Working cowboys from throughout the Midwest came to Council Grove recently to prove which ranch had the best rodeo team.
It was the annual Santa Fe Trail Ranch Rodeo sanctioned by the Working Ranch Cowboys Association (WRCA).
Sponsored by the Morris County Youth Rodeo Association (MCYRA), 14 teams competed on Friday and Saturday evenings. There were seven teams in the youth rodeo on Saturday morning.
Awards including stipends went to the top scoring teams from both evening performances as well as the top youth team.
Winning teams qualified for the World Championship Ranch Rodeo, in Amarillo, Texas, November 10-13.
Both the first and second place teams had already qualified for that prestigious competition allowing the third-place team the honor to participate.
Overall winning team was the combination of JK Land & Livestock/Keith Cattle Company of Allen in Lyon County. Team members are Ben Johnsrud, Nate Johnsrud, Justin Keith, Salvador Torres, and Clay Wilson.
Lonesome Pine Ranch, Chase County, was second overall represented by Travis Duncan, Bud Higgs, Frank Higgs, Troy Higgs, Makenzie Higgs, and Bo Krueger.
Representing the Santa Fe Trail Ranch Rodeo at Amarillo will be the third-place team of Rocking P Cattle Company/S&P Cattle from Nowata County, Oklahoma. Team members are Jake Peterson, Justin Peterson, Carlee Potter, Chris Potter, and Colton Potter.
Whitmire Land & Cattle/Sumner Cattle Company, Delaware, Oklahoma, placed fourth. Riding for the team were Tanner “TJ” Davis, Wilder Davis, Kevin Lawson, Heston Perkins, Kyle Rasberry, and Keith Sumner.
Top Horse Award sponsored by HorsLic went to Clayton Zibell from the Folk Ranch/Zibell Ranch team in Oklahoma.
Events included calf branding, ranch bronc riding, stray gathering, team penning and wild cow milking.
Clearwater Creek Ranch from Oklahoma won the junior ranch rodeo. Riders were Lane Close, Wilder Davis, Nathan Dean, Owen Dean, and Brody Grigsby.
The junior ranch rodeo featured branding, doctoring, ribbon roping, and penning.
Mandy Jo Wainwright, Council Grove, was crowned as the Miss MCYR Queen.
CUTLINES
JK Land & Livestock/Keith Cattle Company from Allen in Lyon County won the Santa Fe Trail Ranch Rodeo at Council Grove. Team members are Salvador Torres, Nate Johnsrud, Clay Wilson, Ben Johnsrud, and Justin Keith. (Amy Allen photo)
Third place team at the Santa Fe Trail Ranch Rodeo in Council Grove was Rocking P Cattle Co/S&P Cattle including Chris Potter, Colton Potter, Carlee Potter, Justin Peterson, and Jake Peterson. (Amy Allen photo)
Clearwater Creek Ranch from Oklahoma won the Santa Fe Trail Junior Ranch Rodeo at Council Grove. Team members are Brody Grigsby, Nathan Dean, Lane Close, Owen Dean, and Wilder Davis. (Amy Allen photo)
Mandy Jo Wainwright, Council Grove, was crowned Miss MCYR Queen during the Santa Fe Trail Ranch Rodeo sponsored by the Morris County Youth Rodeo Assocation (MCYR) at Council Grove. Clay Wilson, MCYR president, is with the new queen.
