Forty Years' Gatherin's
Spike Van Cleve was born in 1912 on the family ranch established by his grandfather in 1880.  After attending Harvard University, he returned to Montana to begin his career in ranching.  In 1934 Barbara Knudson and Spike were married and they were to become the proud parents of four children.In addition to the family's Ottger Creek Ranch, they have also continued to operate the historic LAZY K BAR Dude Ranch deep in the Crazy Mountains of Montana.Since raising horses was his particular jooy, Spike served as president of the Northern Quarter Horse Breeders Association, was a lifetime member of the American Quarter Horse Association, served as president of the Dude Ranchers Association for two terms and served as chairman of the board of trustees and director of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center.Spike was awarded Wrangler Awards from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame for his story, "Cody and Terry," and for the movie, "Spike - Montana Horseman" which is now being shown on PBS and used in college and high school classrooms.