YOUR AD HERE »

Discount Fuel Ranch Rodeo team takes first at Cammacks’ event

Danielle Schlegel
Editorial Intern
Tee Hale is ready to catch his steer during the Ranch Rodeo. Photo by Danielle Schlegel

An unseasonably cool and wet morning did not deter folks from coming out to the 14th annual Cammack Ranch Supply Rancher Roundup in Union Center, South Dakota on Friday, Aug. 19. This annual event includes local vendors, a ranch rodeo, mutton busting, steak fry, and a live band.

Kicking off the day’s events was the ranch rodeo at 1:30. After almost a half inch of rain fell, the clouds lifted and by 2 o’clock, Union Center was enjoying what founder and owner, Gary Cammack, called “perfect rodeo weather.”

Twelve teams competed in the rodeo. Cammack noted of the ranch rodeo participants. “It turned out really well. A dozen teams for us is about perfect.”



The ranch rodeo was streamlined with only two events: Branding and a combination of stray gathering, range doctoring and trailer loading. Intermission of the two events was a mutton busting.

“We want to get the ranch rodeo going and over with so the folks have time to talk to vendors and get to the steak fry,” Cammack said.



Despite the cool and damp weather, attendees turned their attention to the exciting ranch rodeo. Many teams were local participants that had been to this and other ranch rodeos together such as Faith Livestock and Belle Fourche Livestock, which made for some friendly bantering between teams. Some even bought one another in the calcutta. Some teams were first-timers including the young men who earned bragging rights with a big win.

With a total average time of 1:62, a team dubbed Discount Fuel took home first. Comprised of Colby Porch, Bryer Jones, and Colter Stout from the Kadoka area and Nebraskan Tell Stoner from Kilgore, this was the team’s first go at the Cammack Rancher Roundup. When asked if they would be back to defend their title next year, a unanimous “for sure” rang out.

Nearly an average minute divided the first and second placed teams. Second place went to Takes the Knife Team with a time of 2:59, third place to Ranchland Technologies with a 2:79, and fourth place went to Belle Fourche Livestock with a time of 2:81.

The conclusion of the ranch rodeo turned attendees to the hoop barn attached to the back of the main ranch store where vendor booths were set up. Over 20 partner vendors had booths set up including Hausauer Seamless Products, Dakotaland Feeds, LLC, and the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association.

Cammack noted that there were many more businesses supporting the event that were in attendance but not in a designated booth space. Some were sponsors but unable to attend, and a handful of sponsors preferred to mingle amongst the attendees rather than have a booth.

“We had 50 different businesses helping us put this thing on,” Cammack said. “We couldn’t do it without them. We wouldn’t be able to serve steak to everyone without them.”

By 4, the smell of the looming steak fry was in the air. Once everyone was served, the Badger Horse band sang the night away for everyone who played a part in making this successful event happen.

“We really appreciate the customers and partner vendors that come together to enjoy the event and do business with us,” Cammack said. “There is no better group of people to do business with than agricultural and livestock people.”