Karen Fain holds up a recent picture of her with Jim Fain her husband.
LOGAN – Jim Fain, a rodeo legend, passed away on May 10, 2023. The 80 year-old wasn’t a legend for the broncos he rode or for the steers he wrestled or the bulls he guided away from riders as a rodeo clown.
Fain was a legend because of the countless photographs he took as one of the top rodeo photographers in the universe. He was shooting pictures of rodeos long before the benefits of auto focus lenses and digital cameras, although in later years he took advantage of the high tech electronic cameras. He made a living making cowgirls and cowboys look amazing with photographs of them.
At most of the area rodeos he was out there in the arena sitting on a camera box looking for the peek action moment of horse bucking off its rider or a rope being tied around the legs of a goat.
Fain began his rodeo career as a cowboy competing in bareback, bull riding, and steer wrestling.
He loved scenic photography, but his first-hand knowledge of various rodeo events, gave him an eye for action shots. Some of his photos are at the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
With Karen at his side, Fain shot photos at high school, college and Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) rodeos, creating lasting memories for multiple generations of cowboys and cowgirls for over 60 years.
Fain’s photographic pursuits took him to places across the country shooting rodeos. Over the years he won various awards and accolades.
For years Fain was recognized as the Official Photographer for the National Finals Rodeo, Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo, National High School Finals Rodeo, Indian National Finals Rodeo, and College National Finals Rodeo.
Both he and his wife, Karen, were a mainstay of the Cache County Fair Rodeo for over 40 years. His longest run began in 1966 and spanned 54 consecutive years at the Evanston Cowboy Days Rodeo.
Fain was the PRCA Photographer of the Year in 2006, and PRCA Photo of the Year in both 1979 and 2006; the Pro Rodeo Cowboy Artist Association Penny Onstott Award for Excellence in 1993; the National High School Rodeo Association Man of the Year in 1998; and presentation of the 75th Anniversary Buckle by Preston Night Rodeo, National Day of the American Cowboy for Cache County 2012, to mention a few of his awards.
Fain was inducted into the Utah Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Hall of Fame in 2014. He and his wife, Karen, were inducted into the Idaho Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2018.
Jim’s photographs have appeared on album covers, in motion pictures, and in his own books on rodeo such as “Rodeo, A Decade of Action,” 1976, and “A New True Book of Rodeo,” 1983. Rodeo Sports News Magazine.
Fain photographed his last PRCA rodeo in Logan in August 2022, where he was honored by both the rodeo committee and the PRCA.
With all the professional accolades he received, his greatest contribution was to his family.
Fain was born on Aug. 8, 1942, to James and Viola Fain in Corydon, IA. He moved to Phoenix, AZ, when he was five. After graduating from Carl Hayden High School in 1960, Fain began his rodeo career by hitting the rodeo trail and riding horses on the racetrack.
He took a job at the North Rim and took a liking to Karen Johnson who was working there. She talked him into going to college and after a year at Arizona State University, he transferred to Utah State University to be closer to Karen.
Jim and Karen were married in Fountain Green, UT, on June 12, 1964. That summer they they returned to the Grand Canyon to work. The couple was sealed in the Manti, UT, LDS temple in 1965. Fain completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1967 from USU, and his Master of Fine Arts in 1969, with a master thesis in landscape photography of the North Rim.
Jim and Karen had four children, Tyler J, James, Kayleen, and Karina Fain. They were blessed with grandsons Brian and Dylan (Kayleen) and Gavin and Corbin (Karina).
The Arizonian learned to love the cold and snow. He was a skilled skier was a certified ski instructor and taught skiing lessons for 20 years at Beaver Mountain.
He is survived by his eternal companion, Karen of Logan, UT; son James (Victoria) of TX; daughter, Kayleen, and grandsons, Brian Lofthouse and
Dylan Barr of CO; and daughter, Karina (Dustin), and grandsons, Gavin and Corbin Ellis of UT; and his brother, Michael (Carol) Fain of OK.
A private graveside service was held Thursday, May 18, 2023 at Fountain Green.