The Ranch Rodeo Road | The WRCA Blog

Almost six months had passed since the World Championship Ranch Rodeo in Amarillo, Texas. Our team—Iron Springs Ranch/Welch Cattle Co.—hadn’t competed as a group since, so the Hi-Lo Country Ranch Rodeo in Kim, Colorado, had us all excited to get back to action. We won the rodeo last year, so we entered with some measure of confidence at that setup and in that pen.

Though changing from a two-day one-header for 2018, the Hi-Lo Country Ranch Rodeo is always a fun one. There’s a huge parking area for contestants to spread out and visit. As always, they held a Ranch Horse Association of America show, so a handful of others made their way to Southeastern Colorado for the show.

Every year, it seems as if it’s a long winter away from our ranch rodeo friends, so Kim is like a reunion. We all get caught up on each other’s news and moisture reports—though this year hasn’t been great—and the latest horses different people are cracking out. Between the ranch horse show and the rodeo is a great time to do the catching up. Sitting around trailers, roping the dummy, and playing with the kids makes the afternoon slip away.

Once the rodeo started, the rust for our team was evident. In the first event, the wild cow milking, we got a time, but finished last. After that, though, our groove came back.

We placed in the doctoring and branding and won the sorting. At the end of four events, we had a time in all four events. Kim gives an extra 10 bonus points for every team with a time on all five events. Our team, along with Stock Ranch/Felt Ranch,  Jolly Ranch/S&L Cattle Co., and Smith Ranch had times on four. We needed a great bronc ride to have a chance. Our man did all he could, but didn’t draw enough horse.

Stock/Felt Ranches took top honors and deserved it. They placed second in the branding and won the wild cow milking. With placings down the line in the other events—and the 10 bonus points—they ran away with it. Jolly/S&L was second and we came in third.

Of course, after getting a taste of first place, nothing else quite satisfies—especially with a trip to Amarillo on the line. But there are plenty of rodeos left, and we plan to go to as many as our bronc rider is willing to!