Buckaroo Hall of Fame, 30 W Winnemucca Boulevard, Winnemucca, NV (2026)

09/01/2026

Jerry Chapin, Buckaroo Hall of Fame inductee 2026

After leaving high school, Jerry Chapin worked starting colts and buckarooing for different ranches in the Elko County, Nevada area. Later on, he followed his brothers Charlie and Harold to the 25 Ranch near Battle Mountain, Nevada. He fine-tuned his buckaroo and horsemanship there working for Tom Marvel (Buckaroo Hall of Fame inductee 2013). Jerry respected Tom's skills at managing the cattle and the crew. Tom made the job more fun, if you wanted to ride bucking horses, rope or train horses to show, Tom supported it all. Jerry worked with some of best horsemen around in that era. Albino Tais "Tez" (Buckaroo Hall of Fame inductee 2002) was one of his favorites. Tais became good friends with Jerry and the Chapin family. Jerry learned a lot from Tais about roping and starting colts.

He took all that he learned along with the traditions that he acquired from his time at the 25 Ranch with him when he went to the YP Ranch in Elko, County Nevada. He became the buckaroo boss there and mentored numerous young buckaroos during his long tenure there. Most all the men that worked under Jerry would say he was good to work for, and they would say they left knowing more about cattle handling and horsemanship than when they first worked for him. In the mid 1970's Jerry started a new job managing the Muleshoe Ranch near Battle Mountain, Nevada and stayed there for forty-five years. He was also a brand inspector for many years.

Another big part of Jerry's life was his ability to ride bucking horses, in the 1950's and 1960's he competed in saddle bronc riding in the NCA (Nevada Cowboy Association) winning the bronc riding title five times and the All-around title once.

Jerry is the third member of his family to be inducted into the Buckaroo Hall of Fame, following his father Ed and brother Charlie.
He will be honored at an induction ceremony at the Winnemucca Convention Center East Hall along with three others, Gary Gooch, Bill Heryford and Billy Flournoy. The induction ceremony will be held at noon on Saturday September 5, 2026.

08/31/2026

William "Billy" Flournoy Buckaroo Hall of Fame 2026

For the past sixty years or so you'd most likely see Billy Flournoy up before the sun and whistling on his way to breakfast at the ranch cook house at 6:00 a.m. He liked getting an early start going to work, he would always say, " an hour start to work in early morning will save three hours in the afternoon". The ranch in northern California runs their cattle on public grazing allotments consisting of more than 200,000 acres besides the ranch's 22,000 deeded acres. The ranch has plenty of work to be done on horseback and at least six days a week can be spent working and moving cattle around in the allotments. Billy started and broke dozens of horses over time, but one horse he called "Bing" was his favorite. He was described as a big, powerful bay horse and was an all-around type of horse. Billy rode "Bing" to work cattle and ride the ranges or use to head steers while at team roping's in Likely, California. He'd tell you, "There never was a horse that was too big".

Billy's not a rawhide braider or a silversmith, but as one fellow put it, he is a "Wordsmith". The buckaroo legacy and preserving the western way of life doesn't just get passed down to future generations from riding a horse or herding cattle. A lot of the history and traditions are explained and expressed with words, like telling old stories and reading or reciting poems from the past. Billy has captured the art of storytelling and remembering the words to many old-time poems written by Bruce Kiskaddon, Badger Clark along with contemporary cowboy poets Sunny Hancock and Baxter Black just to name a few.

Billy Flournoy represents the very best of the California/Nevada buckaroo traditions and has spent a lifetime helping preserve the buckaroo legacy and the western way of life.

08/28/2026

Bill Heryford, Buckaroo Hall of Fame inductee 2026

Bill Heryford followed in the footsteps of his grandfather JD Heryford, his father Lee and other family members. He carried on the traditions of the western way of life. He served his country while in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. After that he returned to the cattle ranch in northern California and continued the traditions on the ranch for nearly nine decades. Bill was well respected by neighbors, cowboys, and friends, not just because of the name he was born with, but how he carried it.

His favorite time of year or season was going to cow camp. Each year, cow camp brought together family, neighbors, cowboys and friends. Bill thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. Story telling was their entertainment. He had always liked laughter and that was a big part of being at cow camp. Bill also liked giving nicknames to people whether they were newcomers with less experience or a seasoned cow hand. If he gave you a nickname, you knew you were accepted into the fold. Bill's humor became legendary, telling stories at branding time, at the dinner table or anywhere. He would do his best to make people laugh and make the hardest jobs more enjoyable. His relationship with his wife Barbara was the most important part of his life for nearly seventy years. Although he enjoyed teasing her often, one could see the unwavering respect and love he had for her along with the life they'd built together.

