WINNEMUCCA - The Ranch Hand Rodeo weekend certainly lived up to its reputation as Winnemucca's biggest event.
Four very competitive events joined the already hot Ranch Hand Rodeo from Feb. 27 through March 3, and Winnemucca Convention and Visitors Authority Director Kim Petersen said he couldn't have been more pleased with the results.
"Everything turned out great," said Petersen this week. "The entire weekend was a success and everyone, including participants and spectators, were very pleased."
The Winnemucca Cow Dog Trial kicked off the competitions. Dozens of canine athletes took to the arena in three classes. When it was all over, Loren Holmes and dogs "Leo" and "Helga" took first in the Brace Class. Sean McGree and "Jake" took top honors in the Ranch Class, and Molly Belding and "Cee Cee" were first in the Open Pro Class.
Another great event, the Winnemucca Stock Horse Challenge, crowned "Smoke N Wranglers" the Open Snaffle Bit/Hackamore champion. The horse is owned by Dan Macedo and was ridden by Clayton Edsall.
"Genuine Rednic," owned by Sandra Friberg and ridden by Flint Lee, took first place in the Open Two-Rein/Bridle, while "R Diamond Cat," owned by Kenny and Tammy Lee and ridden by Kenny Lee, took first in the Non-Pro Snaffle Bit/Hackamore. "Gunolena Muchado," owned and ridden by Kelly Sullivan, was tops in the Non-Pro Two-Rein/Bridle.
"Mini Debbie Lena" was the high point sale horse at the event. She is owned by Jan Little and was ridden by Wade Reaney.
Additionally, the Gene and Jody Christison Memorial Award was given to "Genuine Rednic," owned by Sandra Friberg and ridden by Flint Lee. Each received an additional $500. The award is granted to the horse and rider with the highest score in the Stock Horse Challenge.
The Winnemucca Ranch, Rope and Performance Horse Sale also did its part for a stellar weekend. The competition saw 42 horses sold, compared to 65 in 2012, 63 in 2011, 40 in 2010 and 43 in 2009. The overall average of horses sold was $4,142; and the top 10 average of horses sold was $7,745.
"Kody Olena" was the top-selling horse, drawing a price tag of $12,500 from buyers Tom and Dana Brown. Ted and Teresa Allen were the consignors.
The fourth annual Invitational Bull Sale was another draw for Western crowds. Petersen said the sale received rave reviews from both sides of the field.
"Our buyers were thrilled with the quality of our bulls, and our sellers were very pleased as well," he said.
This year, "AA Awalt's Pay Day 213," was the high seller at $4,800. He was consigned by AA Acres and was purchased by the Lucky Seven Ranch of McDermitt.
The overall average of bulls sold was $2,850. The Black Angus average was $2,928; the Red Angus average was $2,859; the Charolais average was $2,150. In all 45 bulls were sold.
A Western Trade Show was open from Thursday through Sunday, also at the indoor event
center. Over 60 vendors participated with most reporting having done very well. "Our vendors were very happy," he said.
But the highlight of the entire weekend, of course, was the 24th anniversary of the Winnemucca Ranch Hand Rodeo. A Calcutta got things started Saturday morning, March 2, with the rodeo competition following Saturday and Sunday, March 3.
This year drew 30 four-man/one-woman teams - 24 from outside Humboldt County -whose mission it was to outdo the competition in seven events, including saddle bronc riding, team roping, trailer loading, women's steer stopping, wild mugging, team branding and ranch doctoring. Each team competed in all the events; women had to compete in steer stopping and wild mugging.
Following fierce competition, it was B Bar B Quarter Horses of Elko, Nevada, that walked away with first-prize winnings of $5,513 along with Winnemucca Ranch Hand Rodeo Championship jackets.
Second place went to the Jim Ranch of Owyhee, Nevada, with winnings of $4,253. Third place and a $2,993 purse went to the Mackenzie Ranch of Jordan Valley, Oregon, while fourth place and $1,890 in winnings went to the Three Sevens Ranch of McDermitt, Nevada. This year's fifth-place winner was the Tanner Ranch of Snowville, Utah, with $1,103 in winnings.
Tim DeLong was the lucky winner of the Calcutta and $5,943 after placing his money on the B Bar B Quarter Horses team. DeLong also bought the second-place Jim Ranch team and earned $4,584. Ambrose McAuliffe bought the Mackenzie Ranch team and won $3,226, while Chris Bengoa bought the Three Sevens Ranch team, earning $2,037. Lisa Barfuss purchased the Tanner Team and took home $1,189.
Top winners in each event category were awarded silver buckles, while the person who scored the most points overall was named "Top Hand." This year's winner of the "John and Dutch Zabala Top Hand Award" was Hanes Holman of the first-place B Bar B Quarter Horses team. He was presented his silver buckle by Jeremiah Maestrejuan, the grandson of Ray Zabala.
Other event winners included: Saddle Bronc: Brent Brennan, U Cross Ranch, Score 80; Team Roping: Jim Ranch, Time: 20:00; Trailer Loading: Mackenzie Ranch, Time: 17:13; Women's Steer Stopping: Melinda McDaniel, Jim Ranch, Time 3.25; Wild Mugging: Kings River Ranch, Time 56:70; Team Branding: TL Ranch, Time: 3:48:37; and Ranch Doctoring: N Quarter Circle Ranch, Time: 39:44.
Additionally, Louie and Frank Bidart were named the "2013 Ranch Hands of the Year" Saturday before the competition kicked off.
"We had a great time," said Petersen of the weekend that drew well over 2,000 people to the Winnemucca Event Center. "It was busy and fun and exciting to see all those people coming into Winnemucca. It was good for them and good for our local community - a win-win all the way around."
For more information on the 2013 Winnemucca Ranch Hand Rodeo Weekend and results, please visit www.ranchrodeonv.com or call the Winnemucca Convention and Visitors Authority at (775) 623-5071 or (800) 962-2638.
[[In-content Ad]]
