Tragedy struck a California family set up in Montana as 16-year-old rodeo star Gage Holzum died in a freak ranch accident involving a tractor on March 3, 2025. He is survived by his parents, Tyler and Jennifer, and his little brother, Ty.

According to The Team Roping Journal, the fatal accident took place in Forepaugh, Arizona. While the Holzum family moved to Montana three years ago, Gage tragically passed at the family’s winter place in Arizona. He was only 16 years old.

There is no further information regarding the circumstances of the freak accident other that it involved a tractor. Memorial services for Gage will be held in both California and Montana. The California memorial service will take place at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 6, at the Oakdale Saddle Club Rodeo Grounds. In Montana, the memorial service will take place on Friday, April 11, at Miller’s Horse Palace in Billings.

Remembering Gage Holzum

Described lovingly by his family and loved ones, Gage Holzum was born into a ranch family. On his mother’s side, he was born a sixth-generation California ranch and rodeo cowboy. At the same time, on his father’s side, he was born a fifth-generation ranch and rodeo Montana cowboy, as per The Team Roping Journal. He lived in Oakdale, California, for his first 13 years of life, only to move to Montana three years ago.

For the last three years, Gage lived alongside his family at a Montana ranch in Rapelje, Montana. There, the Holzums run 500 cows and raise and train Holzum Quarter Horses. There, the Holzums raised performance horses. In Arizona, where the tragic accident took place, the Holzums winter so their children can “rope and ride year-round.”

Gage’s father, Tyler Holzum, spoke highly of his son, who had a passion for heading steers, horses and horsemanship.

“Gage was pretty soft-hearted, but was very hard on himself and a perfectionist to the point where if he ran 20 to 30 steers and roped one neck, he was mad,” Tyler said. “Gage was just good to the soul. He was extremely loyal and polite, and didn’t cuss or drink. He was clean cut and professional.”

Passionate Rodeo Boy

Tyler described how Gage loved “roping, guns, ranching, and branding calves,” saying that he was very passionate about his horses. “He watched a million roping videos and really looked up to the rodeo and futurity guys. He had his sights set on training futurity rope horses,” he added.

Rhen Richard, owner of a Utah and Arizona horse business, a man who Gage looked up to, also talked about him following his death.

“I helped Gage a little off and on the last couple years in Arizona,” Richard said. “He was a quiet, sweet, kind-hearted kid; an old-school ranch kid who loved his horses. There’s nothing anyone can say to make this better, but people really do care and we appreciate that so much. The first head horse Gage made on his own (Freak Show) is at my house right now, and that kid did a really good job with this horse.”

Following his passing, the Gage Paul Holzum Memorial Scholarship Fund was set up in his honor. Its purpose is to raise funds for rodeo kids who want to attend college. Moreover, the funds will also help as a “financial hand to go to rodeo school and clinics.”

“Losing Gage tears our heart out every day, but good has already come out of it,” Tyler said. “There’s nothing anyone can say to make this better, but people really do care and we appreciate that so much.”

While Tyler and the rest of his family struggle to understand their unimaginable loss, they still believe that “God has a reason” and that their son, Gage, is in a much better place.