Wrought with lush fields and surrounded by green hills and blue mountains, the Mancos Valley has always been a rancher’s paradise. Generations of cattlemen have herded stock in the valley and spent countless hours in their saddle, living unique lives.
On July 28, many aspects of those lives will be on full display when the Mancos Cattlemen’s Association hosts its fifth annual Ranch Rodeo at the Robbins Family Arena located at the junction of U.S. Highway 160 and County Road 43.
Scheduled to begin with a Calcutta-style auction at noon, the Ranch Rodeo will play host to 15 five-person teams, who will compete in a slate of events that include trailer loading, bell roping, stray gathering and team sorting.
Each of the four events will simulate activities undertaken by ranchers on a daily basis, and the family-friendly event figures to provide entertainment for individuals of all ages. Spectators may enter this year’s Ranch Rodeo free of charge and are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and shade.
Prior to the start of this year’s Ranch Rodeo, a Kids Ranch Rodeo, open to children between the ages of 8 and 12, will take place at the arena and will include Goat Dressing, Branding, Doctoring and Roping events.
Children interested in participating in the Kids Ranch Rodeo, which will take place on foot, must have one teammate. Entry fees to the Kids Ranch Rodeo will be $20 per team. Events for children between the ages of 2 and 7 will take place during intermissions throughout the day.
“The events that we do in ranch rodeo are things that we do on a working ranch,” explained Cortez rancher Wyatt Wallace after he competed in a ranch rodeo event in 2013. “Stuff like branding calves, roping calves, this is the stuff that we do every day. Events like this are exciting for cowboys and exciting for the crowd.”