Heavy Metal Handyman Crowned Rad Dad of 2025

This Montana dad, who was too metal to be on any of our paperwork, just won this year’s RAD DAD photo contest.

We came out of another Father’s Day photo contest with nearly a thousand votes, a heap of bacon, and something to prove that showing up as a dad still means something. Blaze listeners picked a favorite, and the result was obvious. It was Jack Bastard out of Stevensville. He’s a long-time listener, a heavy-metal fix-it guy, and not just a dad, but a “Papa,” raising tomorrow’s little rockstars.

Jack piled on 476 votes, and is taking home:

• Tickets to Blind Melon at the Wilma
• Dilly Dilly! Tickets to see Tim Montana in Dillon
• Father’s Day BBQ and acoustic hang with Tim at the Wise River Club
• A $50 gas card
• And a case of Daily’s Bacon, because priorities

Kyle Emery (198 votes) and Logan Shelton (181 votes) were second and third, respectively. That’s two runner-ups headed for Blind Melon with a little bacon for the ride home.

A big thank you to Tim Montana for helping us make Father’s Day extra rad by showing up at the door of our grand prize winner with some great BBQ and a jam session. And thanks to Daily’s Bacon for hooking up a prize pile that was stacked to the brim. Wouldn’t be a Montana party without good music and smoked meat.

But more than the prizes, this contest is about saluting the other dads out there doing the tough work. Whether you’re raising kids, grandkids, or simply holding the whole place together, this weekend is for you.

To all the Montana dads who are working hard, you make us proud. Keep showing up. We see you.