Heading North
Nevada and Wyoming join the lineup of states hosting WRCA-sanctioned ranch rodeos.
Northwest cowboys, rejoice!
With sanctioned rodeos now expanding into Nevada and Wyoming, ranch teams from more northern climes can participate in rodeos closer to home for their chance to head to Amarillo in November.
This year, the Working Ranch Cowboys Association welcomes the addition of three newly sanctioned rodeos across the two states: the Chugwater Roundup in Chugwater, Wyoming (June 17); Tom Horn Days in Bosler, Wyoming (August 11); and the Battle Mountain Ranch Rodeo in Battle Mountain, Nevada (October 7).
New Sanctioned Rodeos in Wyoming
Rand Selle is the production man behind the Wyoming rodeos (along with a newly added sanctioned rodeo in Colorado: the Weld County Fair Ranch Rodeo in Greeley held July 30).
“I wanted our regional contestants to have a championship they could go to,” he says. “And WRCA’s World Championship Ranch Rodeo is the best there is, so I got my events sanctioned up.”
The Chugwater Roundup takes place in the same Wyoming ranch-ing community as the eponymous—and widely renowned—Chugwater Chili Cook-Off. It’s a can’t-miss event that takes place the morning of the ranch rodeo. Selle also recommends a visit to the Chugwater Soda Fountain for hand-dipped milk shakes, sodas made the old-fashioned way, burgers featuring locally raised beef and more.
“You can’t beat a day of chili, burgers, milkshakes and rodeo,” chuckles Selle.
Attending Tom Horn Days is like taking a step back in time to the early days of rodeo. A log arena, wooden corrals and a sprawling encampment of bedrolls and rodeo rigs evoke a tableau straight from the 1890s. In addition to the sanctioned ranch rodeo, the three-day event features pasture broncs, a muley roping, concerts and more.
“Wyoming cowboys are a different breed,” says Selle. “We’ve got some of the best cowboys in the world, they just don’t get off the ranch much. By sanctioning these rodeos a little closer to home, we can get some of these guys to Amarillo to showcase their talents. I’m excited to bring some teams down there.”
New Sanctioned Rodeo in Nevada
Shawn Goemmer—current WRCA president and the coordinator for the Battle Mountain Ranch Rodeo—is equally excited for the chance to test the mettle of Nevada’s buckaroos.
“These guys follow the old California traditions,” he says. They look like they’ve just come from a Charlie Russell painting, except they’re very real and alive—and doing the same thing they’ve been doing for the last hundred years or so. The goal is to get some North and Northwest teams to Amarillo.”
Expanding the reach of WRCA’s sanctioned rodeos into new territories with diverse cowboy skills and cultures raises the bar for all. After all, “a rising tide raises all ships,” says Goemmer.
Moreover, the expanded access to ranch rodeos—for both competitors and spectators—works to preserve and promote an important part of Western heritage. Interest in the cowboy way of life is increasing thanks to the runaway popularity of television series, but ranch rodeos are as close to the real thing as people can get, says Selle.
“I didn’t realize how important these rodeos are to the older generation,” he continues. “Every one of them will show up and throw their lawn chairs in the back of their pickups and watch the rodeo like they did when they were little kids. And that’s what we need to keep going. More ranch rodeos in more places mean more of the next generation will be able to do the very same thing.”
This article appears in issue 77 of The Hungry Loop. Want to stay in the loop? Become a member at any level to receive the newsletter! Join up at wrca.org/membership.