Big Loops, Big Country, Big Hearts
By Becky Prunty Lisle
Photography by Jennifer Dennison
In its second year, the Buckaroo Traditions Gathering (BTG) will be held November 15 – 17 in Winnemucca, Nevada. The term “buckaroo” is derived from the Spanish word, vaquero. The culture traces back to the days of Spanish California, when expansive ranchos were founded through colonial land grants. Rancho workers, who were initially Mexican, Native, and Freed men, adapted age-old horsemanship practices to fill the needs of managing and handling mostly wild livestock in wide-open, unfenced country, which required exceptional skill.
Today, BTG showcases the modern-day buckaroos who quietly and gracefully handle cattle while being mounted on exceptionally well-trained horses. BTG is one of a growing number of traditional, ranch-style roping competitions held mainly in the western United States. In these events, speed is generally frowned upon; instead, horsemanship, stockmanship, roping skills, and teamwork are judged and scored to determine the winners. In BTG events, the clock is used only for time limits and tie-breakers.
BTG features several roping events that are carefully designed to replicate ranch scenarios as closely as an arena will allow. All of them require at least a 50-foot rope; the Big Loop events require a minimum 18-foot loop to be used. Bonus points are awarded to competitors using a reata. The names of fancy but effective shots like houlihan and culo seem to echo the artful, floating movement of the loops as they’re thrown.
Traditional gear and attire are required. Neither tie-downs nor rubber on saddle horns are allowed, and get-downs/neck ropes are required on bridle horses. Bridle horses are the height of buckaroo horsemanship, with true spade bit horses being the absolute pinnacle. As such, contestants riding proper spade bit horses are also awarded bonus points.

Up to 30 three-person teams compete for the BTG Big Loop championship, and the event also includes a separate Big Loop team roping jackpot, a one-man doctoring contest, and a ranch horse competition, with horses shown being required to also be entered in the roping events. Even while the buckaroo crowd reveres tradition, there is probably not a more fun-loving group to be found, so a goat roping and sorting is also held over the weekend.
BTG is the creation of Scott and Andrea Van Leuven, who call western Nevada home and are longtime working buckaroos and competitors themselves. Their goal in creating and hosting the event is to help reignite awareness of the importance of stockmanship and horsemanship, and to help the world better understand the role that the buckaroo culture plays in stewardship of the land. The Van Leuvens aim to continue growing the event, and the town of Winnemucca promises to be the perfect location with its rich buckaroo and ranching history.
The Van Leuvens’ heartfelt dedication to the buckaroo lifestyle goes far beyond living the life and facilitating the outward expression of its traditions. For twenty-some years, Andrea has worked in various roles serving Nevada’s rural communities, advocating and educating about mental health and substance abuse. Their daughter, Kadie Zeller, helps integrate prevention and intervention strategies, and in early 2024, Scott and Andrea took part in the groundbreaking mental health roundtable discussion held as part of the Outside Circle Show in Elko.

Their hope is that sharing their stories offers hope and permission for others to acknowledge their struggles and seek the help they need. They offer an open invitation for collaboration to community service providers and resource organizations, to help strengthen support for substance abuse and mental health needs in rural areas.
In addition to entry fees, BTG is supported through volunteers, donors and grants via Kadie’s’ 501(c)3 organization, aptly named Om Namo. The term comes from the Sanskrit language and is used as an affirmation or prayer to surrender to God’s will and do the work that God wants them to do for the highest good of all.
Learn more, enter, and/or become a donor or volunteer at www.btgathering.com. You can also follow them on facebook and Instagram (@btgathering).