A Champion Combination
By Sara Gugelmeyer
Veale Ranch and Allen Cattle combined for the 2021 ranch rodeo season and it culminated in a big win at the 2021 WRCA World Championship Ranch Rodeo. John C Brian and Coy Spear of Veale Ranch and Tanner Allen and Cutter McLain of Allen Cattle were the team members and although there were just four of them, they showed their skills in all events.
A no-time the first night in the wild cow milking really put a hustle in everybody, John C Brian says about their performance. After that, they knew they had to step up.
“Other than that, we had a pretty flawless rodeo, and things kind of fell into place,” Brian says. “We drew right and executed right.”
Tanner Allen agrees. “After that no-time, we all knew we had to be on the board and get points in every event.”
It was the first year for the Veale Ranch and Allen Cattle to compete together, but they had all competed at the WRCA World Championship before. In fact, Tanner Allen’s very first year in 2017, he joined efforts with Wilson Cattle and they won the championship.
The Veale Ranch crew has competed five times as well, but as part of a few different teams over the years.
John, Coy, Tanner and Cutter have all been friends for several years and decided this was the year to join forces.
“One reason we did so well is we get along really good in and out of the rodeo arena. It’s just a good group of fun-loving guys,” Brian says.
Allen says just as important is that everyone takes their job seriously.
“Everybody was on the same page of not liking to lose,” he laughs. “We don’t go just to go. We want to be competitive and try to win money. We enjoy it and it is fun, but we don’t do it just for fun.”
During the rodeo year, the team competed at several rodeos, but only won the Earth ranch rodeo to qualify.
“Throughout the year it was kind of rough, honestly,” Allen explains. “We hadn’t all rodeoed together before and just little things kept happening and it really was nobody’s fault. That’s just how it goes.”
It all came together at the world, though, and made for an exciting awards night.
“We had a pretty good idea we were in the top three, but we had it figured really tight,” Brian says. “One lady had told me she thought we won second. Of course, you never know until they announce your name, but when we weren’t second, we had a pretty good idea and got excited.”
When asked what made their team so successful in its first year, Allen and Brian agree it’s because although they just have four guys, everyone is good at their jobs.
“I’ve known and worked with Cutter McLain my whole life and he rides a bronc as good as anybody out there,” Allen says. “Having a guy that can ride a bronc that well and be a number 9 heeler is a great asset to any team. We have some of the best there is in each event. And with four, nobody has to sit out.”
Brian has high praise for Coy Spear as well, who has day worked for him and others for many years. “You couldn’t make him mad with a whip,” Brian jokes. “He is just a fun guy to be around, gives everyone a hard time and is good at what he does.”
Summing up the event, Brian commends WRCA as a good place to showcase your horses and get out and compete.
“It’s really family-oriented and we enjoy getting to see everybody and all the extras go to the WRCA Foundation. I have seen that personally help some families. Getting to do something as fun as this and help somebody out in the end, that’s pretty awesome.”
About Veale Ranch
Owned by David and Karen (Veale) Ekstrom, the Veale Ranch is between Weatherford and Fort Worth, Texas, near Aledo. The multi-generational family-owned ranch was started in the 1930s by Monroe Veale.
The operation consists of Angus and Angus plus cows bred to Hereford and Angus bulls. Those calves are weaned in the fall and sold, then depending on grass conditions, stockers are purchased and typically graze the strong summer grass from early spring to August.
“That all changes depending on the cattle and how much it rains,” says manager John C Brian. He has day worked for the Veale for more than a decade, but two years ago was hired on as the manager. He, along with his two young sons, handle the day-to-day work and he hires day workers like Coy Spear when needed.
Allen Cattle
Tanner Allen is the third generation of Allens to join the family business at Friona, Texas. He, along with his dad, Curtis, runs about 350 Angus cows on owned and leased grass. They also have a large stocker program, typically preconditioning between 5000 and 6000 head then turning them out on winter wheat.
Tanner Allen has also started a horse training program, buying young horses, training them to rope and reselling, as well as riding outside horses. He looks forward to competing with horses he’s trained at rope horse futurities. He’s been riding several for Daugherty Ranches, including the 4-year-old mare he rode at this year’s WRCA finals.
Allen says he has one fulltime employee, and then Cutter McLain day works for them, doing anything that needs done, working on the ranch, riding horses and doctoring cattle.