08/25/2026

Gary Gooch Buckaroo Hall of Fame inductee 2026

After working for the Bare Ranch in northern California, Gary went to work for the MC Ranch, Adel, Oregon for buckaroo boss Clevon Dixon ( Buckaroo Hall of Fame inductee 2005). After Clevon left, Gary became the buckaroo boss and was the last one hired by the Kittredge family and the first buckaroo boss for the new owners. He married Linda Stewart in 1963, and they spent their first summer together at the Beaty Butte cow camp. They were parents to three children, Scott, Terri and Virgil. Gary made little buckaroos out of all of them. Later on, he taught his grandchildren how to ride, rope and how to handle horses. The greatest memories for Gary and Linda were with their children and working for cattle outfits, living in cow camps, riding horseback in Nevada, Oregon and California. Gary was proud of his children and grandchildren along with their accomplishments. After he retired, he helped his friends and neighbors at branding time or working cattle throughout the year. He was roping at a branding just a week before he passed away in 2013.

08/21/2026

Jerry Chapin, Buckaroo Hall of Fame inductee 2026

A native Nevadan, Jerry Chapin was born in 1938 to Ed and Alice McNight Chapin. He was the youngest of five brothers that were born into one of the oldest pioneer ranching families in northern Nevada. Jerry grew up on ranches around northern Nevada where his dad worked, including the Saval Ranch at North Fork, Hot Springs Ranch at Golconda and the Cord Ranch at North Fork. Jerry was raised riding on the back of a horse. He learned to rope and ride on an older G.S. Garcia saddle and used a rawhide reata. Ed was an excellent horseman and reata man and always rode a centerfire saddle. In fact, Ed would not hire anyone that rode with a double rig saddle. He always made sure Jerry was mounted on good horses. Ed would always say " a good horse would teach a kid more than a good man could." All the Ed Chapin family were good horseman and were well respected. Jerry worked at starting horses for people while going to high school in Elko, Nevada. Jerry and Bill Kane ( Buckaroo Hall of Fame inductee 2025) once broke 25 or 30 mules to ride for a local rancher. Jerry is the third member of his family to be inducted into the Buckaroo Hall of Fame, following his father Ed and brother Charlie.

08/19/2026

William "Billy" Flournoy, Buckaroo Hall of Fame Inductee 2026

Billy Flournoy was born in 1941 to Don and Shirley Flournoy. His grandfather, John D. Flournoy was one the first settlers to arrive at the northern California area now known as Likely, California. Billy's father Don, along with brothers Rob and Warren worked together on the Flournoy ranch holdings and were known as Flournoy Brothers. Later on, the ranch properties were split between the brothers with Don getting the biggest portion with the largest amount of debt. Billy worked for his father while growing up and going to school. He was very athletic and competed in multiple sports throughout his high school years. He liked baseball and track and field the most. After a stint in college Billy returned to the ranch in Likely to stay. His father put him in charge of the cattle and the ranch. He became very good at his job and was well respected by his employed help. Billy always got along with the horses he rode and never believed in abusive treatment of animals or humans, He was well known for putting a good handle on a horse and had a knack for making good bridle horses. In fact, neighbors would sometimes ask Billy to ride their horses and put them in the bridle. He is also a good community leader and supports community events.

08/15/2026

William S. "Bill" Heryford, Buckaroo Hall of Fame inductee 2026

Bill Heryford was born in 1931 at Surprise Valley, California. He was brought up on the Heryford family's ranch started by his grandfather J.D. Heryford and his brothers who were pioneer settlers in northern California. The Heryford Ranch became one of the largest in the area around Surprise Valley and Lake County Oregon. Bill learned firsthand how to work hard, ride horseback, be honest, care for the horses and livestock and be a good steward of the land. From his younger days around horses, Bill built up a quiet confidence and feel for horses, especially the hard to get along with kind. In his thirties, if there were any horses nobody wanted to ride, Bill would take them to the round corral and figure them out. He had a gift for taking the rough edge off of the salty and toughest to ride horses. He always claimed, "a good horse wasn't found, he was made by having patience, grit and a lot of time in the saddle".

Stay tuned for more buckaroo history about William "Bill" Heryford

08/13/2026

Gary Gooch: 2026 Buckaroo Hall of Fame inductee

Gary Gooch was born in 1938 at Cedarville, California to Clyde and Fern Gooch. He is a descendent of an 1800's pioneer family settling in Surprise Valley, CA. He went to school in Cedarville where he participated in sports particularly baseball and basketball through his high school years. He graduated from high school in 1954.
Gary and his dad, along with his brothers Bob and Ben worked for various area ranch haying using horses. By age fourteen Gary was already a buckaroo and hard worker. Gary worked at the Bare Ranch in Surprise Valley after graduating high school for a time, until he was drafted into the army. After serving his tour of duty during the Korean War, he returned to the Bare Ranch to work again and was the buckaroo boss there.

Stay tuned for more about Gary's buckaroo history.

08/11/2026

BUCKAROO HALL OF FAME TO INDUCT FOUR

WINNEMUCCA, NEVADA; Four legendary buckaroos to be inducted to Buckaroo Hall of Fame. Jerry Chapin, NV, Gary Gooch, OR, CA William S. ''Bill'' Heryford, CA, and William "Billy'' Flournoy, CA, will be honored at the East Hall Winnemucca Convention Center over Labor Day Weekend. Friday, September, 4th, a social gathering for family and friends with a happy hour at 5:00 p.m. and dinner at 6:00 p.m. with storytelling. Saturday, September, 5th, honoree induction ceremony at noon with a reception to follow. Come on down to Winnemucca and help us celebrate the 2026 inductees.

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