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S Ranch cowboys capture Custer Ranch Rodeo title
July 23, 2012
Editor@montanaliving.com
 Orrin Waddington rides a bronc for the Circle B LLC team. Swede Pfaffinger photo
The team was sponsored by Hardin businesses: Svedberg Insurance, Pepsi Cola of Hardin, Little Horn State Bank, and Sugar Factory Vet Clinic. They will advance to compete at the NILE Championship Ranch Rodeo in Billings in October.
The team sponsored by KGHL Radio AM-790 (Clint and DaLauna Potts, Jason Phipps, and Bo Pierson) took second place. The team sponsored by Vitalix and BLS Horse Sales (Ed and Jeanie Verhelst, Wade Korman, and Kirk Lohof) took third. The handiest cowboy award went to Sam Redding of Ft. Smith, while the handiest cowgirl award went to Katie Kappan of Melville. KC Verhelst won the top horse award.
True to how most modern-day ranches operate, each team that competes at Custer is required to have at least one woman on its roster. For the first time this year these women participated in a special event called the "ranch gal relay," in which they went through the motions of some of the chores they do at home -- corralling a cow, trailering a horse, packing hay, pushing a stroller, and ringing the dinner bell -- all while racing against the clock. Team members wore slickers for much of the day as storm clouds threatened, but the rain actually boosted attendance, with over 230 spectators paying to watch the ranch rodeo.
Custer Ranch Rodeo profit, totaling at least $1,906 this year, will be invested in rebuilding the historic Custer Arena. A percentage of calcutta money, totaling $718.75, was donated to the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame.
Other sponsors for the event include PV Ranch, Stockman Bank, Montana Cattlemen's Association, Grasslands LLC, Montana Ranch Horse Association, Circle B LLC, the NILE, Junction City Saloon, Eclipse Equine, JR & Diann Grierson, Jeff Keller Family, Kuntz Farms, the Arviks, Beartooth Travel, Steve Held, Kimme Duffy, Hysham Hardware, Shan Kuntz State Farm, Treasure Vet, Mid-Yellowstone Electric, Jesse Labree, Will James Roundup, Paul Ringling, Vandie Buckingham, Jack & Christy Stensland, Hysham Echo, Cow Camp Supply, Stuart & Annie Shirley, Hansen Bit & Spur, Swede Pfaffinger, Cowgirl Cavvy, Buckaroo Businesses, Jeff Keller Family, Western Ranch Supply, Gary Cunningham Trucking, H-Bar Hatworks, Farmer's Union Oil, Newman Rodeo, and Graphic Imprints. |
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