Rodeo Athletes, Ranching LIfe, and the Legacy of Einar Hanson Olstad On Dakota Cowboy
River Klass of Ranch America is very passionate about ranching and everything that goes along with it. He has dedicated his passion for the cattle industry to educating the public about the reality of where their beef originates. He spent some time in September at The North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame where he sat down with Wild Bill Palanuk and conversed about all the above.
Einar Hanson Olstad was born March 7, 1878, at Lillehammer, Norway, a son of Hans and Ida (Kirkebø) Olstad. He was one year old when the family moved to Sioux Falls, Dakota Territory, where his father established a blacksmith shop.
Einar began painting when he was about 14 years old, selling scrap copper, lead and rags to buy his paints. His father died in 1899, leaving Einar to support the family. He continued his father’s blacksmith trade and burned his brushes to resist painting instead of designing and forging ornamental ironwork. Einar Olstad is the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame Inductee of the Week.
