Fannie Sperry Steele, a Helena-born rodeo icon, was renowned for her bravery and equestrian skills. Raised near the Sleeping Giant, she grew up around horses and was riding and breaking them from a young age. By sixteen, she was impressing crowds with her bronc-riding skills, and at seventeen, she won her first championship as Montana's Women's Bucking Horse Champion. Sperry Steele went on to become the "Lady Bucking Horse Champion of the World" at the Calgary Stampede in 1912.

Fannie was also a trailblazer in fashion, designing her own practical riding attire with split skirts that looked like a dress when standing. She performed across the country, joining Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. Her commitment to the rodeo and the land endured into her later years, when she managed her own ranch and rode until nearly 90.

This painting was created over an antique sign from Sullivan’s Famous Flour Mill in Missouri, which is still around today. The original artwork on the sign peeks through the figure and horse, adding a nice layer of texture and history. The carved, worn edges of the old wood add even more character.

One evening, I hiked a nearby hill to catch a better view of an incredible pink sunset. While I was there, I met a woman who happened to be a descendant of this famous cowgirl. What a wonderful coincidence!

Painting dimensions 17” x 11”

Acrylic on carved edge wood slab

22” x 15” total dimensions

ready to hang