Montana Western, University of

A native of Drummond, came to Western on a football scholarship. He was a member of the first team at Western after the program had been dropped for one year. In his brief collegiate football career, he returned a kickoff for a touchdown against Rocky Mountain. In the spring of his freshman year, Martin ended his football career and began his rodeo career. In 1992 he was the Big Sky Region’s Saddle Bronc champion. At the 1992 CNFR, he won one go-around and finished third in the nation. In 1993, he finished second in the region to qualify for his second straight College National Finals Rodeo. At the CNFR, he won the third go-around and finished seventh in the nation. His coaches at Western were Mick Dennehy in football and Wayne Else and Iola Else in rodeo. His rodeo teammates include Hall of Famers Jesse Peterson and Tim Garrison along with Pete Peterson, Jody Wacker, Ryan Mapston and Shannon Wortman. After leaving Western, Martin has become one of the best saddle bronc riders in the PRCA. He has qualified for the National Finals Rodeo four times; the Dodge national Finals three times. He is a five-time qualifier for the Pace Picante Tour Finale and an eleven time qualifier for the Montana Circuit Finals Rodeo. In addition to his rodeo career, he is in partnership with Lynn and Fred Hirschey in raising bucking stock for rodeos.