March is Women's History Month, a time to honor trailblazing women. In that spirit, we celebrate Dickinson State graduate Joan Hecker Lennick – a true cowgirl, rodeo champion, and dedicated educator.
Early Life and Education
Raised on a cattle and wheat operation north of Belfield, Joan’s journey from farm kid to rodeo champion, rodeo queen, and beloved educator is the stuff of Western legend. She began her education in a one-room schoolhouse and went on to graduate as her high school’s valedictorian. In 1958, she enrolled at Dickinson State Teachers College, where she was active in the Rodeo Club and was named the college’s Outstanding Elementary Student Teacher of the Year.
Rodeo Success
Joan started riding early. Her first horse was a Shetland pony she shared with her sister, Kaye. But it was Speedy, a sleek black quarter horse born to barrel race that her father bought for her in 1956, that set her on the path to rodeo fame.
- 1956 – North Dakota State High School Barrel Racing Champion
- 1959, 1961, 1962 – North Dakota Rodeo Association Barrel Racing Champion
- 1960 – American Collegiate Rodeo Association (ACRA) Barrel Racing Champion
- 1960 – ACRA 2nd Runner-Up Goat Tying
- 1960 – National All-Around Title
- 1960 – Named "Cowgirl of the Nation" by the National American Collegiate Rodeo Association for accumulating the highest total points across multiple events at five or more ACRA rodeos
- 1962 – Miss Rodeo North Dakota; represented the state at the Miss Rodeo America Pageant in Las Vegas and was chosen by The Western Horseman magazine as the featured contestant in horsemanship
Joan earned numerous buckles, saddles, and other memorabilia for her rodeo triumphs. She noted, “The money wasn’t great, but the prizes have kept the memories alive.”
Teaching and Mentorship
After graduating from Dickinson State, Joan embarked on a teaching career that spanned over four decades:
- 1960-1963 – Middle school teacher in Beach, ND
- 1965-2006 – Middle school and elementary teacher in the Bismarck public school system
As an educator, Joan was committed to her students, noting, “I never gave up on a student.” Whenever she encounters former students who express appreciation for the impact she had on them, she knows she chose the right career.
Contributions to Rodeo and Beyond
Beyond competing, Joan dedicated over 50 years to judging and coaching. She evaluated more than 250 events, including rodeo queen pageants, horse shows, and competitions like the Miss Indian America Pageant and the American Idol preliminary competition.
From 1997 to 2007, she served as a trustee for the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame, contributing her passion to preserving the state’s western heritage.
Legacy and Honors
Joan was inducted into the Arena of Academic Excellence at Dickinson State University in 2007 and into the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2008.
Joan Lennick lives by the cowboy code: Give it your all and never quit until the job is done. This Women's History Month, Dickinson State University honors her remarkable legacy.
Joan currently lives in Bismarck, North Dakota.
Written by: Debora Dragseth, Baker Boy Professor of Leadership
A special thank you to the North Dakota Hall of Fame Archives.