Interview by Naomi Loomis, WSRRA
Association Representative
The tenth-annual Western States Ranch Rodeo Association National Finals presented by Protect the Harvest and Lucas Oil, was held October 31 – November 3 at the Winnemucca Events Complex in Winnemucca, Nevada. The Western States Ranch Rodeo Association (WSRRA) continues to experience solid support in thirteen states and Canada with teams coming from as far away as Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. Established in 2010, the WSRRA has experienced incredible growth, each year growing in number of events and members. The association currently has more than 600 members.
Throughout 2019, WSRRA sanctioned more than 34 open ranch rodeos, 20 women’s ranch rodeos, 25 women’s steer stoppings and over 100 ranch bronc riding events. The top open and women’s teams from each of the ranch rodeos, and the top 15 women’s steer stoppers, and top 15 ranch bronc riders competed for cash and prizes at the National Finals. Prizes included Gist buckles, Yeti coolers, Twisted X boots, silver stirrups, Cowboy’s Choice feed, custom made gear made by Ricardo’s Saddlery and John Mincer, Joe Benner halters, Trina Webb stirrups, and custom-made hats donated by Chaz Mitchell Hatz.
For the second year in a row, the WSRRA added a Jr/Sr Division. This division required two seniors age 17 or over and two juniors ages 12-16 to compete in six events. Six teams competed in ranch horse, branding, tie down steer, sort and rope, trailer loading and team roping. This added event was one of our highlights of this year national finals.
The 2019 WSRRA Cowboy Crisis silent auction recipients were TJ Thompson/Pat Stanford and Joel Baer. The silent auction was very successful, with a grand total raised $18,000.
The Nationals Finals kicked off Thursday with the women’s long go working ranch horse, followed by women’s team roping, trailer loading, tie-down steer roping, sort & rope doctoring, and team branding. A huge variety of vendors participated in the Christmas Buckaroo Trade Show and the WSRRA Cowboy Crisis silent auction began. Jackpot roping events finished the action for the day. The jackpot team roping winners were Jared Parke and Dan Webb, in the Big Loop, John Schutte and Ira Walker in the team roping and Candida Eldridge in the women’s steer stopping. This year the WSRRA also added open steer stopping with the winner going to Kyler Ericcson and a break a-way roping and the winner was Lindy Lehman.
Friday, November 1, one member of each open team and jr/sr teams started the day showing off their highly skilled ranch horses. Then the teams competed in long go events of load & tie and team roping. The evening’s performance featured a “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” theme. Grand Marshall, Charlotte Thompson and 3rd Annual Nelo Mori Heritage of Ranching Award, Petan Company – YP Ranch and the Jackson Family, made an exciting grand entrance in a refurbished horse drawn stagecoach. If that wasn’t enough, the first two rounds of the Professional Wild Horse Racers Association (PWHRA) national finals got everyone’s blood pumping! Rodeo clown, Tuffy Gessling entertained the crowd with his rope tricks and laughs. In between specialty acts, WSRRA ranch bronc riders competed in two rounds and open and women’s teams showed their talents in featured performances.
Saturday morning started with two rounds of Women’s Steer Stopping rounds 1 & 2, followed by open team and jr/sr teams long go’s of sort & rope doctoring, and team branding. Later in the day, WSRRA National Sponsor, the Boot Barn, sponsored a dummy roping contest and a stick horse barrel race for the kids. Gist Buckles were given as prizes. The third annual Great Basin Gathering; music, poetry and trading gear was a spotlighted event. Adding to our Saturday activities, Last Dash 4 Cash, produced by Lindsey Tregellas, added a barrel racing in the neighboring arena. After the long go performance, the arena featured the John Lewis Memorial Family Branding, won by Garret Brown, Bailey Bachman, Quinn Mori and Asher Freeman all took home a Gist Silversmiths buckles. As the sun was going down, the second evening performance started. This performance was full of Wild West action and western traditions. Featured performances of more of the open and women’s teams, along with two rounds each of PWHRA and WSRRA ranch bronc riding kept the arena dust stirred up and the crowd’s excitement high! Performances by Tuffy Gessling livened up the evening’s fun. Saturday ended with year-end and long go awards at The Winners at Winners WSRRA awards party, followed by dancing to music by the Jeff Palmer Band, both hosted by the Winners Inn & Casino.
Sunday, November 3th, WSRRA held a well-attended Cowboy Church with Bo and Kathy Lowe. After Cowboy Church, WSRRA held the short go of the national finals for the open and women’s divisions and the final rounds of PWHRA wild horse racing, women’s steer stopping and WSRRA ranch bronc riding. At the end of the afternoon, champions were crowned with Gist Silver buckles, Twisted X boots, Yeti coolers, homemade headstalls by Ricardo’s Saddlery with Mincer Silversmith WSRRA conchos, Cowboy’s Choice bag of feed and silver stirrups by Weber Stirrups.
The United States Marine Corps Mounted Color Guard has represented the Marine Corps in events across the United States for the last 52 years. This year, the WSRRA was honored to have the United States Mounted Color Guard at all four of our performances. The Marines were riding wild palomino mustangs, adopted from the Bureau of Land Management’s “Adopt a Horse” program. Staff Sergeant Esteban Jauregui (How-Diggy) is the Staff Non-Com-missioned officer-in-charge of the Mounted Color Guard, and this unit is stationed at Marine Corps Logistics Base, in Barstow, California.
The WSRRA scholarship fundraiser featured a pair of custom crafted spurs graciously donated by Mincer Silversmith, a Chaz Mitchell Custom 100X hat, and a Henry rifle. The custom-made spurs was won by Johnny Callahan, the Chaz Mitchell hat was won by Matt Jaguer and the rifle was won by John Owen. Thank you to all that purchased raffle tickets.
Congratulations to all the contestants not just the winners. First time visitors to the event were totally impressed with the quality of the competition and the stock. A huge thank you to all the office help, chute help, announcers, judges, vendors and stock contractors.
The WSRRA wouldn’t be around without the help of our sponsors and major supporters which include: our premier presenting sponsor Protect the Harvest and Lucas Oil. Thank you to the Winnemucca WVCA Board, Ram Trucks/Ram Rodeo, Boot Barn, 8 Seconds Whisky, Twisted X Boots, Gouveia Ranches, Working Ranch Magazine, Yeti, Gist Silversmiths, Big Bend Trailers and Chaz Mitchell Hatz, J Bar D Canvas & Leather and host hotels, Winnemucca Inn and Winners Inn Casino.
Make plans to attend a sanctioned WSRRA Ranch Rodeo in 2020!
