By Naomi Loomis
WSRRA Representative

WINNEMUCCA, NV – The ninth annual Western States Ranch Rodeo Association National Finals presented by Protect the Harvest and Lucas Oil, was held November 1-4 at the Winnemucca Events Complex. The Western States Ranch Rodeo Association (WSRRA) continues to experience solid support in 16 states and Canada with teams coming from as far away as Nebraska and Wyoming plus, four teams from Canada. Established in 2010, the WSRRA has experienced incredible growth, each year growing in number of events and members. The association currently has more than 700 members.
   Throughout 2018, WSRRA sanctioned more than 44 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, J Bar D Canvas & Leather, Cowboy’s Choice Feed, custom made gear made by Ricardo’s Saddlery and John Mincer, halters, stirrups, and custom made hats donated by Chaz Mitchell Hatz.
   This year, 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. Eight 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 2018 WSRRA Cowboy Crisis silent auction recipients were Pat Stanford and Josh McKenzie. 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 McFarlane and Jaylen Eldridge in the Big Loop, Tim Maher and Quirt Boyles in the team roping and Lindy Lehman in the women’s steer stopping.
   Friday, November 2, one member of each open team 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 Marshal, in memory of Sherry Mogg and 2nd Annual Nelo Mori Heritage of Ranching Award, Tim DeLong, 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 and open and women’s teams showed their talents in featured performances.
   Saturday morning started with the first two rounds of Women’s Steer Stopping, followed by open team 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, Runnin’ 4 the Money, produced by Sheena Hansen, added a barrel racing in the neighboring arena. Afternoon rodeo action featured jackpot family branding won by Jaylen Eldridge, Dusty Easterday, Casey Brunson and Bailey Bachman..  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 4th, 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, J Bar D Canvas & Leather deluxe bags, 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 51 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-Commissioned 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 Nick Merritt, the Chaz Mitchell hat was won by Koedy Florence and the rifle was won by Bubba Patty. Thank you to all that purchased raffle tickets, we sold over 800 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 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.
   The 2018 Western States Ranch Rodeo World Champions are as follows:
World Champion Women’s Steer Stopper: Bailey Corkill
Rookie Women’s Steer Stopper of the Finals: Haylee Lunt.
WSRRA Year End Champion: Michelle Rutan.
Rookie Women’s Steer Stopper of the Year: Kate Hollenbeck.
World Champion Open Ranch Rodeo Team: Jim Ranch: Sammy MacKenze, Dusty Easterday, Dirk Jim, Daxton Jim
(Returning) World Champion Women’s Ranch Rodeo Team: Miller Livestock from Idaho, members: Carmen Buckingham, Katie Jo McFarlane, Kayla Tiegs and Bailey Bachman
World Champion Ranch Bronc Rider: Chase Thrall
WSRRA Bronc Rider Average Champion: Chase Thrall
WSRRA Rookie Ranch Bronc Rider of the Finals: Wes Aragon
WSRRA Year End Champion: Justin Quint
WSRRA Rookie Ranch Bronc Rider of the YEAR: Wes Aragon
8 Seconds Whiskey Tour Stop Champion: Joel Baer. Reserve, Justin Quint.
WSRRA Scholarship Ranch Bronc Rider Champion: Cooper Trindle
All Around Cowgirl: Bailey Bachman
All Around Cowboy: Gus King
Top Hand Cowgirl: Bailey Bachman
Top Hand Cowboy: Dirk Jim
Jr/Sr Top Hands: Isaac  Mori and Garrett Brown
All Around Ranch Horse Open: TJ Thompson. Women’s: Carmen Buckingham
Jr/Sr Ranch Horse: Cash Trexler
Stock Contractor Of The Year: Kurtis Keoppen
Bronc of the Year selected by judges: Burro Taco, Jess Jones
Pick Up Man of the Year: Brandon Clark
High Average Contractor of the Year (based on top five horses): King Rodeo Co.
WSRRA Producer of the Year: Rowell Ranch Rodeo Committee

Make plans to attend a sanctioned WSRRA Ranch Rodeo in 2019!

WSRRA President Marc Page (l); Justin Quint, 2018 WSRRA 8 Seconds Whiskey Tour Stop Reserve Champion; JP Patterson, 8 Seconds Whiskey representative; Joel Baer, 2018 WSRRA 8 Seconds Whiskey Tour Stop Champion; and Chaz Mitchell of Chaz Mitchell Custom Hatz. – Photo by Mary Williams Hyde

Trindle Cooper (r) was awarded the WSRRA Ranch Bronc Rider Champion Scholarship by Naomi Loomis, WSRRA representative. – Photo by Mary Williams Hyde

WSRRA representative Naomi Loomis presents Bailey Corkill the buckle she won for being named the World Champion Women’s Steer Stopper. – Photo by Mary Williams Hyde

2018 WSRRA Top Hand was Dirk Jim who is pictured with Naomi Loomis, WSRRA representative, and Dago Rosales, Cowboy’s Choice Feeds representative.  – Photo by Mary Williams Hyde

2018 WSRRA National Finals World Champion Women’s Team: Miller Livestock Solutions: Bailey Bachman, Carmen Buckingham, Kayla Tiegs and Katie Jo McFarlane are pictured with Naomi Loomis, WSRRA representative, along with Shane Riley from J Bar D Canvas & Leather and Dago Rosales, Cowboy’s Choice Feeds representative. – Photo by Mary Williams Hyde