Winnemucca's Ranch and Rodeo "Wild Weekend" includes many events - and there's so much going on it has to start on Wednesday. All events are held at the Winnemucca Events Center and everything happening Wednesday, Thursday and Friday has free admission.
The Cow Dog Trials were added to the Ranch Hand Rodeo a few years ago and they've become a popular event for spectators as these well-trained stock dogs are a treat to watch. At 8:30 a.m. Wednesday is the brace class - where handlers use two dogs to make cattle herd into pens, corrals and along fences. With vocal commands, whistles and hand signals, riders on horseback have only a short amount of time to move the cattle through the obstacle course. At 1 p.m. professional handlers test their animals in the Open Pro class.
Thursday, the dogs are at work again, with the ranch class beginning their contest at 9 a.m. The ranch class is for dogs that have never competed in the Open Pro class - so these might be younger dogs or dogs that are just off the ranch but ready to show off their skills in the arena. Later in the day is the Cow Dog Gamblers Scramble at 5 p.m., with the finals kicking off at 6 p.m.
At 10 a.m. on Thursday is the opening of the Ranch Rodeo Trade Show, featuring rawhide gear to quilts, clothing, jewelry and household items. The trade show continues through Sunday, opening each day at 10 a.m.
Friday at noon is the Stock Horse Challenge, pitting cowhorses against the clock as they attempt to perform their everyday livestock handling duties in the fastest, most-efficient manner possible
Friday afternoon is the Winnemucca Bull Sale. This bull sale began with the intent to pair area beef producers with a selection of quality bulls from across the West. Ranch Hand Rodeo provides the opportunity to gather ranchers and consignors. Black Angus, Red Angus, Charolais, Hereford, Balancer and Simmental bulls have all been consigned to the sale, hailing from Oregon, Idaho, California and Nevada. Local Hereford bulls from the Bell Ranch of Paradise Valley will be part of the sale.
The sale begins at 2 p.m., but the Humboldt County Cattlewomen's scholarship heifer sale will take place at 1:45 p.m. This registered, halter-broke Charolais heifer was donated by Gil Awalt of AA Acres of Sanger, Calif. There will be also be a "winners choice" silent auction heifer at the front of the bull barn. The silent auction winner has their pick from heifers donated by Joe and Linda Santos of J&J Cattle of Gilroy, Calif. The bull sale is held in the lowered covered arena behind the Events Center.
At 5:30 p.m., a demonstration by California hackamore and stock horse trainer Bobby Ingersoll will take place inside the Events Center. Ingersoll has trained and showed a long roster of horses and also is the founder of the World Snaffle Bit Futurity.
Following his demonstration will be a preview of the horses up for sale at the Ranch, Rope and Performance Horse Sale, set for Saturday at 6 p.m. Admission to the demonstration, sale preview and Saturday's horse sale are free.
Saturday morning, Ranch Rodeo as teams from Nevada and around the West roll into town to compete for cash, prizes and bragging rights. The team Calcutta begins at 10 a.m, with the rodeo starting at 11 a.m. Admission for this performance is $8 per adult; $2 for kids 5-12. The rodeo finals are Sunday at 10 a.m.; the same admission schedule applies.
For information and a schedule, visit www.ranchrodeonv.com, pick up the special Ranch Hand Rodeo supplement to The Humboldt Sun or call the Winnemucca Convention and Visitors Authority at 623-5071.[[In-content Ad]]
