MEEKER I Following the annual Range Call Parade on Saturday the annual Ranch Rodeo will begin with a calcutta at 1:30 p.m. at the Rio Blanco County Fairgrounds.
The actual rodeo events will begin at 2 p.m. with the majority of teams being local, competing in events that resemble work on the ranch.
Teams of four will compete in the “Cow Milking,” where four members attempt to rope, stop and milk a cow before removing all ropes and signaling for time.
There will be the “Cow Hide Race,” which was an event in the rodeo several years ago. One team member pulls another on a cow hide around a barrel at the opposite end of the arena and back, with the fastest time winning.
The third event is “Team Branding,” with teams attempting to brand as many calves as possible. Two team members are horseback and two are afoot for the ground work, just as is done on the ranches every spring.
“Team Doctoring” is another event representing everyday life for a rancher. In this event, teams will work to rope the steer’s head, heels and then mark the steer, signifying the idea of doctoring the animal.
“Team Penning” will be included again this year, with the four members of the team working to sort out three numbered “yearlings,” and attempting to get all three in a pen at the opposite end of the arena.
In the past five years, two rodeos have been won by a Klinglesmith combo team, with Buddy and Lance Pakuer, Coley Turner and Ryan Vroman all entering every year on two teams. The Brennan team has won the event countless times, and their incredible talent combined with actual experience makes them a threat every year.
The last three years has had the team of Coley Turner, Aaron Webster, J.C. Chintala and Hallie Blunt finish second twice and tie for first last year. J.C. was a member of the winning team as well, bettering his second-place team in the trailer loading.
The entire rodeo is an outstanding event, that is not only fun and exciting, but a compliment to the many ranchers around who do these tasks every day, not for money or prizes, but because it is a way of life for them.
This year’s Ranch Rodeo will be an outstanding event.
The hard work of Range Call Vice President Justin Carroll has made it something well worth the price of admission, with incredible participation, quality stock and great organization.