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Holmes, Tonya

Class of 2023

When Tonya was ten years old, a pony named Fudgy completed Tonya’s fantasy of heaven on earth. Tonya Holmes started her rodeo career in Little Britches in 1968. During High School Tonya found a talent for tying goats. This led to the development of a running dismount and tying with a leather goat string. Perfecting these new skills earned her a trip to the National High School finals.
Tonya’s freshman year of college, she had success in goat tying, barrel racing and breakaway roping. Tonya won the Rocky Mountain Region in the goat tying and earned a trip to the collegiate National Finals. She won the biggest check of her career and a scholarship from Copenhagen Skoll to pay for the rest of college tuition. Her final year of college she placed 2nd in the goat tying and 4th in the Women’s All-around and 4th in the Women’s team standings.
At her father’s request Tonya ran for the Snake River Stampede Queen, which she won a month after the loss of her father. That crown was the most influential award she ever won. It opened doors that would have never opened for a bronc riding, goat tying cowgirl. She is so thankful for her dad’s insight.
Tonya is a member of the Idaho Girls Rodeo Association, Idaho Cowboys Association, Eastern Idaho Rodeo Association and has been successful in all Associations.
Tonya has given back to the sport of her choice in several ways. She was on the Cambridge Rodeo Board 1982-1990. She loves sharing her love for rodeo with young cowboys and cowgirls being involved with Rodeo Bible Camps of Idaho for the last 35 years. Today Tonya is still involved in barrel racing, no more jumping off horses at full speed.

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© 2023 by Idaho Rodeo Hall of Fame

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