The Resistol Salutes Feather idea was born when PRCA commissioner Karl Stressman saw a red, white, and blue feather that was hand-painted by Navy veteran and SEAL widow Chelsey Stimson and donated to the U.S. Navy SEAL Danny Dietz Memorial Classic's silent auction in Rosenberg, Texas.

Stressman bought the feather at the auction, took it home, and painted a dozen more red, white, and blue feathers similarly to give to family and friends. Everywhere his family and friends went with their patriotic feathers, people asked where they could buy one. Stressman knew he was onto something.

Knowing the rodeo community was very supportive of America's military, Stressman turned to Resistol, a maker of cowboy hats and sponsor of the PRCA's rookie awards, to see if it would be on-board for embarking on a national campaign featuring the red, white, and blue feathers. In just one month, Resistol produced the first 1,000 feathers and sent them to the post-Thanksgiving PRCA Convention in Las Vegas, where Stressman introduced them to hundreds of rodeo committees as a way they could support their local military charities. The idea resonated; soon the feathers were among the hot topics of the meeting.

"The response was overwhelming," said Resistol marketing director Matthew Range, who was one of those at Resistol handed the reins to the program. "Karl introduced the feathers Nov. 30, and by the next day, we had Facebook posts, phone calls and e-mails from people asking how they could get their hands on the feathers, and we get more every day. We're excited that it's such a big success and working hard to keep up with the demand -- I knew it was a big deal when I heard several committees had asked to put them down for 3,000 feathers."

Range was responsible for keeping costs down to maximize the amount Resistol can donate directly to the Dietz Classic for the Navy SEALS Foundation.

The feathers have been such a hit, Resistol launched a website where individuals and rodeo committees can order the feathers. You can check out the website here.

"This feather would not be possible without the hard work and contribution of many people, including Gold Star widow Chelsey Stimson, who originally crafted these feathers featuring our country's greatest symbol of enduring hope and freedom through her company, American Feathers," Range said. "We also thank Karl Stressman for including us in taking this patriotic show of support to a larger audience across the nation, so we can all raise money for so many important causes."

To learn more about the Dietz Classic, please click here.

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