Texas Ranch Roundup Chosen As 2022 Ranch Rodeo of the Year
In 1980, Mike McAfee, general manager of Falls Distributing Co., the distributor for Anheuser- Busch products in Wichita Falls, developed a rough idea that he and consultant Teri Brown had discussed with local PRCA cowboys Johnny Gass and Eugene Weakley during the Red River Rodeo that summer.
The idea was to expand a local competition which had taken place between area ranch families and friends. Combining his business marketing skills and his family’s ranching history, McAfee felt that such an event might just be a different kind of playday unless it was unique in some way. His vision was to gather historic Texas ranches for a charitable “roundup” with some similarity to those of the late 1800s. He ran the idea by several people and entities which he believed would be essential to the success of such an event. Among others, key players were his bosses at Falls (Bud Dillard and Bill Thomas), and two strong advocates (Joe Parker, Sr, a rancher/banker, and Dick Yeager, ranch manager for the W. T. Waggoner Estate) for the North Texas Rehabilitation Center, a non-profit outpatient rehabilitation facility.
During the fall of 1980, the Parker/ Yeager team was able to get interest from a few ranch owners among the original invitation list of 32 of Texas’ largest and most historic ranches. McAfee, with support from Anheuser-Busch, then put important pieces of the puzzle together: funds to underwrite the production, an agreement with the Wichita County Mounted Patrol for use of their facility, and a contract with Bennie Beutler for stock production.
At the initial organizational meeting, an encouraging number of ten of the invited ranches showed up, and the wheels began to turn. A date was picked that would work into most ranches’ schedule, and a lengthy discussion of events and activities within the event took place. Rusty Tinnin of Coldwater Cattle Co brought the California Team Penning rules (a relatively new thing to Texas) to the meeting, which created lots of interest.
The ranches’ desire was to include only full-time hands and family members on the ranch teams. Arena events were determined to be Team Roping, Saddle Bronc Riding, Team Penning, Team Branding, Wild Cow Milking and a Wild Horse Race. Co-sponsors of the event would be North Texas Rehabilitation Center, Anheuser-Busch and Falls Distributing Co.
The event took shape over the next few months, with decisions made about a promotion schedule (surprisingly resulting in requests for over 100 press passes, including two international news agencies), an event program, sponsorship opportunities, prizes and ancillary activities. Hadley Barrett agreed to announce, the Santa Rosa Palomino Club agreed to perform, and members of the Budweiser Cowboy Six Pack were selected as arena judges. With ranches coming on board from points beyond Northwest Texas, the West Texas Rehabilitation Center and the West Texas Boys Ranch were added as beneficiaries.
The first Texas Ranch Roundup took place August 21- 22, 1981, playing to a sell-out crowd of over 5,000. The Lewis Ranches won the event, and Tom Moorhouse earned Top Hand. Among the other awards, Eugenie von Gontard Daniel, then of the Pitchfork Ranch, won the Queen contest. The tradition had begun for this entertaining concept, one that would bring great ranches together for fun and competition, while reminding people of the ranching and cowboy legacy, and providing a generous benefit to three great charitable organizations.
The original participating ranches included R.A. Brown Ranch of Throckmorton, Cowan & Son Circle Bar of Seymour, Lewis Ranches of Clarendon, Moorhouse Ranch of Benjamin, Pitchfork Land & Cattle Co. of Guthrie, Scharbauer Cattle Co of Midland, Renderbrook-Spade Ranch of Colorado City, Swenson Ranches of Stamford, Tongue River Ranch of Dumont, U Lazy S Ranch of Post, Double U Hereford Ranch of Levelland, and W. T. Waggoner Estate of Vernon. Twenty-seven different ranches have participated since inception.
The Roundup made the move to the indoor MPEC facilities in Wichita Falls in the early 2000s and flourished into the event that is enjoyed today. Over the course of the weekend, an estimated 20,000 people come to the historic rodeo, a traditional bit, spur and western collectible trade show (with over 200 booths), ranch displayed talent, an RHAA-sanctioned ranch horse competition, a kids roundup and other activities for the whole family.
Originally a Budweiser event, in 1987 “ownership” was transferred to the North Texas Rehabilitation Center, with the event managed by the Center’s marketing department.
After 41 years, the Roundup has grown beyond anyone’s expectations. In addition, this “Grand daddy of them all” (per Bobby Newton of Rope Burns magazine) has served as the model for several thousand events that have taken place across North America, resulting in the formation of the WRCA and the World Championship Ranch Rodeo.
Next year’s Texas Ranch Roundup is July 21-22, 2023
This article appears in issue 76 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.