Distinctly Montana Magazine
Issue link: https://digital.distinctlymontana.com/i/797637
W W W. D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA NA . C O M 43 JUNE WEST Bill leads visitors (below), and Ramona with her collection. west of the Mississippi River to receive a degree in ichthyology (study of fish), Ramona started her own hatchery business. He participated in the first ever National Intercollegiate Championship Rodeo. She was a champion barrel racer. He taught himself the auctioneers' chant and then used that skill to become a Rodeo Finals announcer as well as a member of the Montana Rodeo Hall & Wall of Fame and the Legends of Rodeo. She managed the auctions and rodeos where Bill announced. ey raised and bred longhorn cattle in the United States, Canada, and were the first to introduce them into Australia. ey owned and operated a tourist resort, which included a replica of an old west town. ey started a successful steak house restaurant. ey are both pilots. Both art aficionados, they have been instrumental in getting many western artists recognized in the art world. Ramona is a descendent of the Navajo tribe. e breadth and depth of the Holt's wide ranging interests and vast rodeo experiences are at the heart of their Heritage Museum. eir deep love of the western lifestyle and Montana's cowboy and Indian cultures along with their scientific background clearly informs the museum, both in the selection of the items and the way in which they are displayed. ey personally acquired each piece, lovingly restored many from long neglect, numbered, cataloged, and now artfully show- case them. Rather than searching out specific novelties, they let their interests be known within their vast personal network, and let things find their way to their door. Every museum piece carries its story of origin and how the Holts came to possess it, such as that of the rare and invaluable Blackfeet Indian pol- lywog shirt worn only by medicine men or warriors (pollywogs were revered because of their ability to changes forms and become frogs). It was found in excellent condition in a Blackfeet family's old trunk. Its owner exchanged it for the title to the Holt's Mercedes car.