Iola “Olie” Else Chosen as MCHF 2026 Saddle of Honor Recipient
January 16, 2026
The University of Montana Western is proud to announce that Iola “Olie” Else has been selected as the 2026 Saddle of Honor Recipient by the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame (MCHF). Else will be honored on February 14, 2026, during the MCHF Induction Ceremony in Great Falls, Montana, where she will receive a bronze sculpture of Charlie Russell’s saddle created by artist Jay Contway.
The Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame Saddle of Honor Award recognizes individuals whose lifetime contributions have had a lasting impact on Montana’s western heritage, agriculture, education, and cowboy culture. Else was selected as the 2026 recipient in recognition of her role as Montana’s Lady of Western Education and her decades-long commitment to mentoring students and advancing the Western way of life.
Iola “Olie” Else has been a defining figure at the University of Montana Western and in collegiate rodeo for more than three decades. Known for her trademark red jacket and cowbell, she served as the motivating force behind one of the most successful eras in UMW rodeo history. Under her leadership, the men’s and women’s rodeo teams earned six national championships, 22 regional titles, and 20 top-ten national finishes. She was named National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) Coach of the Year in 2004 and again in 2018, becoming the only woman and the only individual to receive the honor twice.
Else’s connection to Montana Western began as a student when she arrived from Tendoy, Idaho, in 1969. She was named Western Montana College Homecoming Queen in 1971 and Miss Rodeo Idaho in 1973 while competing in multiple rodeo events and holding leadership roles in student government and campus clubs. She earned her bachelor’s degree in 1973 and later completed a master’s degree at the University of Montana. Her professional rodeo career included work with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, timing at 20 Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals, and hosting the “Rodeo Roundup” radio show for more than two decades.
Beyond rodeo, Else played a key role in expanding Montana Western’s Equine and Natural Horsemanship programs, serving as department chair of Equine Studies and continuing to teach and recruit after retiring from coaching in 2018. Her commitment to agriculture and education extended into the community through her work as a 4-H leader, school board member, and faculty advisor for the UMW Young Farmers and Ranchers Club, which has earned multiple campus and community honors.
Else’s impact has been recognized through numerous awards, including induction into the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2019, the University of Montana Western Athletic Hall of Fame in 2024, and receipt of the Legacy Award from the Montana Farm Bureau. A lifelong mentor and advocate for students, Else has influenced generations of graduates through her dedication to education, agriculture, and the Western way of life.
The Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Western Heritage Gathering, honoring the 2026 class of inductees, will take place on February 14, 2026, at the Heritage Inn in Great Falls, Montana. For more information or to register, visit montanacowboyfame.org.
The University of Montana Western congratulates Else on this well-deserved honor and is proud to recognize her as a representative of the university.
