11 year old trick rider, Emilee Charlesworth and Madison
Contributed by Chachi Hawkins
The 2016 Big Bend Ranch Rodeo is now in the record books. The August 12 and 13 event schedule was full of excitement, sportsmanship and suspense. The trick riding team of local 11 year old Emilee Charlesworth and her mentor, Madison McDonald were the hit of the rodeo plus the cowboys from each team are always amazing showing off their skills. The new “2 go” format was very well received and provided a lot of excitement and entertainment each evening.
The Stewart Ranch, from Knox, King, and Haskell counties, came out on top as the Champion Team. Besides winning cash and prizes, the team wins a bid to the Working Ranch Cowboys Association World Championships held in November in Amarillo. The Stewart team scored points in all five events on Friday evening, and in four of the five events on Saturday evening.
The Stewart Ranch, owned by Mike, Ronnie and Danny Stewart and managed by Pate Stewart, is a cow/calf operation with a yearling program and brands a BAR S. Stewart Ranch team members are Captain Ryan Wakefield, Brady Clark, Ray Bradley, Pate Stewart and Tres Campbell.
Strander, a 6 year old sorrel gelding by ridden by Jarryd Burris from the Crossroads Ranch team, was named by Judge Apache Adams as the Top Horse of the rodeo. Ray Bradley from the Stewart Ranch team was named the Top Hand of the rodeo by Judges Justin Johnson and Dusty Burson.
Placing second was the Palo Duro Ranch/Smith Cattle Co team from Gruver, Texas and third place went to the Bonds Ranch team from, Saginaw, Texas.
Results from the other weekend events are:
RHAA Competition:
Wrangler Class: 1st Place, Joe Brewer, 2nd Place, Colten Jackson, 3rd Place, Cody Ingram
Cowboy Class: 1st Place, Kelsey Watring, 2nd Place Colby Hunt, 3rd Place, Colten Jackson,
4th Place, Joe Brewer
Ranch Hand Class: 1st Place, Trinity Haggard, 2nd Place, Mary King
Junior Class: 1st Place, Wes Housler, 2nd Place, Pate Stewart
Senior Class: 1st Place, Elizabeth Yeary, 2nd Place, Dusty Burson
Youth Working Cowhorse Competition:
Juniors (12 and under): 1st Place, Skye Pate, 2nd Place, Ryder Gass
Senior Event (13 and over): 1st Place, Evan Hale 2nd Place, Colee Charlesworth
The winner of each class in this youth competition wins an automatic bid to the Championships in Amarillo.
This rodeo drew great crowds each night, many people traveling long distances to the Ranch Rodeo experience in West Texas. The rodeo has been supported by many Big Bend community businesses who without their support this Rodeo would not be possible.
