Sammy Jo Bird’s passion includes ponies, paint, pride
Editor’s Note: Sammy Jo Bird, 25, comes from one of the foremost families of rodeo in Montana. Her father, Sam Bird, has won eight year-end team roping championships in the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit, and a cousin, Dustin Bird, is also a roper who has made four trips to the National Finals Rodeo. Sammy Jo is a rodeo star as well – she won the women’s all-around championship at last year’s Indian National Finals Rodeo – and she’s also a talented artist. She specializes in acrylic paintings and recently opened a studio for her business, Palomino Paintings, on the family ranch near Cut Bank, where Scott Mansch caught up with her this week for our Sunday Conversation.
Question: What’s it been like, Sammy, to grow up in such a famous rodeo family?
Answer: Oh man, I’d just say it’s really great. You’ve got big shoes to fill, but the support system with our family is amazing. Whether it’s my dad driving me all over the country, or my mom (Terry) going to all my art shows, or my uncles coming down to work the roping chutes for me every single night … I’m really, truly blessed with an amazing family and a great support system.
Q: Well, tell me the truth now. Or you a rodeo star or are you an artist? What comes first?
A: (laughs) That’s a good question. I don’t really know. I’m very lucky to do the two things that I love the most. I love riding my horses and rodeoing and I love painting. I get asked a lot: What supports what? Does rodeo support art or does art support rodeo? And I’m like, I don’t know. As soon as I get ahead in rodeo, I have to go buy art supplies. And as soon as I get ahead in art, I have to pay entry fees (laughs).
Q: When did your art career really start?
A: I took four years of high school art (in Cut Bank) from Bill Hannah. He actually retired this year. He’s a phenomenal teacher. I owe him a lot. He’s the only art teacher I’ve ever had. Really a great art teacher and great person to look up to. A great overall person.
Q: What type of paintings are your specialty?
A: I paint with acrylics. I’d say that my medium is acrylics, but I try to paint more with my heart and my energy. When I start a painting I don’t really know what it’s going to look like, but my end goal is that it will have a positive energy around it and will make someone happy.
Q: Wildlife scenes or rodeo scenes, mainly?
A: Horses. I would say a good 95 percent of what I paint are horses.
Q: Reflective of your life growing up on a ranch, right?
A: Yes. Horses are what I know and what I love, so that’s what I paint. I always try to throw a little Native American twist in there, to show my culture. Because I’m really proud of where I came from and I’m proud that I was born and raised on the Blackfeet Reservation. I’m proud of being Native American.
Q: Great, Sammy. You should be proud. How many paintings have you finished in your short career?
A: After I graduated from high school I got a degree in Natural Horsemanship from Montana Western in Dillon. I was on the rodeo team there, too. But I didn’t paint the whole time I was in college. So it’s only been the last three years that I picked it back up. The whole reason I even started again was to provide gifts for benefits. Cut Bank and Browning, we’re such a close-knit community, so when someone has a benefit (to raise money for ill people) I started donating original paintings. Then it kind of took off. Now I’m doing it completely full-time. I’ve done a lot of paintings the last couple of years, but I can’t really tell you how many.
Q: I understand you had a big week recently in Calgary, is that right?
A: Yes, it was an awesome week altogether. Calgary is phenomenal. I’d never been to the Calgary Stampede until I started showing art there. It was really awesome being there and getting feedback from people from all over the world. A lot of those people told me what my art means to them. It was really a fulfilling experience. People from different backgrounds and different countries … It was really cool.
Q: Did you sell a lot of paintings there?
A: Yes, I did really well. And the publicity was better than anything.
Q: I heard you’ve sold some paintings at the East Glacier Lodge recently, too?
A: Yes. That’s been really great.
Q: Good for you. You’re making some money with your art.
A: (laughs) Thank you. But like I said, everything I make from art goes right back to buy feed for my horses.
Q: Let’s talk about your rodeo career. Congratulations on winning the women’s all-around championship at the Indian National Finals Rodeo.
A: Thank you, Scott.
Q: When was that?
A: Last November. In Las Vegas at the South Point.
Q: What events did you compete in?
A: I was in the barrels and the breakaway roping. I was actually the only lady to make it to the Finals in both events.
Q: Was that the first time you’d qualified for the INFR?
A: No. It was close to my eighth or ninth time being there. First world title, though.
Q: I believe your cousin Dustin won a few of those all-around titles at the INFR before he started his PRCA career, correct?
A: Yes, when he was in Indian Rodeo he sure did.
Young son sharpens focus for roping legend Bird
Q: How about your dad?
A: Yep. My dad’s won some, too. My sister, Brittany, also won the women’s all-around in 2013.
Q: How about other members of your family have had major success at the INFR?
A: (laughs) The list could really go on and on. I’m trying to think … My cousin, Ty St. Goddard, he won a world championship in heading. I really hate to go on because I’d hate to leave someone out, you know what I mean (laughs). I can’t think of everyone off the top of my head.
