The fourth-annual Western States Ranch Rodeo Association National Finals was held Oct. 31-Nov. 3 at the Winnemucca Events Complex in Winnemucca, Nevada.
Throughout 2013, WSRRA sanctioned 34 ranch rodeos and more than 50 ranch-bronc riding events in 11 Western States. They also co-sanctioned four women’s ranch rodeos with the Women’s Ranch Rodeo Association. The top 34 open teams, eight women’s teams and 15 women’s steer stoppers and ranch bronc riders vied for more than $60,000 in cash and prizes at the National Finals, including custom gear from Ricardo’s Saddlery and John Mincer, custom chinks by Carlos Macias of BuckarooGear.com, wild rags by The Brand and Gist buckles. The champion bronc rider received a custom bronc halter from Ricardo’s Saddlery and a miniature saddle handcrafted by Don Howe of South Dakota, and the women’s steer stopping champion received a custom breast collar from Ricardo’s Saddlery and an art print from Canadian artist Shannon Lawlor.
The National Finals kicked off with ranch-dog trials, which featured 32 of the best working dogs in the West guiding cattle through a maze of pens and alleys with direction from their horseback handlers as they do every day on the ranch. Then the first of four rounds of ranch broncs bucked. Friday and Saturday focused on the team events, including the ranch-horse competition, and the women’s steer stoppers sizzled in two rounds of competition. The four-person open and women’s teams compete in events resembling everyday ranch work–branding, doctoring, tie-down steer roping and trailer loading. The top 15 ranch bronc riders and 41 ranch teams competed in two long go rounds on Friday and Saturday, and the top 10 teams and all 15 steer stoppers and bronc riders came back for the final round on Sunday.
Devoted to providing a family atmosphere, WSRRA also held jackpot big-loop roping and family branding competitions, as well as dummy roping and mutton bustin’ for the kids.
Established in 2010, the WSRRA is quickly becoming one of the most popular ranch rodeo circuits for cowboys and cowgirls of all ages, levels of experience and occupations to showcase their stock horses and ranch skills. The association currently boasts more than 500 members.
“There are cowboys and cowgirls out there who don’t make their living on big ranches,” says WSRRA President Marc Page. “They are small ranchers, day-workers, or people who have full-time jobs in town, but still enjoy riding, roping and being part of the ranching lifestyle.”
WSRRA wouldn’t be around without the help of its dedicated sponsors, which include Ram Trucks/Ram Rodeo Series; Boot Barn; Winnemucca Convention and Visitors Authority; Winners Inn and Casino; Pendleton Whisky/Great Basin Beverage, LLC; Animal Health International; Cowboy Showcase; Gist Silversmiths; Liberty Chrysler Jeep Dodge; Les Schwab Tires; Big R Stores; D Bar M Western Store; Teague Motor Co.; Las Margaritas Mexican Restaurant; Scales NW; Northwest Nevada Hay Marketing Association, Inc.; Nevada Livestock Marketing; 3L Ranch, Elk Grove, Calif.; Castle Rock Corrientes and Hot Creek Ranch; Buckaroo Country Photos by Mary Williams Hyde; Carlos Macias and www.BuckarooGear.com; Ricardo’s Saddlery; Mincer Silversmiths; Dan Fowler; Ranch Life Photography by Victoria Boyd; and Gouveia Ranches, Hines, Ore. The association also thanks its media partners: Ranch & Reata; Western Horseman Working Ranch and Ropers Sports News.
2013 WSRRA National Finals World Championship results are as follows:
Open teams — 1st. World Champion – Draggin’ Y Cattle Co, Idaho and Montana: John Ward, Luke Wiggins, Blake Dixon and Brian Dixon. 2nd. B Bar B Quarter Horses, Idaho: Jake Telford, Hanes Holman, Mark Eldridge and Marlow Eldridge. 3rd. Eiguren Ranch, Oregon and Nevada: Richard Eiguren, Mike Eiguren, Teo Maestrejuan and Matt Mori. 4th. C Ranches, Nevada: Jim Filippini, Luke Lancaster, Gene Curtis and Quin Mori.
Women’s teams — 1st. World Champion – Outback Stallion Station, Nevada and Idaho: Katie McFarlane, Kim Grubbs, Carmen Buckingham, Marcia Eiguren. 2nd. Kings River Ranch, Nevada: Lacey Thompson, Monel Shelley, Rita Fowler, TimmyLyn DeLong. 3rd. Crown W Ranch, Nevada: Jessica Kelly, Crystal Kelly, Mindy Goemmer, Jessica Wiloughby. 4th. Lee Stock Horses, Nevada: Sandy Kiel, Tammy Lee, Bea Venable and Georgia Black.
Ranch Bronc Riding — 1st. World Champion – Mike McBeth, Prine-ville, Oregon. 2nd. J.D. Brock, Nampa, Idaho. 3rd. Arnold Fox, Mitchell, Oregon 4th. Travis Yutzie, Ione, Oregon.
Women’s Steer Stopping — 1st. World Champion – Mindy Goemmer, Battle Mountain, Nevada. 2nd. Katie McFarlane, Homedale, Idaho. 3rd. Georgia Black, Winnemucca, Nevada. 4th. Marcia Eiguren, Jordan Valley, Oregon.
Ranch Dog, Open Class — 1st. Shane Harley and Sir Berto. 2nd. Shane Harley and HubCeeCee. 3rd. Conrad Stitser and Charlie.
Ranch Dog, Cowboy Class — 1st. Ricarda Braatz and Annie. 2nd. Kevin Hancock and Mac. 3rd. Rosie Stoddart and Dezi.
Ranch Dog, Overall — 1st. Shane Harley and Sir Berto. 2nd. Ricarda Braatz and Annie.
World Champion Ranch Horse — PG Dry Fire, ridden by Jake Telford and owned by Aspen Meadows Ranch Performance Horses, Utah.
All-Around Ranch Horse, Open — PG Dry Fire, ridden by Jake Telford and owned by Aspen Meadows Ranch Performance Horses, Utah.
All-Around Ranch Horse, Womens — Watch Genuine Red, ridden by RaeLyn Gilmore and owned by Hanging Ranch, Nebraska.
All-Around Cowboy — Jake Telford, Caldwell, Idaho.
All-Around Cowgirl — Mindy Goemmer, Battle Mountain, Nevada.
Top Hand, Cowboy — Hanes Holman, Elko, Nevada.
Top Hand, Cowgirl — Katie Jo McFarlane, Homedale, Idaho.
Stock Contractor of the Year — Wes Clegg, Tooele, Utah.
Bronc of the Year — Radical, owned by Wes Clegg, Tooele, Utah.
Pickup Men of the Year — Wes Clegg, Tooele, Utah; and Jess Jones, Spring Creek, Nevada.
For more information, visit www.wsrra.com.
Katie Jo McFarlane, a member of the world champion Outback Stallion Station women’s team, was named Top Hand Cowgirl. (Photo courtesy WSRRA)
Mindy Goemmer of Battle Mountain, Nev., won the women’s steer stopping average and was named All-Around Cowgirl. (Photo courtesy WSRRA)
Hanes Holman was named the 2013 WSRRA National Finals Top Hand Cowboy (Photo courtesy WSRRA)
Jake Telford (c) a member of the B Bar B Quarter Horse team that won the reserve world championship, rode the world champion and All-Around Ranch Horse, “PG Dry Fire.” Telford also won the All-Around Cowboy award. (Photo courtesy WSRRA)
