Born in Helena, Montana in 1959, Forrie J. Smith was raised on a cattle ranch and “in a station wagon” traveling to rodeos. His father is an inductee in the Canadian Cowboy Hall of Fame and his Grandfather was a prominent rodeo figure when rodeos first began. Rodeos, wrangling and cowboying brought Forrie to the Southwest, which has been his home for over 25 years.

After acquiring a Full Ride Scholarship to Montana State University, Forrie became a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA). He qualified in Bareback Riding in 3 different circuit finals and has ranked top 5 BB Rider in every association he has since participated in. Rodeo has taken him all over the North American continent, and in 2007 he was 1 of 16 chosen to represent the United States to compete in the renowned rodeo at the Sydney, Australia Royal Easter Show.

Forrie’s attributes as a horseman and rodeo athlete attracted the film industry and he was inducted into the Screen Actors Guild in 1987. Since then he has had stunt and acting roles in over 45 films. His work has ranged from horseman in The 3 Amigos, a wrangler in Stagecoach starring Johnny Cash and Willy Nelson, a gunman and stuntman in the Young Riders series, to playing Sammy in TransAmerica starring Felicity Huffman (2006 Golden Globe winner). Throughout the years Smith has also modeled for Southwestern artists as the classic cowboy in sculptures and paintings.

His biggest love, however, is Rodeo and “just being a cowboy”. For 2009 Forrie Smith is a PRCA Turquoise Circuit Reserve Finals Champion, Reserve Year-end Champion, and PRCA Heartland Finalist. In the NMRA he is theFinals Champion and Reserve Year-end Champion, and in the NSPRA Smith is Southwest Circuit Champion and Reserve Finals Champion. In the Loyal American Roughstock Tour, Forrie is  Year-end Champion. Smith currently serves as Bareback Riding Director on the Board of Directors for the New Mexico Rodeo Association.