he gets the funniest looks. He doesn’t any attention and it does not faze him.

PBR.com: Tell us a little bit about what you chose for your collection and why.

SB: It is so my style. And my mom passed away in December, and birds were her thing. She always had a bird book. After she passed away, Sadie and I started seeing hawks and Lacy was seeing eagles all the time. So that is why I was really drawn to this.

Be sure to catch next week’s Montana Silversmiths’ Women of the PBR as we talk with another of the Women of the PBR.

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