Outside Circle by Jan Swan Wood: Indian Relay Race winners, Northern Bucking Stock Sale, WSRRA finals

We got our first dusting of snow this past week. It settled the dust and sure curtailed the switching of tails on the livestock. We had the grandboys for the three day weekend and had a great time with them. They rode, fished, and played until they were worn plum out. I’m thankful that they live so close and we get to see them. Their daddy got to ride out with them for the first time to go check cows with everyone riding their horse on their own. He was pretty proud to be able to do that! I’m sure thankful for the two good mares that pack those little guys around so reliably, too.

Since the little boys were here, I didn’t get to attend the Indian Relay Races in Rapid City on Oct. 7-9. I heard the races were fantastic, just as I expected they’d be. Winning the races was the River Road team from the Crow Nation, with Dustin Kruger riding. He was presented with a beautiful star quilt by the Hermis Tall family, which was quite an honor. Winning the Warrior’s Race was Rico Cortez from South Dakota’s very own Lakota Warpath teams. The Chief’s Race was won by Brian Beetem, Oglala, and the Maiden’s Race was won by Delacina Chief Eagle, also of Oglala. Oglala is, of course, in South Dakota too! Congrats to all!

The Northern Bucking Stock Sale will be on Thursday, Oct. 20, at the James Kjerstad Event Center, Rapid City, S.D. at 10 a.m. There is stock coming from some of the top breeders and contractors in the country for this. There will be 40 head of bulls, from prospects to proven bulls, 45 head of proven rodeo horses, 45 head of breeding stock, 45 young horses and 5 head of proven pickup horses. The yearlings will be bucked, so you can pick your futurity colts right at this event! For more information, call Joe Waln at 605-515-0257. You can check out some of the consignments on Facebook on Northern Bucking Stock Sale.

Laramie, Wyo. will be the place to be Oct. 28 for the Spook and Swoop Ranch Bronc Riding. It will start at 7 p.m. and will include a costume wild ride! Put on by Selle Rodeo Productions, this event will be the place to be, whether competing or watching. Entries are $100. Call 307-710-3133 for info.

The Headless Horseman Barrel Race at Bowman, N.D. will be Oct. 29-30 at the All Season Arena. Pre-entry deadline is Oct. 19 but late entries will be taken. You can download an entry form at http://www.millerranch.net.

The 2016 WSRRA Finals will be Nov. 3-6 at Winnemucca, Nev. Besides all the usual great ranch rodeo events, there will also be ranch broncs, wild horse races, and mini bareback bronc riding. You can find out more at http://www.wsrra.org or call 916-296-2326.

Broken Bow, Neb. Winter Series Barrel Races have started. The next one will be Nov. 12, then Jan. 21, Feb. 18 and Mar. 18. There will be peewee, youth and open runs. The arena opens at 9 a.m., exhibitions are 10:30-noon, and the first run will be at 1 p.m. For more information, call 402-803-0616.

There’s a great fundraiser coming up on Thurs., Nov. 19 at the Branding Iron Steakhouse in Belle Fourche, S.D. It will benefit the Special Needs Rodeo held every summer in Belle Fourche, and you can win either 10 head of black Angus heifer calves or $5,000, whichever you prefer. Tickets are $100 each and can be bought at the Branding Iron or at Black Hills Tractor in Belle Fourche. The drawing will be held at 7 p.m. after a social at 6 p.m. Go enjoy a good steak and support a wonderful event by buying some tickets.

Well, that’s my circle for this week. You’ll be glad to know that the assination of my laptop has not yet occurred. I took it to the computer vet to try to repair so am sure hoping that happens and soon. Using a borrowed laptop is like using a borrowed saddle: appreciate it, but it just doesn’t fit as well as mine.

Have a great week and send me you news items and upcoming events so I can share them here.