08/26/2026
This year, the Bruneau Rodeo Association is honored to recognize Chet and Cathy Sellman as the Bruneau Roundup Grand Marshals. The Sellmans have been true pillars of the Bruneau community, generously supporting and contributing to the place they call home. Their dedication, kindness, and years of community service make them incredibly deserving of this special honor. We are proud to celebrate Chet and Cathy and recognize the lasting impact they have made.
Chet is the son of Chester Sellman, Sr. and Lillian Crockett Sellman and he has lived in Bruneau, Idaho his entire life, graduating from Bruneau High School in 1959. His dad and mom built and operated Chetās Pastime in Bruneau and had a ranch in Little Valley. Chet obtained his B.S. degree from Idaho State University in 1965, joined the United States Air Force and was stationed in San Antonio, Texas for Officers Training School.
Cathy is the daughter of Ray Colyer and Bonnie Black Colyer and they lived in Three Creek for two years, before moving to Bruneau to ranch with Bonnieās dad, Errol Black. She graduated in 1965 from Bruneau High School.
Chet and Cathy married in 1965, and her dad and his hired man installed wood paneling in the Bruneau Legion Hall before their wedding, it still hangs in the hall today. They bought their ranch in 1968 and added the Deming Farm and Albert Harley range rights later. They remember the Bruneau Rodeos at the old rodeo grounds and donāt think they have ever missed attending a Bruneau Rodeo at either location.
Chet started his teaching career teaching math at Grand View High School in 1968 and when Bruneau and Grand View High Schools combined, he taught math and was head teacher in junior high at the old Bruneau High School Building. He later moved to Bruneau Elementary where he taught a combined 5th & 6th grades and was head teacher. He retired from teaching when he was able to purchase an adjoining farm from the Deming family. Chet was an Owyhee County Commissioner for 12 years, on the Owyhee County Fair Board, on the Bruneau Cemetery Board for 50 plus years and is a Bruneau American Legion member.
Cathy worked at Bruneau Elementary as secretary for 22 years, where she became known as āThe Glitter Queenā because she thought every kid needed glitter on their costumes for the Christmas Play and the backdrop also needed glitter everywhere. She finished her career with the Bruneau/Grand View School District serving as business manager and board clerk for a total of 34 years. Cathy was a charter member of the Bruneau Canyon 4-H Club, was in the first class of Bruneau Quick Response EMTās, was secretary of the first Bruneau Booster Club and served on the Owyhee County Historical Society as a board member and secretary.
If you have ever wondered about the big white āBā on the hill above Bruneau, Cathy and her classmates built the first one out of bricks after attending a sports event at a nearby town and seeing their big letter above the town in the 1960ās. The 4-H Club revised the original one several years ago.
4-H and FFA have been a big part of their lives, and their annual family vacation was spent at the fairgrounds in Homedale each year while their kids were growing up. They received the FFA Honorary Chapter Award, were honored as parents of an Idaho State FFA Officer and are members of the Idaho Cattle Association and Owyhee Cattlemenās.
Chet and Cathy both agree their greatest joy and accomplishment have been in raising their three kids, Carla, Crista and Chad. They are also blessed with 2 wonderful sons-in-law, Destry Jones and Brett Barber and a wonderful daughter-in-law, Kelly Sellman along with awesome grandchildren, Emma, Grayson, Dash, Addison, Lola and Wyatt.
Chet jokingly loves to tell people between the two of them they have lived in Bruneau for 162 years. In a few weeks they will celebrate their 61st wedding anniversary.
