Henry Big Boy Rifle Presented to Gov. Kristi Noem

For more than a decade, the Republican Party of Arkansas has honored its headline speakers with the Henry .44 Magnum rifle.

by posted on June 10, 2021
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Kristi Noem Henry Big Boy Copy

It’s well known to NRA Women that South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) is an avid outdoorswoman and one of our most ardent Second Amendment supporters. In fact, it wasn’t unusual to see her being interviewed during the 2020 election season while donning blaze orange and upland clothing, taking a break from one of her favorite fall activities—pheasant hunting. 

Now Noem has been presented with a custom engraved Henry Big Boy lever-action rifle, making her the most recent recipient of the rifle built by American firearms manufacturer Henry Repeating Arms specifically for the keynote speaker at The Republican Party of Arkansas’ (RPA) Reagan-Rockefeller Dinner. The event took place June 4, 2021.

And while the Big Boy will have to swapped for a shotgun as she heads back into the grasslands later this year, according to some news reports, speculation is rising that Noem could run for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination—and she would not be the first RPA Henry rifle recipient with sights set on the presidency.

For more than a decade, the RPA has honored its headline speakers with the Henry .44 Magnum rifle. Past recipients include former president Donald Trump, a candidate at the time in 2015; Senator Rand Paul; former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin; former New York State Judge Jeanine Pirro; and 44th Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. These gifts of modern-day Henry rifles draw inspiration from a gold-mounted Henry rifle presented to Abraham Lincoln in 1862.

Arkansas Lieutenant Governor Tim Griffin unveiled the rifle from under a red velvet curtain, and the crowd of over 500 attendees cheered on their feet as Noem eyed the firearm for the first time and picked it up. The rifle features the RPA logo engraved in the right side of the walnut buttstock.

“Governor Kristi Noem is an avid outdoorswoman and a hunter through and through,” says Patrick Rhodes, RPA event volunteer and liaison to Henry Repeating Arms. “Once she saw that rifle, there was no holding her back from getting her hands on it as quickly as possible. The excitement was real.”

For more, visit HenryUSA.com.

Latest

Nra Logo Flag Background
Nra Logo Flag Background

U.S. House Sends Reconciliation Bill to President Trump

Under the bill, NFA tax on suppressors, short-barreled firearms and other arms is reduced to $0.

The Armed Citizen® July 3, 2025

A domestic violence victim is safe, while her abuser is charged with battery, strangulation and criminal confinement. 

The Evolution of the Canik Mete MC9 Prime Pistol

Canik blends a slim-profile pistol with its competition gun know how to produce a best-of-class concealed-carry pistol.

Women for Gun Rights Descends on Washington D.C.

The event brought in delegates representing more than 40 states to the nation’s capital to speak up for the Second Amendment and ensure that lawmakers heard directly from America's fastest-growing group of gun owners.

9 Tips for Shooting in Bad Weather

Snow, rain and extreme temperatures can present a few challenges for your firearm.

Single-Stack 1911 10 mm Auto Pistols: Ideal Big-Bore Trail Guns?

Polymer pistols may be all the rage, but the venerable 1911 still has a lot to offer 10 mm cartridge fans.

Women's Interests



Get the best of NRA Women delivered to your inbox.