Q: Well, Sammy Jo, have you ever bought a permit to compete in the WPRA (Women’s Professional Rodeo Association)?
A: No, I haven’t. Maybe in the near future. Right now, this is just kind of my honey pot and it’s working out really well for me. Maybe if I get another horse, so I had two, I’d look to get into pro rodeo. But right now I’ve got a really good barrel horse and he’s running really well. I’d just hate to put too many runs on him.
Q: So you’re just competing in the Indian Rodeos this summer. Are there many in Montana?
A: There’s quite a few, but really they go all over. Half of our season will be in Canada. I went to Oklahoma this year. Arizona, Florida … they go all over the place. I hate to get out of the Circuit, because it’s treating me really well right now.
Q: Tell me about your good barrel horse.
A: His name is Trip. He’s 13 years old. A bay quarter horse.
Q: I heard you had a real successful rodeo week recently, too.
A: Yes, I won two saddles in Kainai, Alberta, at the Standoff Rodeo and Fair.
Q: Wow. So in the last week you’ve sold a bunch of paintings and won a lot of stuff. That’s a pretty good week, Sammy Jo.
A: (laughs) It was a really good week, for sure.
Q: When you were on the rodeo team at Western for Olie Else, did you make it to the College National Finals?
A: Yes. I went in the barrel racing in 2014, I think.
Q: You’re living at home these days?
A: Yep, I live in Cut Bank. That’s during the summer. In the winter I go to Arizona. I’m a young snowbird (laughs).
Q: That’s all right, Sammy. Where is your folks’ place located?
A: About five miles west of Cut Bank and about 20 miles east of Browning.
Q: So on a typical day this summer are you painting every day?
A: Yes, every day. Unless it’s really a nice day and I’m outside all day long. It’s hard to paint in the summer because you hate to be inside painting. But I try to find the time every day, whenever I’m not outside riding and roping.
Q: It’s so different to compete in an athletic event like rodeo and to paint, where it’s quiet and everything. What is it about painting that you enjoy so much?
A: I guess when I’m not riding a horse I’m painting a horse. So I’m basically with them all the time. I just really enjoy painting. It’s a way to put your feelings down on a canvas. I truly believe a painting could change someone’s day, it could change someone’s attitude, it could change someone’s life. Words are powerful, but I believe that pictures are just as powerful. I try to make my paintings stand for something and mean something. A lot of times it’s just to put some positivity out there. You know, in whatever house it may hang in or whatever business it may hang in, if someone sees it and it makes them feel good and smile, even for just a second, then I feel like I’ve done my job. So painting, for me, is almost medicating. I love to compete, but I also love the quiet hours when I’m painting. Where I can be myself and let my creativity flow. Let my emotions go on the canvas.
Q: Good for you, Sammy. Do you have a studio yet?
A: I have one in the making. It’s connected to our arena. It’s almost ready.
Q: How can people find your business?
A: It’s called Palomino Paintings, and if you go on Facebook you can find it. I’m working on a website but haven’t quite got there yet.
Q: Are there any other artists in your big family, or are you breaking some new ground here?
A: I’m kind of breaking new ground. We’ve got a real big family but I can’t think of a single artist in the there. (laughs) It’s definitely new and exciting. It’s a journey and I’m very lucky to be on it and have the opportunity I’ve been given.
Q: Where do you hope your career takes you?
A: If my art went anywhere, or my rodeo career went anywhere, I think one of my highest goals would just to be a good role model for the Native American youth and our Tribe. I really want to put out there that no matter where you live or your ethnic background, your age or your circumstances, that if you work hard and have determination and faith, nothing is out of reach. That’s something I’ve struggled with a lot in the past, but recently I’ve sunk my teeth into it. Of not letting your circumstances affect where you’re going. I really want to put that out there, because it’s so true. I’d like to be a role model for kids in our Tribe, because it’s tough out here for some of them.
Q: That’s great, Sammy.
A: Thank you, Scott.
Q: Now I have to ask you, are you named after your Daddy?
A: Yep. He didn’t have any boys, the poor guy. My Dad’s dad is Sam, his dad’s dad was Sam. No boys, so he got a Sammy (laughs)
Q: Well, I can tell your family means much to you.
A: Yes, it’s huge, a huge part of everything. My parents do a lot for us.
Q: Nice talking to you, Sammy. You know, my buddy Jim Sargent and I have a radio show before the Circuit Finals here in Great Falls (KINX FM-102.7) and last year we had your Dad on there for an interview. How about next January we have you instead?
A: (laughs) That sounds like a plan. Thank you, Scott.
Scott Mansch’s Sunday Conversations appear frequently in this place. He can be reached at 791-1481 or smansch@greatfallstribune.com. Follow him on Twitter @GFTrib_SMansch