Over The Corral Fence
Graduation time is here
Rhonda Sedgwick Stearns
May 6, 2008
Graduation time is here for the class of ’08. A tremendous new crop of intellect and ambition is being showcased as the strains of Pomp & Circumstance echo across countless high school stages. Our news-media-bombarded brains and spirits are refreshed, recharged and encouraged to listen to their valedictorian addresses and discover what good hands America’s future really is in!
Admitting my personal bigotry in favor of rural youth, I’ll declare this to be especially true across Tri-State Country. I’m sure you good readers join me in appreciation and awe of our regional youth, who often stand in stark contrast to the masses.
You read in this publication just last week how South Dakota’s astute FFA leadership refused to be taken in by the USDA’s sneaky plot to slip their NAIS plan in the back door of countless farms and ranches through them. We tip our ol’ Tri-State Stetson enthusiastically to you young men and women!
My hat also comes off in deep respect whenever someone does something remarkable to help kids – and this week we doff the old Tri-State Stetson sincerely to Gene and Linda Roberts of Dry Cabin Creek Ranch at Carlisle, Wyoming. Longtime breeders, trainers and exhibitors of good horses, the Roberts have brought a rich gene pool of straight Texas King Ranch bloodlines to this region. They awarded three of their beautiful American Quarter Horses to deserving youth who scored high in horse judging competition at their ranch last weekend.
Young people from Converse, Weston, Crook and Campbell counties showed up to compete for the horses. The Blacktail Hustlers 4-H Club from the Hulett area in Crook County dominated the competition. Ten-year-old Jodi Gantz of Hulett won her division, turning in a score that was even higher than the senior judges! She received a registered filly named Rel Cisneros Cin Rey. This was Jodi’s second remarkable horse judging win for 2008; she’d already placed 2nd at the Black Hills Stock Show event in January.
Fellow Blacktail Hustler’s member Megan Dirks from Hulett won the registered filly Rel Twisty Rey for her high score in the Senior division of judging. The Junior division was won by first-time judging competitor Tierney Hoffmeister of Campbell County. Her registered filly is Rel De Oros Hug.
We congratulate the parents and leaders of Blacktail Hustler’s 4-H Club. We also wish these three relented young ladies much success as they raise, break and train their fillies and go on to compete with them; and prob’ly – hopefully – even get into the Quarter Horse business by breeding them.
We also thank Linda and Gene Roberts for their extremely generous contribution to the youth of this region through producing and hosting this event and donating the horses! If you are looking for good using horses or high quality breeding stock, be sure to contact them at (307) 756-9612 or lindarbrts@yahoo.com.
Good news is out on honorees to be inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame at Colorado Springs this summer. Tri-State Country’s buttons are a’poppin’ as this region is repeatedly recognized in the class of ’08!
Two highly deserving South Dakota hands – all-around Paul Tierney and bronc riding Tom Reeves – lead the pack from this region. Add Duane Howard, top North Dakota all around hand of the 50’s and 60’s, and longtime Montana rodeo producer Feek Tooke, and it’s plain to see we’ve swept the field. The whipped cream and cherry on top is a gold medal Montana equine athlete, Oral Zumwalt’s amazing bronc Trail’s End, who dusted arena floors with such top hands as Guy Weeks and Casey Tibbs during his lengthy career.
Capping our regional pride in this year’s PRCA honorees are rodeo committees representing Nebraska’s Buffalo Bill Rodeo at North Platte; Cheyenne Frontier Days in Wyoming; and Colorado representatives, the National Western Stock Show Rodeo from Denver and the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo in Colorado Springs. Festivities honoring these and other ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductees will take place July 11th and 12th. For details and tickets, visit www.prorodeo.com.
We’ve been discussing the changing face of rodeo a lot recently. That trend surely continues.
Take the Calgary Stampede, for example. Started in 1912 by Guy Weadick and a group of wealthy Canadian promoters... interrupted by World War I until 1919, it’s been one of world’s the biggest, most popular rodeos continually since that time. Long approved by the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association, the Stampede has now become an independent event – and it’s even honoring and featuring youth and amateurs!
For the minimal entry fee of $60, anyone carrying a currently in-good-standing Amateur, High School Rodeo or Collegiate Rodeo Card or Pro Permit can enter the Calgary Stampede Novice Saddle Bronc or Bareback riding events for a shot at the $5,000 purse. Those between the ages of 11 and 14, with protective helmets and vests, can enter the Junior Steer Riding for a $30 entry fee – and ride for a purse of $3,500! Those entries will be taken only June 18th, from 9 am to 3 pm MDT. Numbers are (403) 261-0124 or (403) 261-9304.
Another popular rodeo community of longstanding is Reno, Nevada. Also deviating from traditional rodeo, this “Biggest Little City in the World” is offering a “World’s Greatest Roper” event June 21st and 22nd – with a cool $80,000 on the line for the 20 lucky competitors in calf roping, heading and heeling! Four full rounds and a short round will yield the titleholder – Wrangler World’s Greatest Roper. It looks like the Lazy E Arena out of Oklahoma and Silver Legacy resort and casino of Reno are teaming up with the Reno Rodeo with several other major sponsors to produce this event.
The National High School Rodeo Association is currently advertising for artwork/photos to illustrate their 2008 Rodeo Programs. To enter a photo depicting the western lifestyle and the sport of rodeo for consideration for the cover of the Wrangler Division Junior High Finals Rodeo Program – and a $500 college scholarship – send a vertical format photo in a digital file 300 dpi or higher on CD to NHSRA-Wrangler Division, 12001 Tejon, Suite 128, Denver, CO 80234 by May 15th.
June 1st is the deadline for artwork to be considered for the NHSFR program, with a $500 college scholarship also awarded. Any art that can be reproduced in a print shop can be used, color only, vertical format, all original with no computer art. The address is the same as above – and to learn more you can phone (800) 466-4772, extension 213 for Mike Hausmann, or email mike@nhsra.org.
Looks like that’s the end of this ol’ lariat rope once more…
© 2008 Rhonda Stearns
Email Rhonda at cow_grl63@hotmail.com
(Editor's Note: Due to the May 1 and 2 blizzard, Rhonda's column was inadvertently left out of the May 3 print edition of Tri-State Livestock News.)