Ranch Rodeo Attracts
Enthusiastic Crowd Saturday Night
by: Bobby McDonald
In one of the largest crowds in recent history, rodeo fans came to the Hopkins County Civic Center Arena on Saturday night for an exhibition of "the way rodeo is done on the range." In the 2nd Annual Sulphur Springs Ranch Rodeo, some of the "roughest" stock and skilled cowboys put on a performance that proved to be worthy of the spectator's time. Proceeds from the event went to fund Lake Country Casa and Make A Wish Foundation of North Texas.
The Triangle Calf Growers Team, Wildarado, Texas, in Saturday night's action.
"I was absolutely thrilled with the large crowd that came out for the event and extremely happy that no one got injured during the performance," expressed Susan Lennon, one of the organizers of the event. "Now, there were some cowboys that were walking a little bit 'stiff' by Sunday morning, but no one was injured badly."
Looks like the cow might be winning........
And, she does, as she breaks free!
Lennon, who is a volunteer with the Make A Wish Foundation of North Texas, presented Cody Skidmore, a ten year old youth from Paris, who suffers from Cystic Fibrosis, with a trip to Disneyland, in ceremonies before the large crowd of fans. "Cody's happiness with the wish he was granted and his excitement over the rodeo made the night just perfect for me," expressed Lennon. "He is what all the rodeo contestants and the many volunteers represent!"
Sulphur Springs' own Pogue Cattle Company Team shows the stuff that put them in the winner's
circle at Saturday night's rodeo.
A three-way tie for the Championship Title at Saturday night's rodeo existed, when the "tally sheets" were added up and the close competition was figured. Pogue Cattle Company of Sulphur Springs, Triangle Calf Growers of Wildarado, Texas, and Rafter A Ranch of Paris, Texas, accumulated top scores.
Down and Dirty.......gets the job done!
Cowboys participated in five events, ranch bronc riding, wild cow milking, mugging, team branding, and team sorting. And, in many of the events, the cow came away the winner, as the "wily" beasts proved to be quite a challenge for the cowboys!
Wild Cow Milkin' proved to be a challenge for this team of cowboys.
And, this large calf had other plans than to be "mugged" by these cowboys!
Winning the prestigious honor of "Top Hand Cowboy" was Tim Spiva, Captain of the Triangle Calf Growers Team, of Wildarado, Texas, in the Texas Panhandle. The "Top Horse" Award went to "Tex," owned by Leon Ely of the Pogue Cattle Company Team. And, the "Hard Luck Cowboy Award," for spirit and determination went to Tode Johnson, of the G Bar Ranch Team.
Tim Spiva, Wildarado, TX, showing the skill that named him to the "Top Cowboy" Award.
Top horses are needed to compete effectively in the ranch rodeo events.
"All I can add about Saturday night's performance is that the cowboy mystique is alive and well in Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County," expressed a smiling Susan Lennon. "And, everyone needs to go ahead and mark their calendars for April 7th, 2007, when Ranch Rodeo will return to the Hopkins County Civic Center Arena, for the third annual production!"
__________
