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Jan Swan Wood: Pendleton winners, rodeo meetings, APHA news, upcoming events

The fall colors are sure pretty, though it seems early for the trees to be changing. Maybe it just feels that way since the past year has gone by so fast. There was some frost on the windshield of the car this week, so perhaps it really is early fall.

Congrats to these area rodeo hands: Coy Thompson, Whitewood, SD, on winning the steer roping average at the Pendleton Roundup! He was also second in the final round. Also at Pendleton, Todd Suhn, Hermosa, SD, won the steer wrestling average and won the final round. In barrels, Nikki Steffes, Vale, SD, placed sixth in the average and won the final round.

At Othello, WA, Ty Manke, Rapid City, SD won the saddle broncs, and way down at Pasadena, TX, Chuck Schmidt, Keldron, SD placed second in the saddle broncs with Cole Elshere, Faith, SD, in third. Corey Maier, Timber Lake, SD, was in a three way tie for second in the bull riding there.



The South Dakota Jr. High Rodeo Association (SDHSRA) fall meeting will be held Sept. 29, at 2 p.m. at the Casey Tibbs Rodeo Center, Ft. Pierre, SD. The SDHSRA meeting is the same day at 10 a.m. at the Ramkota in Pierre, SD.

All sixth, seventh and eighth grade rodeo kids are encouraged to join the NJHRA. It’s great warmup competition for the NHSRA. South Dakota kids can find membership forms on http://www.sdhsra.com.



The American Paint Horse Association Hall of Fame announced its first 50 inductees, with 25 people and 25 horses. One of those inductees is the late A.J. “Jack” Campbell of Wyoming. The induction ceremony will be during the APHA convention in Ft. Worth, TX, on Oct. 5.

There will be three barrel races at Tiltrum’s Barn north of Hermosa, SD. The dates are Oct. 14, Nov. 4, and Nov. 14. Exhibitions will be at 10 a.m. with the 4D starting at 1 p.m. sharp. There will also be a youth 3D, futurity side pot, $100 and $500 novice side pots, and senior side pot. Call Lane Tiltrum at 605-209-0205 for info.

The Cathy Coleman Legacy Futurity, Derby, Horse Show and Bridle Horse Spectacular will be at the Camplex, Gillette, WY, on Oct. 19-21. The Bridle Horse Spectacular will have a dinner and calcutta at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, with the show at 7 p.m. You can find entry info for this event at http://www.wrcha.com.

I saw an ad in a newspaper from a compost company needing more bovine manure to meet the demand for their product. It seems to me that a lot of that kind of manure could be found at Washington, DC and at campaign stops across the country. I’ll sure be glad when that’s all over and I can quit yelling at the TV.

I thought this was kind of interesting. HSUS is being sued by a fired former director of a horse sanctuary in Oregon. Kathleen Strek says she was fired for blowing the whistle on the HSUS-owned Duchess Sanctuary for not complying with animal confinement facility regulations (CAFO) when they confine the “rescued” horses to feedlot type pens. Isn’t it funny that the big whistle blower on animal agriculture isn’t taking care of its own backyard before trying to manage ours?

Makes me think of a “rescue” facility not far from me that has 600-700 head of horses crammed in boned-out, little lots that drain into a creek. Perhaps that needs to be looked into.

I also read today that scientists have researched the situation and have now released a report that wildfires in the west are burning bigger and lasting longer than they did 40 years ago. They say, of course, that it’s due to climate change. I don’t suppose it has anything to do with the management of the forests being done by special interest groups (a.k.a. Tree Huggers) in the past 40 years. Back when there was logging throughout the mountain west and before there was a housing development on every other ridge of the west, fires either didn’t burn as hot or didn’t threaten structures. Climate change? Well, we’re in a drought pattern, much like the one in the 1930s. I’m just relieved that the scientists, spending research money we no doubt provided, have been able to tell us something we already knew. I’m also relieved to know that we’re not as dumb and misinformed as they think we are.

Well, that’s our circle for this week. Be sure and send me your events, fundraisers and items of interest. I’m always tickled to hear from you. Pray for rain.