Twelve ranch teams from throughout B.C. gathered at the Williams Lake Stampede Grounds Sept. 10-11 to test their cowboy skills at the Fourth Annual Harvest Fair Ranch Rodeo to win the honour of the top team.
Participants competed in pairing out, team doctoring, team sorting, trailer loading, team branding and, the final competition, which was top horse.
In pairing out — where riders go into a herd to find a given numbered cow and calf, then cut the pair out to move it across the finish line — Douglas Lake Portland Division’s Curt Martindale, Woody Huijbreats and Lane Fritz brought home first place. Second went to Aspen Valley’s Shelly Loring, Hugh Loring and Greg Speller.
Team doctoring consists of teams entering the arena then riding to the far end as a number is announced.
Once there the team will head and heel a specified cow and perform a required amount of maneuvers before the run is complete.
Douglas Lake North Division’s Joe Robertson, Kao Toews and Curt Clarkson were first, while Douglas Lake Home Ranch’s Stan Jacobs, Josh Friesen and Evlin Frankchuck were second.
Team sorting saw 153 Mile Ranch take the top spot with Cuyler Huffman, Tim Thomas and Simmone Fowler. Thomas Linford, Joe Boriesheff and Alec Chillihitzia of the Coldstream Ranch were second.
In trailer loading, where participants ride to the far end of the arena, cut out a steer, rope it and push or pull it to the other end to load into a trailer, Roberts Ranching’s Steve Roberts, Ryan Roberts and Travis Redl claimed the title. Douglas Lakes North Division’s Joe Robertson, Kayo Toews and Corbin Clarkson were second.
James Stafford, Ross Stafford and Nathan Rymer of Chimney Creek Ranch were first in team branding, with Douglas Lake’s Portland Division’s Curt Martindale, Woody Huijbreats and Lane Fritz taking second.
In the final competition of the day, top horse, Haley Rutherford of Wineglass Horse Division placed first, while Raquel Russell of River Ranch was second.
Top horse is decided on a point system where a rider enters the arena and performs a dry pattern when a steer is released and the rider must handle the steer in a circle one way, then switch to another direction, before the steer is roped and handled to a stop.
There were even events for the younger cowboys and cowgirls, such as dummy roping won by Kagen Russell and stick horse racing won by Willa-Lynn Redl.
Organizers Connie and Travis Redl, along with Racquel and Ed Russell, ensured the event ran smoothly throughout the day.
Events such as horsemanship, cattle handling and roping skills, as well as teamwork, were judged by Russ Cleminson. Timers were Brandy Grier and Megan Clemison, while Lorri Brewer performed the announcing duties.
Buckles were sponsored by Parallel Welding and Fabricating for the high-point team all around score.
Final standings were as follows:
• First: Douglas Lake Portland Divisions
• Second: Wineglass Ranch Horse Division
• Third: River Ranching
• Fourth: Douglas Lake Home Division
• Fifth: 153 Mile Ranching
• Sixth: Douglas Lake Riske Creek Division
• Seventh: Woodjam Ranch
• Eighth: Chimney Creek Ranch
• Ninth: Aspen Valley Ranching
• 10th: Roberts Ranching
• 11th: Chilco Ranching
• 12th: Coldstream