craigdailypress.com

More than 300 people filled the stands of the Moffat County Fairgrounds on Sunday. Their reason for coming was simple: to celebrate a local legend.

The word "emotional" aptly describes the mood surrounding the first Wes Hertzog Memorial Classic Bronc Match.

Terry House, a co-chairwoman of the bronc match, said the event was simply great.

"It's very emotional," House said. "The contestants seem to be really happy."

The contestants were happy -- happy to be supporting a man they all knew and idolized, she said.

The late, legendary Wes Hertzog was a bronc rider, and it was his idea that sparked the event. He died after an accident in August 2005 during the Routt County Fair and Rodeo.

"Wes and I used to sit around, and he'd say, 'Help me put on a bronc match,'" House said. "I told him, 'You know I'd be doing all the work.'"

She said that near Memorial Day, she was spending time with Wes' parents, Paul and Rosemary Hertzog, when they decided to put together a bronc match, as a memorial to Wes.

So here she is, House said, doing all the work.

Twenty riders, from the amateur to the professional to the un-retired, came out to commemorate Wes.

Mitch Walz, of Craig, was one of those 20 men.

"I came out to support Wes' family," he said.

Walz added that this memorial bronc match was a big deal, and he was up for a challenge.

House said that there were several riders who didn't make the cut, which meant that next year the event could be bigger.

"I'm going to do this for the rest of my life," she said. "I only want it to grow."

Sunday night's riders were competing for the first-place Wes Hertzog belt buckle, along with a share of the $7,000 in prize money.

But the riders knew that the event wasn't about the money they could take home, but rather to remember a great bronc rider.

Wes grew up in Moffat County, so it was crucial to House, and the Hertzogs, that the bronc match take place here.

"It was really important to me, Paul and Rosemary, and (Wes') kids to have it where he was raised," House said.