16-Year-Old With Big Ranching Dreams Dies In Freak Tractor Accident

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.

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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.”…

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