Following his graduation from Big Piney High School, Kelly Wardell continued his education at Sheridan College earning degrees in Welding and in Agricultural Management. It was what Kelly Wardell did following his stint at Sheridan that distinguishes him as a Big Piney alumnus.
In 1985, he joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and established himself as one of the nation’s finest bareback riders. Cowboy Wardell qualified for the National Finals Rodeo in 1996, 1997, 2000 and 2001. In his 2001 season, Wardell set a single season earnings record as the PRCA's regular season champion. In 2002, Kelly earned an Olympic bronze medal while helping his team to accomplish a Gold Medal finish.
Prior to his retirement in 2003, Kelly Wardell had won in no less than seven major rodeos including the prestigious Pendleton Roundup. He was a two-time Wilderness Circuit champion as well as winning the circuit's finals championship. In 1998, Wardell was the Dodge National Circuit champion. In 2001, he won the Wranglers Winter Tour finale in Las Vegas.
In 2001, Kelly Wardell started teaching at his rodeo schools. To date, students from his school have won seven high school world titles, four college world titles and five of his cowboys have gone on to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. His plans are to continue to help young men be the best they can be in any sport they choose.
Leadership has also been a very important part of this cowboy's life. He served on the Pro Rodeo's Hall of Fame Board of Trustees for eight years. For ten years, he served on the PRCA Board of Directors as the Bareback Representative. Lastly, since 2002 he has served on the National Finals Rodeo committee.
To Cowboy Wardell, age is just a number. Last November at the age of fifty-one, he came out of retirement in an attempt to qualify for a one day million dollar rodeo at Texas Stadium. He qualified for the semi-finals but fell just short of making it into the finals. He did however continue riding and finished fourth at the Logandale, Nevada Rodeo that featured the top thirty riders in the world. Plans this coming year include an attempt to make the Canadian Rodeo Finals.