Patrick Gottsch
June 3, 1953 – May 18, 2024
Patrick Gottsch (L) enjoying the Calgary Stampede with chuckwagon commentator/historian Billy Melville (R) in 2022.
Inset: The WPCA Media Award won by Rural Media Group in 2014.
The World Professional Chuckwagon Association has been saddened by the sudden and unexpected passing of active supporter Patrick Gottsch on Saturday, May 18, 2024, from natural causes at the age of 70.
Patrick was born and raised on a farm in Elkhorn, Nebraska. He learned at an early age the value of hard work, and embraced the values of the rural and western lifestyles. He launched RFD-TV in 1988, but his big break didn’t come until December of 2000, when DISH network agreed to carry RFD-TV and it became the first 24-hour television network featuring programming focused on agri-business, western sports, the rural lifestyle, along with traditional country music and entertainment. From there Patrick was off and running, and over the years he began the expansion of Rural Media Group.
Among his expansion plans, Patrick felt that there was a need for a national radio network for Rural America featuring agri-business, western sports and rural programming. He enlisted the services of longtime radio executive Paul Aaron, and in 2013 Rural Radio was launched on SiriusXM satellite radio. Around this time Patrick had his eye on Canada, and felt that Canadians would also enjoy the type of programming that he had brought to rural America. In 2014 WPCA Pro Tour LIVE – coverage of the World Professional Chuckwagon Association races from all across Western Canada plus the Calgary Stampede – debuted on Rural Radio, becoming the first all Canadian produced radio show to be carried by Rural Radio. The WPCA Chuckwagon Races with their dedicated and passionate fanbase gave Rural Radio a instant presence in Canada. Patrick became an instant fan.
Patrick loved the chuckwagon races and along with Rural Media Group’s CEO Randy Bernard, the WPCA Pro Tour was featured on Rural America Live on RFD-TV, in RFD-TV The Magazine, races results were carried on the Rural Evening News and on Western Sports Weekly on RFD-TV, and WPCA personnel were regular guests on Rural Radio’s Western Sports Roundup. The WPCA Pro Tour was gaining a fanbase in the United States. At the end of the 2014 season, Patrick and Rural Media Group were honored by the WPCA with it’s Media Award in recognition of Rural Media’s contribution to the sport of chuckwagon racing in broadcasting the chuckwagon races, events and activities.
However, in October of 2018, without warning, SiriusXM Canada pulled Ruralradio147 from the air. Although only listeners with Sirius radios in Canada (as opposed to XM radios) were impacted, it was still a major blow to the WPCA, Rural Radio, and Canadian listeners in general who over the past two years were enjoying not only the chuckwagon races, but the other rural programming that was only provided by Rural Radio. Patrick lead a concentrated effort along with Rural Radio’s President Paul Arron and Operations Manager Ed Evenson to rally Canadian listeners to pressure SiriusXm Canada to re-list Rural Radio on Sirius radios in Canada. Patrick’s persistence prevailed as in February 2016 Rural Radio was reinstated on Sirius radios in Canada. This paved the way for the second all Canadian radio show on Rural Radio when Shaun Haney’s RealAg Radio debuted in October of 2016, and the chuckwagon races continued to be part of Rural Radio for many years.
In 2017, Patrick decided that he would rebrand Rural Media Group’s FamilyNet television network as The Cowboy Channel, focusing on Western sports which had been popular on RFD-TV. In search of some content to make for a successful launch, Patrick contacted the WPCA to see what they could provide. As was the case with Rural Radio, the first all Canadian programming shown on The Cowboy Channel were archived WPCA Chuckwagon Races from The Klondike Chuckwagon Derby in Edmonton and the Ponoka Stampede. Since that time until today, The Cowboy Channel, The Cowgirl Channel and The Cowboy Channel + App have all shown chuckwagon races from the Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby and the WPCA Pro Tour.
Patrick Gottsch is one of the most inspirational people in the history of Western Sports and Rural Lifestyle in North America. His story of success did not come without adversity, and his unique thinking have made a lasting impact. His love of what he did, combined with his unequivocal drive and work ethic made Patrick Gottsch one of Rural North America’s most influential individuals.
Patrick was preceded in death by parents Bernard “Pat” in 2014 and Gloria in 1986. Patrick is survived by his wife Angie, daughters Gatsby Gottsch Solheim, Raquel Gottsch Koeler and Rose Marie Gottsch, four grandchildren, his brother Mickey (Julie Vodicka) Gottsch, sisters Toni (Tom) Korpela, Tammy (Al) Hill, Terri Gottsch (Dan Murphy) and several nieces and nephews.
The Gottsch family will be hosting a private service for family and close friends. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Patrick’s name to the National FFA Foundation. Cards may be sent to Rural Media Group, Inc., Attn: Patrick Gottsch Memorial, 17445 Arbor Street, Suite 100, Omaha, NE 68130, or emails can be sent to videos@rfdtv.com.
Patrick was an incredible individual and will be dearly missed by all in the WPCA, and we extend our sincere condolences to the Gottsch family.
Billy Melville
