Lifetime Leaders of Rodeo & Ranching Rodeo Ranching Great Westerner Western Entertaiment & Arts Rodeo Producers & Livestock Special Achievement Cowboy Long Rider Legacy Award

Ranching

Russ Silha
2010 Award
Modern-era Ranching

Francis Russel Silha (pronounced Sheelha) was born on a ranch in Grainbelt Township northeast of Bowman in 1924. He lived there all of his life, operating the Lazy JS Ranch on his own from 1963 until his death in 1997. His son took over the operation and continues the family tradition of raising Corriedale sheep, Polled Hereford cattle and American Quarter horses.

Russ was exempted from the military in World War II because two of his brothers were already serving in the military. In 1947, he married Frances Susag in Bowman, and they raised a family of five on the Lazy JS.

Russ got the rodeo bug in the late 1940s and took part in as many local events as he could. His specialty was calf-roping. Through the years, he was an active member in the Polled Hereford Association, the Horned Hereford Association, the AQHA, the American Corriedale Association and the ND Stockmen's Association.

Russ was named the very first ND Master Purebred Sheep Producer in 1979. In 1968, he and Fran were awarded a well-deserved Soil Conservation Award. Their ranch was on the ND Hereford tour several times, as well. In January 1971, the American Polled Hereford Association gave him a Recognition Award and, in 1994, he was nominated for the AQHA Best Remuda Award.

Russ raised and trained border collies for himself and others to assist in ranch duties. He served on the Bowman County Fair Board in the 1950s, the Grainbelt Township Board for four decades, and was an enthusiastic charter member of the ND Cowboy Hall of Fame.

Both his parents were born in Wisconsin and later moved to North Dakota. Ironically, Russ was back in Wisconsin when he died in 1997 at age 73.