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Jan Swan Wood: Dry as dirt, cowboy reunion, SDRA Finals, Badlands Circuit winners, roping school

First Last
for Tri-State Livestock News

It’s fall. There are still a few meadowlarks around but they’re sure not singing about it. The cranes are going over pretty steady now. I don’t know why I enjoy the song of the cranes more as they are winging north than south. I still enjoy it, but it’s kind of the bittersweet song of fall. With all the milling around that they do, it’s a wonder to me that the cranes ever get anywhere at all.

We dug 30-some postholes in the corrals recently and only those next to a hydrant had any moisture in them at all. We went deep too, and that old gumbo at the bottom was just as dry as the stuff at the top. Pretty discouraging. I’m just glad the holes weren’t any deeper. I can at least imagine there was moisture just another inch deeper.

Great news on the John Teigen front! He’s in rehab six days a week and I guess they’re working him pretty hard. They’ve projected that they may let him out of there on Oct. 18. He’s sure been through an ordeal, as have his family and friends. I’m sure glad to know he’s getting stronger every day. Only a Teigan would have survived it all.



The 6th Annual Cowboy Reunion will be Oct. 20, at the First Gold Hotel in Deadwood, SD. The social hour starts at 5 p.m., supper at 6 p.m., and the business meeting/bull session at 7 p.m., This is quite a shindig every year and I’ve never talked to a soul who went that didn’t have a great time. Sharon Holloway is the contact person about the whole thing and her number is 605-964-3088 or 605-365-6490. The room rates for the celebration are $59 per night and the number for reservations is 800-274-1876 Ext. 1000.

The reunion coincides with the SDRA Finals, Oct. 19-21, at the Event Center at the Central States Fairgrounds, Rapid City, SD. The annual meeting is Oct. 19, 1 p.m. and you have to be there if you are competing at the finals. Besides the rodeo, there’s a tradeshow, dances, a High School Rodeo Extravaganza on Oct. 20, 1 p.m., and Cowboy Church at 9 a.m. on Sunday. Go to http://www.sdra.com for details.



There will be a roping clinic Oct. 27-28, at the Lessert Arena, Martin, SD. It will have calf roping, team roping and breakaway. The instructor will be Spike Guradipee, seven-time INFR World Champion, six-time Montana Pro Champion, seventime NRA champion and NARC team roping champion. It’s only $150 per student with a $50 deposit due by Oct. 20. Call Tim Lessert at 605-685-5646 or Teresa at 605-685-5934, or after 6 p.m., the arena at 605-685-6592.

The AQHA honored 50 year breeders on Oct. 2. The 50 Year Cumulitive Breeders registered at least one foal for 50 total years. Legacy Breeders registered at least one foal for 50 consecutive years. Cumulitive Breeders from this region are: Jerry and Amanda Kaufmann, Buffalo, WY; May Brothers, Kyle, SD; and Broken Heart Ranch (Ralph and Helen Pederson), Firesteel, SD. Legacy Breeders are: Thomas Barrett, Watertown, SD; Loren Peterson, Bayard, NE; and the Waldners, Brookings, SD. Congrats to all.

Les Shepperson, Midwest, WY, has the honor of having his great steer wrestling horse Dillons Dash, aka “Dillon” named AQHA/PRCA Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year. Dillon is a 20 year-old-gelding who not only carried his partner Les to his second WNFR this year, but helped Luke Branquinho make the finals as well. This coveted annual award is voted on by the top 25 contestants in the event.

The Badlands Circuit Finals have been held and the winners in the average hold some new names and some veterans. The Bareback winner was Jet Price, Buffalo, SD, who also won first in the first and second rounds; Steer Wrestling winner was Jason Reiss, Dickinson, ND, who also won first in the second and third rounds; Tie Down Roping winner was Dane Kissack, Spearfish, SD, who was also first in the third round; Team Roping winners were Jay Mattson, Deadwood, SD and Matt Kasner, Cody, NE, and they also won first in the first round; Saddle Broncs were won by Troy Crowser, Whitewood, SD and he also won first in the second and third rounds; Barrels were won by Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, SD, who also won first in the first round and tied for first in the second; Bull Riding was won by Jeff Bertus, Avon, SD who also tied for first in the second round; All Around was won by JB Lord, Piedmont, SD with second in the average in steer wrestling and money won in the team roping. Lisa Lockhart’s win was the seventh Year End Circuit Title for her. They’ll all be heading for the Ram Circuit Finals next spring.

Well, that about winds it up for this week. If you’re bored and have nothing to do, I probably have a tamping bar that would fit your hands, so come on over.