GILLETTE, Wyo. — Under a smoky sky on Thursday evening, the Ranch Rodeo at Morningside Park gave viewers a showcase of true ranching skills. Part of the Campbell County Fair festivities, the Ranch Rodeo included classic rodeo events like mutton busting and bull riding along with team events that put a cowhand’s more practical skill set to the test.
In the scramble event, eight teams of four entered the arena to complete two concurrent tasks — stray gathering and trailer loading — as fast as possible. Two loose steers were to be roped by the team, with one loaded into a trailer in the center of the arena and one successfully tied down.
Teams divided and conquered the two tasks, but once one steer was secured in the trailer, taking down the other often required extra hands.
In addition to the riders’ talents, the event also showcased the athleticism of their horses. They all went about their work amid the obstacles, moving bodies and flying ropes around them with ease.
The same was true for the horses not competing on Thursday, as the mounted arena crew helped keep the event moving quickly by rotating out the livestock after each round.
Even with solid ranching skills and nimble horses, luck just wasn’t on everyone’s side that night, the rodeo announcer declared. A dropped rope or mistimed throw added precious seconds to a run, but each team competed with grit regardless of the final result.
After competing in the Team Branding and Pony Express Race events following the scramble, the winner was crowned from the eight teams. Cheyenne Seymour, Justin Holcomb, Donny Scantling and Trevor Scantling of the First Northern Bank Team took home the buckle on Thursday. Donny Scantling also won Top Hand, with Carter Hutchison of the Young Guns ranch team taking home the prize for Top Horse.
