KEN HOWIE
DIRECTOR
Originally from Belfield, ND, Photographer/Videographer Ken Howie is working on "Feek's Vision" in partnership with the Tooke Family and Carter County Museum in Ekalaka, MT.
After honing his skills in New York, Ken worked for 15 years in his studio in Phoenix, AZ. Today, he is back in North Dakota, continuing his career in commercial photography and documentary filmmaking.
Ken is known for his work as the Director of Photography
for Special Cowboy Moments, a television series airing
nationally on RFD TV.
Other film credits include Hardship to Freedom, a documentary celebrating the spirit of the Ukrainian pioneers and their immigration to North Dakota in the early 1900's.
TESS HOWIE
WRITER | PRODUCER
Raised and educated in Phoenix, AZ, Tess began work as a copy writer and editor at age 18.
Since 1997, Tess has been responsible for the marketing
and representation of Ken Howie in his career,
producing photo and video shoots for discerning
advertising clients.
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Now a resident of North Dakota, having followed
her talented husband home, Tess works alongside Ken as he follows his dream to capture and share the great stories that comprise North Dakota's ranch and rodeo history.
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Tess was Story Editor and Video Editor for Special Cowboy Moments on RFD-TV and Producer and Story Editor on the Ken Howie Studios documentary Hardship to Freedom.
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MAX CARL
COMPOSER
A veteran of over thirty years in professional music trenches,
Max Carl has sung on recordings with Sir Elton John, Dusty Springfield, Bonnie Raitt, Glenn Frey, Don Henley,
Timothy B. Schmitt, Jennifer Warnes, and Rodney Crowell.
His songs have been recorded by Huey Lewis, Bette Midler,
Aaron Neville, Joe Cocker, Tower Of Power, Jack Mack &
The Heart Attack, and .38 Special.
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Max's songs have been used on TV shows from the 80’s series “Miami Vice” to 2005 and the Speed Channel Series “PINKS.”
In addition, Max's songs in movies include Steve Martin’s
“The Lonely Guy”, John Hughes’ “Weird Science” and Hugh Wilson’s
“Police Academy.”
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In 2000, Max was inducted as a Solo Artist into the
Nebraska Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In 2010, he was inducted as a Solo Artist into the
Kansas Music Hall of Fame.
In 2012, Max was inducted with .38 Special into the
Georgia Music Hall of Fame.
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To quote Rusty Russell of Nashville’s Music Row Magazine "He is absolutely, without question, among the top handful of Blue-Eyed Soul Singers ever".
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Max Carl is a gifted composer and music historian, with the ability to play any instrument. Max has already lent his talent to the official film trailer for Feek's Vision.
Ken and Max became friends in Phoenix, in 2010.
TOBY TOOKE
HISTORICAL RESEARCH
Toby Chandler Tooke, was born and raised in Ekalaka, Montana.
He is the great grandson of Chandler Earl 'Feek' Tooke and is named after a man he never knew that was the pioneer of the
modern day bucking horse.
Toby grew up on their ranch southwest of Ekalaka, haying,
calving, working cows, fencing, and everything that goes into working on a ranch. He participated in basketball, football, baseball, and track at Carter County High School. He never rodeoed but was always interested. He grew up listening to the tales of Feek and the horses, as told by his grandfather (Feek's son) Ernest.
Recognizing how revolutionary Feek was in the world of rodeo,
Toby dedicated immense time and effort to the resurgence of the Tooke name and their horses. Feek has since been inducted into the PRCA Hall of Fame, the Montana Pro Rodeo Hall & Wall of Fame, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum and the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame & Western Heritage Center in 2011. Feek's sire Gray Wolf was inducted in the PRCA Hall of Fame Class of 2016. Tooke Bucking Horses were inducted into the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame & Western Heritage Center in 2020.
Toby enjoys working at a radio station based out of Billings, MT, spending time with his family, and being the social media manager of the Tooke Bucking Horses page with its mission to educate rodeo
enthusiasts, historians and fans.
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Toby was elected to the Montana Pro Rodeo Hall & Wall of Fame Board of Directors in 2020.
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Ken was introduced to the Tooke family and the story of the Tooke Bucking Horses through a mutual acquaintance in 2016.