FORM 3
 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  Staude Michael L.
 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
01/12/2017		 3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
ROCKY BRANDS, INC. [RCKY]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
39 EAST CANAL STREET		 4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
SVP-Finance & Interim CFO
 5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

NELSONVILLE, OH 45764		 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)		 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Restricted Stock Unit   (1) 01/02/2018 Common Stock, without par value 750 $ (2) D  
Restricted Stock Unit   (1) 01/02/2019 Common Stock, without par value 1,000 $ (2) D  
Restricted Stock Unit   (1) 01/04/2020 Common Stock, without par value 1,000 $ (2) D  
Stock Option (right to buy)   (3) 01/03/2027 Common Stock, without par value 1,000 $ 11.55 D  
Stock Option (right to buy)   (3) 01/04/2026 Common Stock, without par value 1,000 $ 11.56 D  
Stock Option (right to buy)   (3) 01/02/2025 Common Stock, without par value 1,000 $ 13.42 D  
Stock Option (right to buy)   (3) 01/02/2024 Common Stock, without par value 750 $ 14.57 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Staude Michael L.
39 EAST CANAL STREET
NELSONVILLE, OH 45764		       SVP-Finance & Interim CFO  

Signatures

Erin F. Siegfried, Attorney-in-Fact 01/23/2017
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Restricted stock unit vests 25% per year beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant.
(2) Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of Issuer's Common Stock.
(3) Option vests 20% per year beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant.
 
Remarks:
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit 24 - Power of Attorney

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