Ken Heser: 97th Wild Horse Stampede Grand Marshal

Longtime Wolf Point Stampede parade leader Ken Heser has been selected to serve as Grand Marshal for 2020.

He has been helping to line up the parade at the high school for more than 50 years, following in his father Frank’s footsteps.

“About the time the new grandstands went in,” said Heser, “my dad started helping line up the parade. I took over from him.”

Heser has attended the rodeo for as long as he can remember. He and his brother Lloyd even policed the rodeos on horseback before the new grandstands were built.

Heser lives with his wife, Agnes, south of Wolf Point near the Sunnyside School on the land on which he was born and raised. They have two grown children, Chad and Darci; and two grandchildren, Andrew and Logan.

The Hesers farmed and had a small livestock herd before their retirement.

Agnes describes herself as a rodeo widow and says she’s gotten used to losing her husband to Stampede parade festivities every July.

Heser is known for his 1928 Model A. When visiting him at home May 22, he demurred unveiling the classic vehicle.

Heser told the Northern Plains Independent that he doesn’t get out much these days, but plans to put an appearance in at the beginning of the rodeo.