By Frank J. Buchman
Kansas cowboys brought home two major awards from the recent World Championship Ranch Rodeo in Amarillo, Texas.
Austin Rathbun of the Lazy B Ranch at Ellsworth was honored as the Top Cowboy out of 88 cowboys representing 22 ranch teams from six states at the Working Ranch Cowboys Association rodeo.
Toby Snyder with Snyder & Woolfolk Ranches of Wilmore rode the Reserve Top Horse, Shining Miki Sioux, owned by Snyder Ranch of Coldwater. The Quarter Horse is sired by Zans Diamond Shine and out of Miki Blue Eyes by Colonel Gaddis.
Colorado’s Jolly Ranch and S&L Cattle combined to be the new world championship team. Championship title was on the strength of two event wins in wild cow milking and stray gathering. This is their second title after winning in 2014.
Sandhill Cattle Company from Texas took home the reserve world championship for the second time. The Texas team has previously won three championships.
Sandhill team member Tripp Townsend rode the Top Horse, Four Metallic, and fellow team member Tyler Rice topped the ranch bronc riding
Third place team was the Veale Ranch and Triangle Ranch in Texas, also winning the team branding event. Team member Buster Frierson was named the Reserve Top Hand at the rodeo.
Winning the team penning, Diamond H Ranch & Lochhead Cattle from Texas was the fourth place team.
Kansas had four teams in the top 10, with Lonesome Pine Ranch of Cedar Point finishing sixth, Arndt & Bailey Ranches of Emporia and Cottonwood Falls seventh, Snyder & Woolfolk Ranches eighth, and Lazy B Ranch tied for ninth.
The Beachner Brothers team and the Haywire Cattle & Kalvesta Ranches team also represented Kansas at the rodeo.
