10/24/2026
What an incredible evening with the legendary Jonnie Jonckowski!
The Kosciuszko Foundation Michigan Chapter, in collaboration with the National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame, presented a powerful feature-length PBS documentary exploring Jonnie’s determined quest for a world championship. Achieving true championship success demands unwavering dedication and hard work. A strong work ethic is a hallmark of Polish culture shaped by a history requiring perseverance. The film captured Jonnie’s remarkable journey as she broke gender barriers and displayed exceptional mental and physical strength while facing life-threatening injuries, poverty, and assault.
The evening featured an engaging cinematic experience for our 150 guests, beginning with an 82-minute screening of “Jonnie”, followed by a live Q & A with Jonnie herself. Guests had a unique opportunity to watch her remarkable story unfold on screen and hear firsthand from the woman whose determination propelled her through one of the world’s toughest sports - bull riding, and helped her overcome some of life’s greatest challenges.
Jonnie’s life journey encompassed periods of financial hardship and personal trauma, adding profound depth to the documentary beyond the traditional narrative of athletic achievement, setbacks, and perseverance.
Following the film, the audience rose to their feet in a standing ovation as Jonnie was invited to the stage. She talked about her phenomenal journey from the Olympics to championship bull riding and, ultimately, her life’s purpose: founding Angel Horses Montana. Jonnie’s extraordinary story of determination, grit, and breaking barriers deeply resonated with everyone in attendance.
At its core, the PBS documentary transcends the world of rodeo, exploring themes of resilience, survival, and purpose, while examining how individuals navigate life when the future they once envisioned takes an unexpected turn.
Having visited the American Polish Cultural Center twice before, National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame inductee Jonnie Jonckowski was reminded of her Polish father. “Whenever I’m here, I think of my dad. It feels like family.”
Four decades after her bull-riding career, Jonnie continues to embrace challenging endeavors, from rescuing abandoned horses and assisting with natural disaster response to supporting children, seniors, and other members of her Montana community.
We extend our sincere gratitude to our partner, National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame for their commitment, collaboration, and invaluable contributions to the success of this event.
We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the American Polish Cultural Center for graciously hosting our special event and providing a wonderful venue for this memorable occasion.
A heartfelt thank-you to all our guests, both young and young at heart, for joining us and contributing to the success of this unforgettable evening.
Many thanks to our valued sponsors including the Polish-American Federal Credit Union, Simply Pottery, Wise Auto, Cremona Capital, Chris Wisniewski Mortgage and Real Estate, David & Cheryl Jansen, Mike Sherry, MP Tool & Engineering, Ken & Darlene Kal, Kristi & Joe Mihalic, Raczkowski and Associates, and Mike & Joy Obloy. You made this amazing evening possible!
A special thank-you to Jonnie for sharing her extraordinary story with us. Her honesty, courage, humility, and humanity deeply touched us and made her uplifting journey truly meaningful. Brazenly competitive, Jonnie truly embraces the grind. All throttle, no brake, zero quit! Jest ikoną!
Dziękujemy bardzo Jonnie Jonckowski!
