At Angel Horses, we’re proud to celebrate a special honor for our founder, Lynn “Jonnie” Jonckowski: her induction into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame (NPASHF) on June 26, 2025.
The recognition honors an athletic career defined by determination, resilience, and breaking barriers. Jonnie earned women’s bull riding championships in 1986 and 1988 and became the first woman to compete in the Men’s World Bull Riding Championship, participating in 1992 and 1993. Her accomplishments also earned her induction into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in 1991.
Before rodeo, Jonnie was an accomplished collegiate track and field athlete with Olympic aspirations. A serious back injury ended that dream, but her competitive spirit endured. After a lengthy recovery, she found a new path in bull riding—and went on to make history.
If you hop over to the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame Inductee page, you will see a “Bull Riding” category – there Jonnie is, the only bull rider in the NPASHF!
Being recognized by the NPASHF is one of Jonnie’s most treasured moments and in response Jonnie said:
“I have not words to describe this honor. Thank you so much to my grand parents for escaping war torn Poland, coming to the states and becoming a US citizen and starting a business. You were brave, a dreamer, risk taker, passionate and made sacrifices. You were all the things I think of when I think of a great athlete. Thank you does not seem like a big enough word!!”
Sharing Her Story Through Film
The NPASHF further celebrated Jonnie’s legacy with a special screening of JONNIE, a Montana PBS documentary, on October 23, 2026, at the American Polish Cultural Center in Troy, Michigan.
Presented by the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in partnership with the Kosciuszko Foundation–Michigan Chapter, the screening highlighted Jonnie’s story of challenging expectations and pursuing her passion despite extraordinary obstacles.
National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame posted the screening event to their Facebook page:
“the NPASHF was proud to host a very special event at the American Polish Cultural Center in Troy, Michigan. Working along with our friends and cohosts at the Kosciuszko Foundation Michigan Chapter, we presented the local premier of the award winning PBS documentary, showcasing the life and career of 2025 NPASHF Inductee Lynn “Jonnie” Jonckowski, perhaps the most accomplished female bull rider in the history of the sport. Flying in from her home in Montana, Jonnie joined the large crowd on hand for the viewing of the full length documentary, and personally shared her passion for the sport, as well as her strong belief in her faith, and her mission of helping the elderly and others less fortunate through her organization, Angel Horses, MT. The crowd in attendance responded with a sincere and warm reception for Jonnie and her work and accomplishments, and donated generously to her foundation. It was a wonderful and fulfilling night, and one that we at the NPASHF were proud to present. Thank you to all who helped put the event together, and to those who made it a success with your attendance and generosity.”
The American Polish Cultural Center posted the screening event to their Facebook page:
“This past Friday, we had the distinct honor of hosting a truly special event organized by the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame, with the help of the The Kosciuszko Foundation Michigan Chapter
It was the perfect way to celebrate Polish American Heritage Month! Jonnie Jonckowski flew in all the way from Montana for a screening of the PBS documentary following her career as recognized woman bull rider—and as a proud member of the Polish American community.
Guests enjoyed an unforgettable evening watching her incredible story, followed by a live Q&A where Jonnie shared firsthand insights into her extraordinary life path.
A massive thank you to the organizers for planning such a special evening for local Polonia, and to everyone who sponsored and contributed to making it happen. We are always thrilled to host such a wonderful variety of events under our roof, and we hope Jonnie had an amazing time visiting Michigan!”
#PolishAmericanHeritageMonth #JonnieJonckowski #NPASHF #LocalPolonia #MichiganEvents #polishmichigan #poloniausa
The Kosciuszko Foundation Michigan Chapter posted the screening event to their Facebook page:
“What an incredible evening with the legendary Jonnie Jonckowski!
The Kosciuszko Foundation Michigan Chapter, in collaboration with the National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame, presented a powerful feature-length PBS documentary exploring Jonnie’s determined quest for a world championship. Achieving true championship success demands unwavering dedication and hard work. A strong work ethic is a hallmark of Polish culture shaped by a history requiring perseverance. The film captured Jonnie’s remarkable journey as she broke gender barriers and displayed exceptional mental and physical strength while facing life-threatening injuries, poverty, and assault.
The evening featured an engaging cinematic experience for our 150 guests, beginning with an 82-minute screening of “Jonnie”, followed by a live Q & A with Jonnie herself. Guests had a unique opportunity to watch her remarkable story unfold on screen and hear firsthand from the woman whose determination propelled her through one of the world’s toughest sports – bull riding, and helped her overcome some of life’s greatest challenges.
Jonnie’s life journey encompassed periods of financial hardship and personal trauma, adding profound depth to the documentary beyond the traditional narrative of athletic achievement, setbacks, and perseverance.
Following the film, the audience rose to their feet in a standing ovation as Jonnie was invited to the stage. She talked about her phenomenal journey from the Olympics to championship bull riding and, ultimately, her life’s purpose: founding Angel Horses Montana. Jonnie’s extraordinary story of determination, grit, and breaking barriers deeply resonated with everyone in attendance.
At its core, the PBS documentary transcends the world of rodeo, exploring themes of resilience, survival, and purpose, while examining how individuals navigate life when the future they once envisioned takes an unexpected turn.
Having visited the American Polish Cultural Center twice before, National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame inductee Jonnie Jonckowski was reminded of her Polish father. “Whenever I’m here, I think of my dad. It feels like family.”
Four decades after her bull-riding career, Jonnie continues to embrace challenging endeavors, from rescuing abandoned horses and assisting with natural disaster response to supporting children, seniors, and other members of her Montana community.
We extend our sincere gratitude to our partner, National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame for their commitment, collaboration, and invaluable contributions to the success of this event.
We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the American Polish Cultural Center for graciously hosting our special event and providing a wonderful venue for this memorable occasion.
A heartfelt thank-you to all our guests, both young and young at heart, for joining us and contributing to the success of this unforgettable evening.
Many thanks to our valued sponsors including the Polish-American Federal Credit Union, Simply Pottery, Wise Auto, Cremona Capital, Chris Wisniewski Mortgage and Real Estate, David & Cheryl Jansen, Mike Sherry, MP Tool & Engineering, Ken & Darlene Kal, Kristi & Joe Mihalic, Raczkowski and Associates, and Mike & Joy Obloy. You made this amazing evening possible!
A special thank-you to Jonnie for sharing her extraordinary story with us. Her honesty, courage, humility, and humanity deeply touched us and made her uplifting journey truly meaningful. Brazenly competitive, Jonnie truly embraces the grind. All throttle, no brake, zero quit! Jest ikoną!
Dziękujemy bardzo Jonnie Jonckowski!”
To make a donation to Angel Horses , click on : https://www.angelhorsesmt.org/donate/
For those of us who know Jonnie through Angel Horses, these milestones offer an opportunity to celebrate both her achievements and the person behind them. We’re grateful to share this recognition with the friends, volunteers, and supporters who are part of the Angel Horses family.
Congratulations, Jonnie! We’re proud to celebrate your place in sports history and see your story reach new audiences.
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