I first heard of Wick Peth a few years back at the Skagit County Fair. There was a bull on display named "Little Wick," and I was curious about his name. That's when I learned that the Magic Skagit was home to an individual who was famous to anyone who loved rodeo: Wick Peth, a professional bull fighter.

As a student of Skagit Valley history, the name Peth was certainly familiar as one of the earliest immigrant families to the valley. Wick's grandfather was John J. Peth. But I wanted to know more about Wick. Thankfully, the Skagit County Historical Museum also wanted to tell his story, which is the subject of the current exhibit at the "top of the hill" in La Conner.

In addition to sharing the life and career of Wick Peth, the museum's exhibit also recounts the history of rodeo in the Skagit Valley.

I had the great pleasure of doing an interview at the museum with executive director Jo Wolfe, and two individuals who know Wick's story in a way very few do: his son and daughter, Dan Peth and Liza Bott. In this first of our two part series on the life and legacy of Wick Peth and Skagit Valley rodeo, Dan and Liza recount their memories of their famous father and offer a glimpse into the agricultural life of the valley from decades ago.