by Terry Lidral
The metal work sculptures on the entry gate of the Caldwell Night Rodeo have been a familiar sight to fans and passersby for over a quarter of a century. The matching set of broncs and riders is an emblem of the Western Heritage and traditional rodeo that is the CNR.
The sculptures were a collaboration between metal sculptors and Caldwell residents Elden Waltman and Bob Gerdes. The project was commissioned by the CNR Board members in 1991 to adorn the new front gate built for the CNR.
Bob Gerdes was well known for his metal sculptures displayed throughout the City of Caldwell. Gerdes was asked by the CNR Board to come up with a design that would capture the Western spirit of the rodeo. His concept of matching broncs and riders was a perfect fit for CNR’s image.
The task of building the CNR emblems came to Elden Waltman through his employer Darwin Feller Trucking where he worked designing and piecing together hand-cut metal pieces of trucks used to haul potatoe crops. Assembling the trucks required cutting out each piece by hand with a torch. It was a job Waltman loved and through his work with metal cutting, he found he had a talent and skill for creating metal sculptures.
Word of the project spread quickly and large crowds assembled to watch Waltman work. Waltman was a quick but meticulous sculptor. Even with exacting attention to each detail and the distraction of the crowds, he was finished with the CNR gate emblems in a matter of a few days.
Caldwell Night Rodeo is home to some of the best rodeo in the world. Read more here: https://westernlivingjournal.com/bull-rider-ruger-piva-makes-ride-of-a-lifetime/
The sculptures were made in large pieces that had to be transported from the trucking company to the CNR grounds on a flatbed trailer. There they were assembled on the gate with bolts for security and later painted white to keep the metal surface from rusting.
Today, the bronc riders on their metal mounts continue to stand guard over the CNR gates as a reminder that the Caldwell Night Rodeo has its roots in the City of Caldwell.
