2011

The Rural Olympics Hall of Fame committee selected the following seven candidates for induction in 2011. Pictured below are; Jeff Godde, Tom Hall, and Bruce Yates receiving their Golden Hay Hook Awards at the fair kickoff dinner.
Inductees not pictured are Terry Rice, Gonzalo Rodriguez, and Marleen Griffin.

Jeff Godde

Jeff joined the committee in 1976 as a runner and has been on the committee since.  He has competed in the sickle bar competition continuously since 1973, winning 7 times, and finishing in the top three 23 times.  Jeff has competed in 9 different events.

He was also awarded the Western Fairs Association Blue Ribbon Award in 2002.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marleen Griffin

Marleen competed in the Women’s tractor Stake Race from 1977-2006, winning 12 times and placing in the top three on 23 occasions.

She competed in the Model T Race several years, and last raced in the Antique Auto Potato Race in 2008.

 

Tom Hall

Tom first participated in the Rural Olympics in the Model T Race and Antique Auto Potato Race in 1964.

His last appearance was in 1989 with his son Randy when they set the record time in the Model T Race.  That record was never broken.

In his 16 appearances in the T Race he won 7 times and finished in the top three 11 times.

 

Terry Rice

Terry raced in the Potato Race with his brother Gary from 1969-1981.  His real claim to fame, however, comes from the Men’s Tractor Stake Race with Sickle Bar, which he has competed in since 1984.  He was the winner in that race 15 times and holds the current record time.

Terry has also excelled in the Antique Tractor Race, the Tug of War, and the Tractor Barrel Race.  Terry has as many as 33 first place trophies in his collection.

 

Gonzalo Rodriguez

From 1976-2003 Gonzalo competed in the Hay Loading with Mechanical Field Loader. He was champion 15 times during that period, and finished in the top three 22 times.

On three different occasions when the race course or rules had changed he set a new record.

 

Bruce Yates

Bruce has been a fan favorite for the past thirty years, since he first entered the Gravel Truck and Transfer in 1981.

He has placed first 13 times and in the top thee 25 times.  Bruce has also competed in the Truck and Trailer Backing as well as the Potato race.

Bruce has also been a valuable asset on the Rural Olympics committee since 1981.  He was also awarded the Western Fairs Association Blue Ribbon Award in 2010.