StettlerLoical.com July 11, 2021 @ 9:40pm
The Stettler Ag Society hosted their 8th annual Ranch Rodeo on Saturday with a good turnout of fans and ranch hands.
Ranch rodeos differ from the more well-known rodeos that are popular today, although both have roots in ranching. The events in a ranch rodeo are more of what you still find on a working ranch and generally includes:
penning
sorting
trailer loading
doctoring
obstacle course
The first rule is that participants treat animals, in all the events, with kindness and respect.
Team Penning involves a team of riders who go into a herd that is numbered in groups of three. They sort out animals with a number the announcer gives them as they cross the foul line. They must sort the numbered cattle and guide them into the proper pen.
Team Sorting is similar, but instead of numbered groups of 3, the entire herd of yearlings is numbered consecutively. The team is given a number as they cross the line, and must sort that yearling first, then sort the remaining yearlings in ascending order. The Wakefield Ranch got 8 head sorted with one minute 48 seconds.
The Obstacle Course event is a 4 member team sorting a numbered yearling. They work the yearling across the bridge, which all riders also have to cross. The designated yearling must then be head caught before it crosses the designated line. Teams were able to sort the designated steer, and most managed to get them across the bridge, but legitimately getting the rope around the steer’s head was not an easy task.
Team Doctoring has a team ride towards a herd of numbered yearlings while given a number to sort. The yearling is lassoed at the head and heels and marked between the eyes with a colored marker. This event proved to be difficult for the teams, with only a couple teams managing to head and heel their steer, and even fewer able to mark them with the colored marker.
Trailer Loading is also known as Cattle Rustling. Like the other events, riders are given a number as they cross the line, must sort out two yearlings with that number and then have to wrangle the yearlings into a trailer followed by all four of the team's horses. The event is considered over once all the animals are loaded, the trailer doors are properly closed, and the four riders are in the front seat of the pickup truck with the doors closed.
The Stettler Agricultural Society has been hosting the event since 2014.
“...due to Covid 19 public health orders we were forced to postpone the event and are very excited to be able to hold it this July….” Alana Weaver, Stettler Agricultural Society
Carson Ellis, Reporter
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