Keep an eye out for three suited-up runners at the 47th annual Rodeo Run 5K/10K Race, starting at 7 a.m. in Hermann Park on July 4! Retired Marine Raider and local resident DJ Fowler, along with Undersheriff Clark O’Donnell and Deputy Dwayne Bruce of the Alzada Sheriff’s Department, will be dressed in full-kit gear for the race with the aim of recognizing the dedication and sacrifice of those who serve the Belle Fourche area every day.
After 22 years in the Marine Corps, including deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, and other regions, Fowler settled in the Black Hills with his wife, Kristen, and their four children. Driven by a lifelong commitment to service, he volunteers as a reserve deputy with the Butte County Sheriff’s Department, where he can step in and help cover shifts, respond to calls, and support the department when needed.
It was during these volunteer shifts that his idea for the 5K first emerged. “Just think about these guys full time who have to go grind it out every day and then potentially go to a bad call. And then what do they get to do? They have to put their boots back on the next morning and continue to do it while they try to process the kind of bad side of society,” said Fowler. “So I kind of came up with doing that 5K run to show appreciation.” By running the race in “full kit” gear—a vest, duty belt, and uniform—Fowler aims to draw attention to the physical and emotional weight first responders carry.
In addition to running the 5K, Fowler got in contact with Dallas Conner, Black Hills Roundup Board Chairwoman. “The idea was, what about recognizing the first responders at the rodeo? I was able to talk to her [Conner] and she was like, ‘Great idea.’ So we sat down yesterday and reached out to everybody through their bosses, like the chief of the Belle Fire Department, chief of Belle Fourche PD, just everybody—to nominate one person to be recognized at the rodeo,” explained Fowler. On July 4, about ten minutes before the rodeo kicks off at 3 p.m., the selected honorees will ride into the arena to be publicly recognized for their service. July 4 is also First Responder and Military Appreciation night at the Roundup.
In the future, Fowler hopes to expand on his idea. “Talking to Chris Stores [Rodeo Run coordinator], it sounds like my wife and I will take over the race next year to coordinate it, and we’re going to be more closely aligned with the rodeo,” explained Fowler. “My goal is maybe we’re going to turn it next year into the Belle Fourche First Responder Race, like, officially change the name. And then, hopefully, the idea I have is getting people from [neighboring counties] that want to come and do it. I think it’s good for the community to see.”
Originally from Georgia, Fowler and his family moved to South Dakota in 2023. Drawn by the Black Hills’ natural beauty and a welcoming small-town atmosphere, they decided to put down roots after years of military life. Today, alongside volunteering, Fowler works as a real estate agent and continues finding ways to serve his community.
“I’ve served my whole life, and I’m always going to do it,” said Fowler.
