Jan Swan Wood: Another crossing, steer roping, barrels, WRCA coming up

Man, it’s a windy booger here today. It’s snapping links off of the log chain wind gauge at the rate of nearly two an hour.

We’ve been building corrals and using railroad ties for posts. Is it just me, or are those ties getting heavier? With my husband’s bum knee, he can’t do any of the lifting and such so, it’s Grandma for it. I think my chiropractor and I will be having a good visit sometime soon.

The Lord must have some big country and tough cattle to gather ‘cause He’s putting a cowboy crew together that could gather anything. Another fine man and good hand was called home on Oct. 11. Dee Clark, Hulett, WY, was 85 and had battled the effects of Parkinson’s disease for too long. I will always remember Dee as a gentleman, cowman, horseman and family man who I truly admired. The first time I met Dee we were all at a branding and he was dragging calves on an ouchy buckskin gelding that later ended up in a bucking string, as I recall. He was a horseman true and appreciated a horse with a fast walk and a lot of cow. Dee was devoted to his lovely wife, Barbara, and I always enjoyed seeing them and having a visit. His smile and cheerful outlook brightened my day every time. He and Barbara had three kids, Merle, Denise and Cleve, but lost Cleve a few years ago. He’ll be greatly missed by Merle and Susan, Hulett, WY, and Denise and Dave Wagner, Hulett, WY, 11 grandkids and five great-grandkids, plus extended family and his many friends. I’m sure the Lord had one of his good horses and a dog waiting on the other side for him.

I gave an incorrect phone number to get a catalog for the Dakota 50-50 Futurity and Sale at Fargo, ND. Nikki Medalen is the one to call and her number is 701-537-3486. The Futurity and Sale will be Nov. 2-3.

The Mountain States Circuit Finals Steer Roping average was won by Reo Lohse, Kaycee, WY, second was Randy Mekelburg, Yuma, CO, third Troy Tillard, Douglas, WY, and fourth Wade Shoemaker, Gill, CO. The Tillards were quite the adversaries round after round as Troy won rounds one, two and three; Casey Tillard, Glenrock, WY won the fourth and sixth rounds, T.K. Tillard of Douglas, WY the fifth round. This was at Sterling, CO.

Hallie Melvin, Hermosa, SD, trainer, had quite a run at the Hawki Futurity at Lincoln, NE. She won it on Mick and Anita Stroschein’s good gelding, Whats A Guy To Do, a 2007 sorrel by Frenchmans Guy and out of a great Dr. Kirk mare. John G. Johnson was the breeder of this phenomenal horse. Hallie also placed second on French Streaktovegas, owned by Echeta Performance Horses.

At the NWBRA finals, the team of Keenie Word, Hermosa, SD, and a home bred palomino mare by by Frenchmans Guy and out of Nobodys Darling by Next To The Limit won the 1D championship at Gillette, WY. The mare was bred and is owned by Keenie’s Mom, Kelli Powers-Word.

There’s going to be a barrel race to raise money for the Sturgis High School Rodeo team on Oct. 27 at Seven Down Arena, Spearfish, SD. Sponsored by the Bismarck Ranch, Vale, SD, there’s $1,200 added for the top times in each division. There will be PeeWee, Youth 3D and Open 4D (unless there are over 50, then it will be a 5D). Exhibition will be 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with the PeeWees running at 1 p.m.

Golly, just when it’s fall and you think all the creepy crawly critters have gone to bed for the winter, we’re reminded that they’re still around on these sunny days. Amber West, Philip, SD, says her Dad got bit by a rattlesnake this week and is in the hospital. It’s on his hand, so I’m sure it’s going to be a sore, miserable deal for him. Hopefully there will be no complications from the venom and he’ll be back to normal soon.

The 17th World Championship Ranch Rodeo will be held Nov. 8-11 at the Amarillo Civic Center, Amarillo, TX. This is a fantastic ranch rodeo with great teams, snorty cattle and great facilities. Also, there’s the best gear show you’ll ever see, ranch folks from all over the country to visit with, and an outstanding ranch horse competition. We’ve gone to the finals several times and had a blast. It’s sure worth the drive to Amarillo. For general info, you can call the WRCA office at 806-374-9722 or go to http://www.wrca.org. For tickets, call 806-378-3096.

This last item is something to keep in the back of your mind and I’ll be putting updates in here as they come in. The wagon train from Buffalo, SD to Medora, ND will be on the roll starting the Saturday before Labor Day 2013 and arriving in Medora on the following Saturday. By all accounts, the wagon train of 2012 was a huge success and everyone had a great time. I believe you can contact the Days of 76 Museum for more information about it. I’ll have more info as it comes in.

Well, that’s my circle for the week. I think I’ll call it quits and get out of the wind.