Worth the wait

The long-anticipated premiere of "Feek's Vision" took place last Saturday in Ekalaka.

The documentary film from Ken Howie is the story of Feek Tooke and the Tooke bucking horses; horses with champion-producing bloodlines that have impacted the history of rodeo and still play a strong role today.

Howie started working on the film in 2016 after speaking with Toby Tooke (family consultant for the project) a few times over the phone for a smaller project, but then realizing that the story was much bigger than he originally anticipated.

The completed film will was originally scheduled to debut during the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 7th, 2018. That date was at first the goal for the film release as it was 50 years from Feek Tooke's untimely death at the NFR in 1968. But, by August of 2018, Howie explained that the film was growing and that the original premiere date would be unattainable.

"This film has developed a life of its own," Howie explained in 2018. "As word has gotten around the community, the energy is still building, and people are emerging with more to add to the story of Feek Tooke. I still need footage that I won't be able to get until after this year's Wrangler National Finals Rodeo."

In the summer of 2019 Howie built a 1940s replica rodeo arena at the Tooke ranch. On September 1, 2019, a few locals were lucky enough to watch a rodeo reenactment take place at the ranch as Howie gathered footage for the film.

Howie continued to interview, film and edit for over three more years. Tooke told the Eagle on Tuesday that some other reasons the documentary was just now released included Covid caused delays, health issues, and fundraising efforts. Additionally, they wanted to make sure the film did the story of Feek Tooke and the Tooke horses justice.

It was worth the wait.

The completed, ninety-minute documentary includes old footage from Tooke brothers' rodeos, interviews, footage from the reenactment, footage from the NFR, and much, much more. In addition to a number of Tooke family members and locals, rodeo champions such as Larry Mahan, Deb Copenhaver, Clint Johnson, Dan Mortenson and Ty Murray share stories and historical details about the Tooke Bucking Horses and their profound impact on the sport of rodeo.

Legendary stock contractors Harry Vold, Cotton Rosser and Mel Potter, Matt Burch, Sparky Dreesen and Powder River's Franzen family share their testaments to Tooke bred horses, many still winning titles today. Traveling thousands of miles to capture original footage, Howie brings revered rodeo legends to the screen, sharing memories of their matches against Tooke bred horses in the arena.

Howie didn't speak directly to the estimated 350 members of the audience on Saturday during the premiere at Ekalaka Elementary, but he did speak with many of them before and after the showing. His wife and the film's producer, Theresa, thanked the community for all of the help over the years in making the documentary possible. Toby Tooke also spoke, but only briefly as he was brought to tears in what was an emotional night for the family and many of those involved with the film. In addition to excitement and joy, many also remembered several of the individuals Howie interviewed for the film that have since passed. Perhaps most importantly regarding the film was the late Ernest "Ernie" Tooke, son of Feek and grandfather to Toby, who passed away in April of 2018, followed by his beloved wife Peggy, who passed in October of 2021. Both appear in the documentary, the former at length.

Toby Tooke later told the Eagle that the director and producer may have once been complete strangers to him, but that they are now, in his eyes, a part of the family.

That may have become true for the Howies as well.

At the very end of the film, after the last scene, the last sound, the last credit, there read one line: "For Ernest."

To schedule a screening or presentation of Feek's Vision at a theater, museum, school or other location near you, contact Ken Howie Studios, studio@kenhowie.com, 701.495.1705.